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.
$2,000,000
EPA has selected the City of Astoria for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant that will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to clean up Heritage Square, located at 1153 Duane Street. The 1.37-acre cleanup site formerly operated as an automobile repair garage and paint shop, a car sales business, a dry-cleaning establishment, a newspaper printing company, and, until demolition in 2005, a grocery store. It is contaminated with dioxins, furans, metals, volatile organic compounds, and petroleum hydrocarbons. Grant funds also will be used to develop redevelopment concept plans and conduct community engagement activities.