Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
On May 20, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $2,279,070 in grant awards as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The funds are intended to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Washington while advancing environmental justice. Two communities in Washington have been selected to receive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup Grant programs.
The investments will aid in transforming polluted, vacant, and abandoned properties into community assets. They will also contribute to job creation and economic revitalization in overburdened communities.
President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of these efforts stating, “Far too many communities across America have suffered the harmful economic and health consequences of living near polluted brownfield sites.” He added that his administration is ensuring that resources from his Investing in America agenda reach communities most in need.
EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller highlighted the benefits of Brownfields MAC funding saying it can bring about significant positive outcomes for neighborhoods and businesses by assessing and cleaning up pollution.
The EPA’s Brownfields Program has received a historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This allows more communities than ever before to address challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization.
Among those selected for funding were Forterra NW with a grant of $1,779,070 for cleanup at the Roslyn Number 4 Mine site and related community engagement activities; and the City of Kent which was awarded $500,000 to conduct environmental site assessments among other initiatives.
Since its inception in 1995, EPA’s Brownfields Program has provided nearly $2.7 billion in grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties. With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's support, this program's yearly investment has increased nearly 400 percent.
