EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, Tribal Nations, 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 City of Belfast for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct ten Phase I and ten Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop ten cleanup plans and support community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is a 38-square-mile coastal parcel within the City of Belfast. Priority sites include a 5.5-acre parcel formerly used as office space and a potato products company, and a 1.5-acre parcel formerly used as an industrial freezer facility.
$2,000,000
EPA has selected the City of Belfast for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant that will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to clean up the 0.34-acre former Waldo County Superior Court House located at 137 Church Street, adjacent to Belfast City Hall. It was used as a courthouse from 1853 to 2018 and was then used for storage and record-keeping. It is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metals, and volatile organic compounds. Grant funds also will be used to clean up the Bradbury Manor site located at 74 High Street. The 0.27-acre site operated as a hospital from 1922 to 1961 and a nursing home from 1961 to 1995. It has been vacant and deteriorating since 1995 and is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metals, and volatile organic compounds. Grant funds also will be used to support community engagement activities.