Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the allocation of over $3.4 million to five selectees in Puerto Rico for the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites, furthering environmental justice initiatives. This funding is part of a broader $1.5 billion investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aimed at transforming polluted, vacant, and abandoned properties into community assets.
EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, Deputy Assistant Administrator Cliff Villa, and Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia made the announcement at the Río Piedras Farmers Market alongside local community leaders.
“Today marks a pivotal moment for Puerto Rico as we channel historic investment from the President’s Investing in America agenda towards the swift assessment and cleanup of sites that have burdened communities for far too long,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “These funds, a significant portion of which stem from the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, equip Puerto Rican communities with the resources to convert polluted lands into beacons of progress and optimism.”
“The Brownfields program is a powerful tool that helps communities in Puerto Rico address local inequities by providing a means to revitalize abandoned properties and promote environmental health, economic growth, and job creation,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia.
The following organizations in Puerto Rico will receive EPA Brownfields funding:
- Asociación de Residentes de La Margarita in Salinas will receive more than $401,000 to inventory, prioritize, and assess sites in La Margarita neighborhood.
- Barceloneta will receive $500,000 to inventory, prioritize, and assess sites in its Northern District.
- Fideicomiso Para el Desarrollo de Rio Piedras in San Juan will receive $1 million to inventory, prioritize, assess, and clean up sites in Rio Piedras Urban Center.
- Isabela will receive $500,000 to inventory, prioritize, and assess sites in its Central District.
- Naranjito will receive $1 million for initial assessments and detailed assessments of sites in its Mountain District.
Many economically stressed communities lack resources for brownfield cleanup projects. Transforming these sites can attract jobs and promote economic revitalization while addressing social and environmental challenges.
Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's historic boost of $1.5 billion for EPA’s Brownfields Program, more communities can now tackle these challenges effectively.
EPA’s Brownfields Program supports President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative aiming for 40% of certain Federal investments' benefits to flow to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 86% of selected applications propose work in such areas.
Since its inception in 1995, EPA’s Brownfields Program has provided nearly $2.7 billion for site assessments and cleanups. The recent infrastructure law has increased yearly investments by nearly 400%, allowing grant awards up to $5 million per project.
For more information on selected applicants or about EPA's Brownfields Program visit their respective webpages.
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