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 Southeast Tennessee Development District to lead a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize sites and conduct 22 Phase I and 25 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop 12 cleanup plans and support community engagement activities. Assessment Activities will focus on the Cities of East Ridge and Cleveland, Tennessee, and the City of Dalton, Georgia. Priority sites include a 3-acre former metal casting facility, a 2.9-acre vacant textile factory, a 7.3-acre former nursing home, a 5.7-acre former dump site, and a 2.5-acre former machine shop. Non-lead collation members include the Cities of East Ridge and Cleveland.