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 Austin for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 22 Phase I and seven Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare two reuse plans and conduct community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is East Austin. Priority sites include a 6.1-acre former recycling facility, a 20-acre institutional building, and a 5-acre parcel on a historically Black university campus that consists of aging buildings and vacant land that has been used for illegal dumping.