EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfield sites. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002, as amended by the Brownfields Utilization, Investment and Local Development Act of 2018, was passed to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize brownfield sites. Under this law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through five competitive grant programs: Multipurpose Grants, Assessment Grants, Revolving Loan Fund Grants, Cleanup Grants, and Job Training Grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism.
$500,000
EPA has selected the Bear Paw Development Corporation of Northern Montana for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct six Phase I and six Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop four cleanup plans and two site reuse plans and conduct community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips, and Chouteau Counties as well as the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation with a focus on the Cities of Havre and Box Elder. Priority sites include five vacant homes located near a health clinic, a former police shooting range, a senior center with a suspected petroleum release, and a former landfill.