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.
$1,200,000
EPA has selected the Appalachian Council of Governments to lead a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Grant funds will be used to conduct 24 Phase I and 12 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop eight cleanup plans, ten reuse plans, and one Community Involvement Plan, as well as to support community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on the Cities of Gaffney, Walhalla, and Pickens, and the Town of Pacolet. Priority sites include a 0.2-acre blighted former warehouse and industrial space in the core of downtown Gaffney, and four former mills. Non-lead coalition members include Cherokee County, Oconee County, Pickens County, and Spartanburg County.