The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of $235 million in grants from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to assess and clean up polluted brownfield sites across the country. This financial package aims to focus on environmental justice and stimulate economic growth in underserved communities.
The funding comes as the third installment through the EPA's Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) program and is part of a broader $1.5 billion package. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan expressed his support for the initiative, stating, “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is not only supporting but also amplifying EPA's ongoing efforts to remediate legacy brownfield pollution in communities across the United States. Today's announcement marks a significant stride in our commitment to removing longstanding barriers to brownfield redevelopment, while simultaneously creating jobs and fostering economic growth in marginalized communities.”
Approximately 200 grants are expected to be awarded nationwide in this round of funding. Individual grants will range from $500,000 to $5 million, providing communities with much-needed resources to address lingering pollution issues and bring disused land back into productive use.
Notably, this initiative also supports the federal Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that at least 40% of the benefits derived from federal environmental investments go to communities that have been disproportionately affected by pollution and underinvestment.
The EPA's investment in the cleanup and revitalization of polluted brownfield sites demonstrates a commitment to environmental justice and economic growth in underserved communities. Through these grants, communities will have the resources to address pollution issues and transform abandoned land into productive assets.
