EPA ANNOUNCES GRANTS UNDER THE BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM

By TONI ELLINGTON

Last week, the EPA announced that it was awarding $4 million in grants to communities or organizations in 16 states for the cleanup of Brownfield sites.  Brownfields are real property which is contaminated with hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants, the presence of which may hamper expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of the property.  The EPA’s Brownfields Program is designed to cleanup and reinvest these properties while protecting the environment and reducing blight.

Grants were awarded to the following communities:

• Camden Redevelopment Agency, New Jersey

• City of Cheyenne, Wyoming

• City of Dubuque, Iowa

• City of Duluth, Minnesota

• City of Fresno, California

• City of Hickory, North Carolina

• City of Huntington, West Virginia

• City of Lawrence, Massachusetts

• Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• City of New Bedford, Massachusetts

• City of Pittsburg, Kansas

• City of Racine, Wisconsin

• City of Rochester, New York

• City of St. Helens, Oregon

• City of Spokane, Washington

• City of Whitewright, Texas,

• Greater Portland Council of Governments, Maine

• Mississippi Conference of Black Mayors

• South Bronx Overall EDC, New York

• Temple University, Pennsylvania

This is the third group of grants awarded under the Brownfields Program.  For more information on the Brownfields Program, these individual grants, and the grant criteria, see the EPA website, or call (504) 599-8500.