E+E Leader Team
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines brownfields as properties where redevelopment is complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. These sites, often remnants of industrial or commercial use, pose environmental challenges and hinder economic development. The EPA’s Brownfields Program addresses these issues by providing grants and technical assistance to facilitate such properties’ assessment, cleanup, and sustainable reuse.
Program Overview
Initiated in 1995, the EPA’s Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and stakeholders to collaboratively prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfield sites. The program’s grants serve as its foundation, offering financial support for various stages of brownfield projects, including planning, assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment. This comprehensive approach promotes public health protection, environmental restoration, and economic revitalization.
Legislative Milestones
Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (2002) codified many of the EPA’s practices, providing essential brownfield assessment and cleanup tools and encouraging redevelopment and community revitalization.
The Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development (BUILD) Act of 2018 reauthorized the EPA’s Brownfields Program, introducing significant updates to improve its flexibility and accessibility. Key changes included adjustments to grants, ownership and liability provisions, and enhancements to state and tribal response programs, empowering more communities to address environmental challenges and revitalize contaminated sites effectively.
Economic and Environmental Impact
The Brownfields Program has demonstrated substantial economic and environmental benefits:
- Leveraged Funding and Job Creation: Through fiscal year 2020, the program leveraged an average of $20.13 for every EPA dollar spent and generated 10.3 jobs per $100,000 of EPA brownfields funds expended on assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund cooperative agreements.
- Reduction in Vehicle Miles Traveled: Redevelopment of brownfield sites has led to a 32% to 57% reduction in vehicle miles traveled compared to alternative development scenarios, contributing to decreased emissions and improved air quality.
Recent Developments
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the program has seen historic investments:
- Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021): Allocating over $1.5 billion to the Brownfields Program, this law aims to transform contaminated sites into economic growth hubs, focusing on disadvantaged communities.
- Fiscal Year 2024 Funding: In May 2024, the EPA announced over $300 million in brownfield grants, including approximately $228 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to support the assessment and cleanup of polluted sites nationwide.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite its successes, the program faces challenges, including:
- Complex Partnership Requirements: Navigating the necessity for partnerships among lead applicants, statutory partners, and community-based organizations requires robust coordination and pre-existing collaboration.
- Strict Project Timelines: Ensuring projects commence within 120 days of award and conclude within three years can be particularly challenging in remote areas with logistical constraints.
Looking ahead, the program aims to continue fostering public-private partnerships, leveraging federal investments, and focusing on environmental justice to ensure that revitalization efforts benefit all communities equitably.
Join the Conversation: Industry Voices Event - 12/11 at 11:00 A.M. ET
To delve deeper into the current and future landscape of brownfields and environmental justice funding, join us for “Industry Voices: A Conversation with Chris Gdak.” This engaging discussion will cover:
- 2024 Funding Cycle Review: Highlighting the year’s success stories, obstacles, and key lessons.
- Anticipated 2025 Shifts: Insights into how emerging priorities may influence brownfield and environmental justice initiatives.
- Impact on Communities: A closer examination of how funding changes may support or challenge efforts to address environmental justice concerns.
Register Today
