By Ellie Borst | 05/05/2025 06:52 AM EDT A Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee will hear from witnesses on how to improve the cleanup and redevelopment effort chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment is looking for local and national views on the EPA brownfields program Interest in EPA’s brownfields program is growing as House Republicans look to use the dilapidated sites to advance the Trump administration’s energy dominance agenda announced he will hold a hearing this week to “hear local and national perspectives on the program,” according to a news release It’s the second hearing House members have held this year focused on brownfields which are often abandoned industrial sites currently or previously contaminated with dangerous pollutants that have been targeted for redevelopment EPA’s brownfields grants go to companies or local governments to turn the site of a previous steel mill into a community center or park The House Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee held a hearing in March on how EPA’s program — which offers private-public partnership grants for technical assistance at the sites — can be better geared toward data centers semiconductor manufacturing and AI infrastructure Request a FREE trial to receive unlimited access to WORDS BY MATTHA BUSBY Environmental toxicologist Dr. Danielle Stevenson has been collecting soil samples amongst the rubble and ash that once formed a family’s home in Altadena, Los Angeles. When the near-apocalyptic LA fires scorched the abode in January the incineration of its old pipes and electronic goods likely seeped carcinogenic arsenic and brain-damaging lead into the earth a blonde 38-year-old who wears protective gear over her clothing “The place I used to live burned down,” she said. But the Eaton and Palisades wildfires—which collectively burned more than 37,000 acres and killed 30 people—propelled her work into the spotlight “I was getting overwhelmed by messages from people saying Can we apply what you figured out where our house burned down?” she said Stevenson works to remove toxins from contaminated soils by seeding the land with native plants and mushrooms: mainly species naturally found at polluted sites that can withstand degraded conditions plants are designed to pull nutrients out of the soil which means they can extract toxic chemicals excel at eating dead stuff; some decomposer mushroom varieties could be particularly adept at consuming petrochemicals and lead “I’ve seen amazing reductions in contaminants in relatively short times with very few inputs,” said Stevenson without being treated—an inglorious practice known as “dig and dump”—though much of the fire detritus is deposited at in-state landfills Stevenson wants to demonstrate that a more sustainable way is possible “We do not live in a Cartesian world,” she said Rather than just storing up environmental issues for tomorrow, Stevenson founded the Centre for Applied Ecological Remediation and established the SoCal Post Fire Bioremediation Coalition to scale up her bootstrapped work in the post-burn aftermath With climate change worsening wildfire risk the importance of effective ecological remediation is only increasing Stevenson first trialed her technique in Taylor Yard The former railyard was a polluted wasteland before Stevenson arrived in 2022 Situated a stone’s throw away from the perfectly manicured lawn of the LA Dodgers’ stadium Taylor Yard site was bulldozed in 1988 and left completely devoid of life; the blunt hand of de-industrialization left in its wake an oil-soaked obsolete land that Stevenson says could have been mistaken for Mordor Petrochemicals and toxic metals suffocated the land like tentacles But life finds a way. Just as fungi were found growing at Chernobyl some decomposer shrooms naturally popped up at the old yard Stevenson, then a doctorate student in environmental toxicology at the University of California, Riverside, sowed oyster mushroom spores, telegraph weed, and California buckwheat seeds at the site in an attempt to boost the few signs of life that remained. After three months, petrochemical pollution at Taylor Yard halved; those contaminants were practically undetectable after a year She also replicated the study at two other LA sites: a former chroming facility and a former auto shop She is currently applying the method on other kinds of contaminated sites Following her last night of sampling in June 2023 The vehicle was filled with bags containing contaminated plants and fungi marked as biohazards “I found out months later that the police had destroyed and incinerated [the bags],” she said and to have the final samples destroyed with no process.” She is currently working to publish her findings in peer-reviewed journals and her latest experiments on the LA fires could garner the support Stevenson needs to scale up “Danielle’s work with the LA fires is going to be another landmark experiment,” said Dr an assistant professor of microbial ecology and soil health at the University of Connecticut who has collaborated on Stevenson’s research with emerging studies suggesting fungi can have a dramatic effect on soil regeneration “We’re doing a survey looking at the DNA and the soil nutrients and metals of what’s there now “It’s an emotional experience when you see signs of life beginning to return they have learned that the best approach is to first assess which microbes and plants are already present and can tolerate such extreme environments they “work with some of those species to be able to restore the degraded environment.” Mimicking nature and giving existing biological processes a boost are the keys to success “We always have that combination of decomposer fungi and some plants to address the contaminants.” This typically triggers “a cycle of regeneration that’ll turn a super industrially contaminated site into a blooming meadow,” she added who is applying for grant funding to conduct a mycoremediation field trial in the U.K. said that the budding sectors of bioremediation and mycoremediation are a source of hope “We need to stop treating soil like dirt,” he said this field is in the early proof-of-concept stage but Danielle’s research has centered on field studies which have shown that fungi and plants hold promise as agents of environmental cleanup in a real-world context.” which the company claims can decompose the discards into soil in just one year Another company, which Stevenson is not involved with, uses fungal mycelia—so-called “mushroom gold miners”—to filter precious metals from electronic waste. A different start-up has created mushroom coffins that biodegrade within 45 days The mycoeconomy could create a whole raft of new jobs if these methods prove effective. “There are contaminated sites everywhere, not being cleaned up, because conventional remediation is too expensive and isn’t feasible to address the scale of the problem,” she said. There are more than 450,000 brownfield sites in the U.S She recalled watching in awe as the sprouting of plants attracted worms and birds to return to the land at Taylor Yard after the growth of the fungi “It’s an emotional experience when you see signs of life beginning to return,” she said receive a complimentary subscription to Atmos Magazine How Toxin-Munching Mushrooms Are Restoring Polluted Brownfields Atmos is a nonprofit media organization focused on the cross-pollination of climate and culture delivering award-winning journalism and creative storytelling through a biannual print magazine Our mission is to re-enchant people with nature and our shared humanity We inspire cultural transformation and illuminate solutions to heal and protect the planet—now Some features on this page require the use of a different browser Other Florida Brownfields Program Resources: Subscribe for Brownfields Program updates.For more information Environmental ManagerFlorida Department of Environmental ProtectionMail Station 45352600 Blair Stone RoadTallahassee Scott.L.Sweeney@FloridaDEP.gov There are currently no Events/Public Notices that match the selected criteria Brownfields 2025 is the premier event to learn how to access grants and maximize economic The Brownfields Conference features a dynamic educational program of speakers films and other learning formats that are calibrated to provide you with case study examples and useful strategies for meeting your brownfield challenges head on and topic talks where attendees can learn directly from experts in the field and interact with federal Learn more here An official website of the United States government JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. Please click here to see any active alerts EPA is selecting 16 communities to receive approximately $7.7 million in Brownfields Job Training Grants to recruit and train unemployed and underemployed individuals with the skills needed to secure long-term employment in the environmental field Each recipient will receive up to $500,000 to develop and operate environmental job training curriculums by providing opportunities for residents living in areas impacts by contaminated lands.  Thông cáo báo chí của EPA The video below offers an insightful overview of the Brownfields Job Training Grant Program showcasing a compelling example from a successful grantee EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of the information The cooperative agreement is negotiated after the selection announcement the funding amount and activities described in the selected applications are subject to change All funds from this announcement come from the historic once-in-a-generation $1.5 billion investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help turn brownfield sites across the nation into hubs of economic growth EPA anticipates making the awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.  EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited Oklahoma City to highlight some of the success the city has had in using the EPA's Brownfields Program to facilitate the remediation and redevelopment of properties throughout the downtown core a brownfield is "a property where expansion redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance The City of Oklahoma City's website goes into more detail: "Brownfields are underused or abandoned properties with confirmed or possible environmental contaminants that complicate development opportunities (They) can include land or buildings containing asbestos This often includes former industrial and commercial operations like gas stations the agency "began providing seed money to local governments to launch hundreds of two-year pilot projects and developed guidance and tools for cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites The 2002 Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act codified many of EPA's practices Investment and Local Development (BUILD) Act reauthorized EPA’s Brownfields Program and approved changes that affect grants Under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act Congress provided major funding to support planning construction and operation of various public infrastructure improvements The EPA says there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the Unites States Cleaning them up and reinvesting in these properties Oklahoma City has created its own Brownfields program which leverages EPA dollars to provide financial resources for environmental site assessments loans to developers for environmental clean-up and discounted loans to nonprofit organizations for environmental clean-up to aid redevelopment; and provides technical guidance in identifying brownfields assisting with state or federal regulatory agency programs and completing phase I/II site assessments Alex Cameron is the current Washington Bureau Chief for News 9 in Oklahoma City and for News On 6 in Tulsa and brings reports directly from Washington a brownfield is \"a property where expansion The City of Oklahoma City's website goes into more detail: \"Brownfields are underused or abandoned properties with confirmed or possible environmental contaminants that complicate development opportunities the agency \"began providing seed money to local governments to launch hundreds of two-year pilot projects and developed guidance and tools for cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox Oklahoma shows that “planning the work and working the plan,” can result in monumental changes to a community Since the beginning of their Brownfields Program in 2003 they have been the recipient of 15 EPA Brownfields Grants They consistently focus on recycling underutilized commercial and industrial properties back to productive use creating a vibrant community in the very spots that were plagued with crime and blight The number of properties assessed and/or remediated now stands at 68 with funding from the EPA Brownfields Program but the shining star on their skyline has to be the Devon Energy Tower followed closely by the historic (and some say haunted) Skirvin Hotel (see photos on the right) Other significant projects on former brownfields include the Bricktown area; where their ballpark and other developments are created in areas with previous environmental challenges The Devon Energy Plaza is the new national headquarters for the energy company and includes the previous Galleria Parking Garage owned by Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority The OKC Brownfields Program was instrumental in advancing this project by performing an environmental assessment of this property as part of Devon’s pre-acquisition due diligence requirement The assessment discovered under-ground tanks and contaminated soils that required remediation through the Oklahoma Corporation Commission The site had 6,280 cubic yards of contaminated soils and 61,814 gallons of contaminated water removed This 850-foot tall Tower is the tallest structure in Oklahoma and Oklahoma City as a Cooperating Partner The Devon Tower was the site for the first ever cross regional EPA Brownfields Partners’ Forum with EPA Regions 6 and 7 they were able to make this Partners’ Forum a huge success This allowed grantees and the regions to network and establish methods for advancing the Brownfields Program for their constituents in one of the premier sites for Oklahoma City and Region 6 Bricktown has become Oklahoma City’s premier entertainment and dining district the district was home to dilapidated buildings and crime problems Oklahoma City’s reinvestment in the district brought millions of dollars in revenue earned the City both a Phoenix Award and a Renewal Award for Economic Impact from EPA Bricktown has become Oklahoma City’s crown jewel of Brownfield Redevelopment models Core to Shore Project was awarded as this year’s only recipient of a Site Specific Assessment Grant for the region in the amount of $350,000.00 It is known that the project is an ambitious undertaking and a formidable task requiring additional assistance in making the Urban Park come to fruition But because of the strong track record Oklahoma City has shown and their pass successes they were granted the request for an additional $150,000.00 These grant funds will be used to perform numerous Phase I Environmental Site Assessments on the remaining properties to be acquired for the downtown park and a comprehensive Phase II study which included Mayor Mick Cornett and EPA Region 6 Acting Regional Administrator Core to Shore will showcase a 70-acre park within the boundaries of Hudson Avenue on the West the future Boulevard on the north (SW Third Street) and the Oklahoma River to the South This previously blighted area of the City is being rejuvenated the city has completed over $350,000 in assessments and has committed to $132,168,000 in additional funding to this project Downtown Public Park consists of a 40-acre upper section and a 30-acre lower section connected by the Skydance pedestrian bridge that spans the relocated Interstate 40 Freeway making a great central park with proposed amenities including a manicured lawn for concerts and festivals the city is currently working on a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment on property that represents over 40 acres of the Park The northern portion of the park area historically was used in various industrial businesses and the lower portion of the park area includes a number of current and historical auto salvage and auto repair related businesses Past oilfield activity is also prevalent in the area Skydance Pedestrian Bridge was completed this year and located between the North Urban Park and the South Urban Park This $6 million project consisted of removing and disposing contaminated soil on the bridge’s footing parcels The Contaminants found were petroleum hydrocarbons and degradation compounds; SVOCs; and metals DCE and MtBE were also detected in groundwater samples The City recognizes that the long established partnerships are paramount to these successes and wishes to acknowledge the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority Through the city’s collaborative efforts with State impacted neighborhoods and private industry their Brownfields Program continues to serve as a model for successfully revitalizing blighted areas while protecting human health and the environment more and more new businesses are responding to the growing opportunities Oklahoma City's central core is aggressively being renewed and is making the City a rising center of art and culture with a great quality of life the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing titled Maximizing Opportunities for Redeveloping Brownfields Sites: Assessing the Potential for New American Innovation “The Brownfields Program supports communities impacted by prior industrial activity offering them a new opportunity to spur growth and innovation As the program continues to work to clean up areas that have been contaminated data centers critical to advancing Artificial Intelligence,” said Chairman Griffith “Today's hearing was an important step toward ensuring that the Brownfields Program continues to serve the American people by assessing and cleaning up potential contamination and supporting new and emerging industries.” Watch the full hearing here. Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Office2125 Rayburn House Office Building The links on this page will redirect you to the OCULUS database where you can use the "PUBLIC OCULUS LOGIN" button to access the database and retrieve the desired document(s).  Return to the Florida Brownfields Area and Site Documentation page Federal Resources – Brownfields Revitalization not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano but the sound of a bat on a ball." In Dyersville this harbinger of spring brings an additional excitement: the seasonal reopening of the “If You Build It” exhibit located adjacent to the city’s Baseball Hall of Dreams Museum then you might be thinking of the famous line from the 1989 cinema classic “Field of Dreams,” which was filmed in and around Dyersville few people are probably aware of the unique connection between this exhibit – as well as the museum – with EPA’s Brownfields program The current site of the “If You Build It” exhibit and Baseball Hall of Dreams Museum had sat abandoned for nearly a decade This Baseball Building site property had a 125-year history of varied industrial use This storied past meant that the site potentially contained both petroleum and other hazardous substances that would require environmental cleanup before redevelopment “The property sat vacant for years and no one wanted to touch it because of the uncertainty of it being potentially contaminated,” said Dawn Danielson East Central Intergovernmental Association of Iowa Prior to the 2002 Brownfields amendments to the Comprehensive Environmental Response new property owners assumed liability for any residual conditions left behind from prior operations or production municipalities like Dyersville began to experience the abandonment of inner cities as new businesses instead preferred to locate in green spaces or on previously unoccupied land The 2002 amendments to CERCLA created a pathway for any prospective purchaser of a site to conduct “all-appropriate inquiries” before purchasing a property This provided liability relief from Superfund enforcement if later contamination were discovered “The first and main barrier that caused this property and many properties like it to remain deserted is the unknown cost of potential environmental hazards and the fear of liability for past practices at the property,” explained Jennifer Morris EPA Region 7 brownfields and land revitalization specialist “EPA’s role is to help communities in overcoming that barrier to facilitate the reuse of sites.” One of the annual grants EPA awards through its Brownfields program is the Assessment Grant for which one can apply on behalf of states This grant provides communities with the opportunity to fund environmental assessments to quantify the unknowns that may delay any redevelopment project Dyersville has been a member of the East Central Intergovernmental Association of Iowa which is a council of governments that work to develop “regional solutions for local governments facing similar problems.” ECIA applied for EPA’s Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant This grant was awarded to ECIA in May of that year for a total of $550,000 (with $325,000 dedicated to focused work on hazardous substance contamination and $225,000 for petroleum site assessments and program management work) The Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant gives partner entities a great deal of control over the vision and outcome of how they want to utilize their awarded funds an environmental assessment of the 125-year-old site was completed who played the role of John Kinsella in “Field of Dreams,” visited Dyersville and decided he wanted to create a baseball museum in the town in the spirit of the film Brown selected the former brownfield site and decided – alongside his business partner vacant buildings (now known as the Baseball Building) into the Baseball Hall of Dreams Museum and an attached baseball training facility “Although the Baseball Building project’s redevelopment came as a culmination of several funding sources and several project phases the first $5,230 provided through ECIA – as funded by the EPA Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant – made a big difference,” Danielson said which sometimes – while small – can be just enough to move the needle on a project lifting barriers and uncertainty to spark interest in a site for redevelopment.” With the signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law a historic $1.5 billion was added to fund brownfields and land revitalization These additional funds support efforts like the “If You Build It” exhibit This increase provides more funding for grants and technical assistance for planning the Baseball Building stands as just one of many examples of how ECIA and EPA’s Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grants have had an impact on Dyersville’s community through its redevelopment projects In addition to the Baseball Hall of Dreams Museum and “If You Build It” exhibit these Brownfields Grants have played a role in: (The Iowa Department of Natural Resources provided a number of these sites with funding for asbestos removal through a matching grant program.) When it comes to the often-referenced line inspired by “Field of Dreams,” one could say of many vacant and derelict properties “If you fund its environmental assessment .. We keep you informed. the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality issued a Brownfields Agreement to the Town of Chapel Hill concerning the redevelopment of the property at 828 Martin Luther King which currently houses the Chapel Hill Police Department The property was initially the site of a borrow pit from the 1950s to early 1960s which was later filled with coal ash and other materials including construction and demolition debris The Town purchased the property in 1980 and the police station was later constructed in 1982 the materials were discovered in late 2013 and the DEQ was quickly notified The draft agreement from the DEQ included revisions to the initial drafts that incorporated feedback provided by community members during the public comment period Edits included clarifying the definition of “recreational use” in the agreement to only list options that are actually being considered for the property including sports-related courts and fields Options that are not feasible for the site the creation of hundreds of temporary construction jobs and expanded use of public transportation were also listed final agreement as some of the potential benefits that could result from redeveloping the property some community members feel the lasting environmental implications outweigh the potential benefits that come with the plan and these revisions.  16 community members spoke at the public meeting on Sept who still has concerns about the future development of the property.  “You can see coal ash coming out of the ground when it rains," he said.“There's no chance that's not seeping into the water system and I think With the site so close to the Bolin Creek Trail and the greenway Rajbhandari said development on the site not only poses serious threats to future construction workers but also UNC students and Chapel Hill residents who regularly use the trail.  He said he would like to see the property sealed off properly or cleaned up entirely.  completely removing the coal ash from the property would cost over $11 million which does not account for the cost of demolishing the existing police department building at the site The current plan to cap and seal the materials would cost over $4 million.  a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center said he has been advocating for a real plan to clean up and stabilize the site for the last 10 years does not require them to clean up one ounce of coal ash and it allows them to leave it all there Friends of Bolin Creek Co-President Julie McClintock said there was a period of time when the Town was expanding the greenway next to the creek and recognized the potential for coal ash to be dug up during construction She said the concern that it would roll into the creek and harm the safety of pedestrians led the Town to remove about 1,000 tons of ash.  Torrey said the situation showed how the Town does have the ability to remove the coal ash and that removal is the appropriate solution with coal ash problems.  “One of the big arguments that has been cited by the Town and others through this process has been ‘We can't do this because it's too hard,’” McClintock said “‘It'll be harmful to the community to remove it.'"  He said there are targeted areas of coal ash that could be removed which would make a huge difference to improve the usability of the property and its long-term safety.  In an email statement to The Daily Tar Heel said Town staff members are currently in the process of reviewing the draft Brownfields Agreement to determine what their next steps will be council and community input about the future of the property McClintok said community members should attend these hearings once a permit has been granted.  “That's the opportunity to raise the same concerns and [to] try to get a safer way of building this — which it is not going to fundamentally be safe,” she said @DTHCityState | city@dailytarheel.com Thompson's Point is a 25-acre peninsula located along the Fore River in Portland Maine that was originally developed as a railroad yard The area is now a focal point of growing commercial and entertainment development including a new home for a historic children's museum and theater Thompson's Point was developed as a railyard for the Maine Central Railroad the yard was an important transfer point and a state-of-the-art hub for the repair of locomotive engines After the decline of rail and shipping led to the demolition of many railyard buildings on the peninsula Thompson's Point was primarily used for the storage and distribution of various industrial materials coordinated multi-brownfield redevelopment effort began in 2013 the Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine had been located on Free Street in Portland's Art District As the 10th largest visitor attraction in the state the museum was quickly outgrowing its space The organization launched a fundraising campaign in 2016 that raised over $15 million and allowed the museum to buy a 1.12-acre property on Thompson's Point in 2017 and eventually build their new museum Site assessments conducted with EPA and private funding between 2012 and 2018 identified contaminants in the soil and helped to develop a cleanup plan for the Site thanks to the support and guidance of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection Due to decades of industrial use at the Site contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) arsenic and petroleum were found in soils at the Site and threatened to significantly increase the cost of the project the Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine was awarded a Brownfields cleanup grant for $500,000 on their first attempt at applying for this sort of federal funding both the City of Portland and the Greater Portland Council of Governments contributed funds to the cleanup from their EPA-funded Brownfields revolving loan fund programs Sustainable building strategies were an important aspect of the redevelopment the building was pre-loaded with a barrier to compact the area and minimize the amount of soil that had to be removed from the Site stormwater storage tanks were installed to protect the groundwater by directing stormwater away from the remaining contaminated soil below the barrier This also reduced the damage that could occur from storms that have become stronger due to extreme weather "We are grateful to the EPA for designing the Brownfields remediation program so that beautiful sites such as this one on the banks of the Fore River can be reclaimed for reuse and enjoyment by the public Once this was a state-of-the-art hub for the repair of locomotive engines and now it is a state-of-the-art hub for building community and celebrating family in the state of Maine through education The Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine officially re-opened on June 24 The new 300,000 square foot location is now home to the oldest continuously operating children's theatre in the country which will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023 The museum's interactive exhibits reflect the culture and natural environment of Maine while also highlighting diversity and exploration Some of the attractions include a lobster boat with knots to tie and a seven-tank aquarium exhibit Sitting close the Portland International Jetport and the Downeaster train station the museum is projected to draw as many as 200,000 visitors a year Return to Brownfields Job Training Grants Professional Learning Community (PLC) calls are held to facilitate the sharing of Brownfields job training news and the exchange of best practices and lessons learned To be included on the invites for future PLC calls, submit an inquiry form and state in the "Inquiry" field a request to "Add me to future PLC call invites." Below are recordings and presentation files from recent PLC calls.  BFJT PLC Call: Strategies for Long-term Program Success (February 19 The February PLC call included a discussion about key factors and strategies for long-term program success including partnering with various organizations and industry stakeholders to navigate times of transition BFJT PLC Call: Partnerships and Resource Leveraging (January 15 BFJT PLC Call: An Early Start on FY26 Applications (December 18 BFJT PLC Call: Student Selection (November 20 BFJT PLC Call: Student Recruitment (October 16 Information provided in the documents below was produced by Kansas State University and Eastern Iowa Community College/Hazardous Material Training and Research Institute under EPA cooperative agreements These documents are provided for informational purposes only Providing these documents does not imply official EPA endorsement of or responsibility for the opinions data or products presented within these materials services or enterprises of non-federal entities including the non-federal creators of these documents PLC 305: Supercharging FY25 Job Training Applications (July 17 PLC 304: FY25 RFA Highlights and Resources (June 26 PLC 303: Anticipating the FY25 RFA (May 15 PLC 301: Welcome to the KSU JT-TAB Professional Learning Community (March 20 PLC 298: Southern University (September 13 PLC 297: JT Application Checkup (July 19 PLC 296: Retention Placement Tracking (July 5 PLC 294: 2023 All-Grantee Meeting: Applicant Screening PLC 292: Partnership Development (April 26 PLC 291: Establishing Community Need (April 12 PLC 289: Southwest Economic Solutions (March 15 PLC 285: Notes from the Environmental Workforce Professional Learning Community (January 18 The Town of Cutler Bay intends to apply to the United States Environmental Protection (EPA) for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant to remove hazardous materials from the Town’s Legacy Park and Municipal Complex site located at 20951 Old Cutler Road The following Town parcels are included within the EPA Grant application: Virtual attendance available through Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83290329144 dial a number based on your current location): International numbers available: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kVu8Iew39 Questions about this notice can be directed to Mauricio Melinu, Town Clerk, at townclerk@cutlerbay-fl.gov or by phone at (305) 234-4262 Email: Townclerk@cutlerbay-fl.gov Contact Us A one-acre parcel that once hosted a gas station and auto repair shop has been cleaned and turned into a community park dedicated to one of Brockton's local heroes This park at the corner of Warren Avenue and Bartlett Street now bears the name of city icon Charles Tartaglia a restauranteur with a long history of giving back to his community the former home of the Gilbert Gas Pump filling station later became the Ralsco kitchen cabinet manufacturing facility and later hosted several auto repair shops The site's 100-year industrial history left the property contaminated with petroleum EPA's Brownfields program was instrumental in helping the city address the contamination and ultimately make a community park possible Tartaglia's close connection to the Brockton community began as a young boy delivering The Enterprise newspaper Tartaglia preserved the legacy of his childhood friend and boxing legend Rocky Marciano and served in many roles for the City of Brockton and community organizations He was a trustee for Massasoit Community College and for over 17 years the deputy boxing commissioner of Massachusetts his family restaurant donated food to city events The city took over this long-abandoned industrial site in 1999 setting the stage for environmental assessment work to begin in 2001 The city used $3,000 of EPA funding for Brownfields to evaluate the severity of the contamination EPA then awarded Brockton $100,000 in 2003 to clean the site The city used the Brownfields cleanup grant to remove 100 cubic yards of contaminated soil and backfill the area with clean soil With the former industrial structures demolished and a newly cleaned parcel available the community rallied to convert the property into a park and provide green space that would help alleviate flooding in the area partners leveraged $280,000 in state and local funding through the National Park Service/MA DEP Neighborhood Park Conservation Fund and the City's Redevelopment Authority to create the new park "Tartaglia Park is a great investment that creates a passive open space in an underserved area It also provides access to Salisbury Brook as part of our Two Rivers plan to create an asset out of a long neglected waterway." the site has been revitalized as a public park The picture was complete when Charles Tartaglia was honored at the ribbon cutting for the Charles Tartaglia Park in the spring of 2017 By Ellie Borst | 03/10/2025 06:32 AM EDT An Energy and Commerce panel this week will discuss a reauthorization that would emphasize the redevelopment of former industrial tracts into tech hubs chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment will lead a hearing this week on EPA's brownfields program Some Republicans see a lot of potential in the nation’s dilapidated industrial sites as well as where EPA’s current efforts are falling short The House Energy and Commerce’s Environment Subcommittee will hold a hearing on whether EPA’s brownfields program should be reauthorized with technological infrastructure in mind — “especially in emerging industries like data centers and AI infrastructure,” full committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and subcommittee Chair Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) said in a statement which offers grants and technical assistance to community organizations looking to revitalize previously contaminated sites in large part due to its emphasis on public-private partnerships Efforts in 2023 to formally reauthorize the program stalled over disagreements on if private, for-profit limited liability corporations should be eligible for brownfields grants After years of environmental neglect and a string of hurricanes leading to severe contamination of drinking water with more than 150 brownfield sites posing added risks The recovery required skilled workers and resources to ensure safety and rebuild a nonprofit serving Puerto Rico’s economically distressed communities since 1969 With the support of an EPA Brownfields Job Training Grant PathStone designed a training program to prepare local residents for safe PathStone works closely with local groups to understand and meet community needs For trainees facing transportation and food insecurity PathStone collaborates with municipalities and local organizations to provide public transport including simulations to build students’ confidence and practical skills for the cleanup work ahead The program has transformed lives by helping trainees secure better-paying jobs with some graduates moving from minimum wage to $19 an hour or more a graduate trained in hazardous waste operations calls her experience “spectacular.” Her certifications have opened doors offering valuable skills in environmental work PathStone’s training equips individuals like Leslie with tools to build lasting careers With over $1.2 million in EPA grants and additional funding PathStone has built a resilient workforce prepared to protect Puerto Rico The program’s success is seen in each graduate’s progress-from minimum-wage jobs to higher-paying careers that support their families and communities “Despite economic and educational barriers my peers had the courage to do what seemed to them like impossible tasks to better their lives.” PathStone’s journey to support Puerto Rico’s communities shows that persistence pays off transforming opportunities and lives across the island community resilience and progress toward a sustainable future Text-Only Version of Timeline Graphic For organizations interested in EPA Brownfields Job Training Grants PathStone advises engaging closely with community leaders to gather insights that shape relevant Tailor certifications and skills to the area’s specific employment needs to ensure graduates are well-prepared for job opportunities and long-term impact To learn more, visit our Job Training Grants page or contact the EPA Region 2 office at 212-637-3283 or email Mitchell.Schenine@epa.gov Ann Carroll has worked for over 30 years on environmental and public health protection including contaminated site cleanup underground storage tank regulations and revitalization She has been with the US EPA Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization in Washington DC since 2002 working on brownfields grants research and grants manager and collaborations with health agriculture and natural resource agencies to develop ways to improve health through revitalization Ann has a BS in biology and microbiology from Virginia Tech University and an MPH in environmental health and epidemiology from Boston University Aimee Storm works in the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization as the lead for the Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program Her work supports communities who are developing area-wide plans and implementation strategies for cleaning up and reusing brownfield sites in order to help revitalize local neighborhoods Aimee worked on projects promoting green and healthy buildings and using sustainable development approaches within EPA Regional office in Chicago She also worked with EPA's Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office where she coordinated EPA's land reuse efforts on federally-owned properties Aimee holds Masters Degrees in City & Regional Planning and Business Administration Anna Withrow is a Brownfield Design Specialist at the Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center where she manages programs and assists with brownfield redevelopment projects Anna currently manages NBAC’s Technical Assistance Program and large industrial sites as community assets helping to manage site assessment and remediation processes and serving as the liaison between community groups and brownfield resource providers Anna earned her master’s degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design at West Virginia University She also has a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Mathematics Education and has experience teaching in Southern West Virginia EHS Daily Advisor the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee unanimously passed the Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025 which is legislation to reauthorize the EPA’s brownfields program and the Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development (STEWARD) Act which is legislation to improve our nation’s recycling and composting systems Brownfields are contaminated and abandoned industrial sites that disproportionately impact rural and low-income communities There are more than 450,000 estimated brownfield sites across the United States These sites pose ongoing environmental and public health risks The EPA brownfields program is dedicated to assisting with funding the cleanup of these sites The existing program has many complex requirements and application barriers that have prevented small and underserved communities from fully benefiting from accessing funding from the program The bill reauthorizes the Brownfield Act through 2030 and improves the previous act by streamlining the complex application process to make it easier for small and underserved communities to access this funding To expand access to the brownfields program resources the bill addresses cost-prohibitive barriers impacting those communities by: The bill also updates the program’s grant amounts to match current construction costs and project sizes aligning them with the reality of doing business today “The Senate [EPW Committee] … held a markup on the Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S. 347), where the legislation was unanimously reported to the full Senate,” notes law firm Holland & Knight LLP floor consideration has not been scheduled House of Representatives companion measure has not yet been introduced in the 119th Congress 347 was reintroduced by [Capito and Rochester] “Stakeholders will have opportunities to shape this important legislation and should monitor congressional action to understand how these adjustments may impact existing and future initiatives.” This bill establishes the EPA Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Program which is designed to expand recycling access in underserved communities by authorizing strategic infrastructure investments and public-private partnerships The bill modernizes recycling and composting data collection by establishing standardized metrics to assess and improve waste management systems nationwide and authorizes the EPA to collect and report data on market trends and the effectiveness of curbside recycling programs and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed Worker training is a cornerstone of risk management or contract workers — are equipped to perform their jobs safely and efficiently training non-permanent personnel presents unique challenges from limited onboarding time to complex safety protocols these workers can introduce significant risks This guide outlines a proactive strategy to improve outcomes With 24/7 tele-triage and expert case management Looking for serious injuries and fatalities prevention strategies You’re one step closer with this guide for Safety Managers Serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) remain a critical concern in many industries This guide gives you” a clear outline of the best practices at your disposal the frameworks that all Safety Managers need to know (including Heinrich’s […] Health & Safety Software Did the OSHA reporting deadline leave you scrambling Transform your stressful annual OSHA reporting process into smooth year-round compliance management using EHS software solutions KPA’s EHS Software Buyer’s Guide helps you select the perfect solution to: Automate recordkeeping Streamline reporting Maintain continuous compliance It’s time to stop wrestling with missing […] Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury – How Mips® Brain Protection System for Industrial Safety Helmets Can Help Enhance Head Protection One of the most serious types of injuries that can result from falling objects and equipment or slips one study found that more than 500,000 workers were […] EPA’s Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grant Program played an important role in the on-going redevelopment of the Detroit riverfront east of downtown and new residences and businesses continue to expand in this formerly industrial section of the city The Detroit River Conservancy estimates $275 million have already been invested along the riverfront with an additional $1 billion expected to be invested in the next decade Located on Detroit’s riverfront in the historic Globe Building gives Detroit residents a taste of Michigan’s great outdoors in the heart of the city its first full year of operation,  the OAC saw 100,000 visitors A $15 million renovation revitalized this former dry dock The Globe Building had an important role in Great Lakes maritime history as a manufacturer of marine steam engines for freight and passenger vessels Henry Ford worked at Detroit Dry Dock Engine Works from 1880-1882 as an apprentice machinist learning the skills associated with his first love The city of Detroit made the first investment in the OAC project using $200,000 from the Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grant Program to remove contaminated soils on the site Construction is near completion on the $65 million 270-apartment Orleans Landing complex. Located immediately next to the Outdoor Adventure Center the 270 unit Orleans Landing Apartments gives Detroiters the opportunity to enjoy the redeveloped neighborhood.  When completed in 2017 the development represented the first market-rate residential construction project on Detroit’s East Riverfront in 25 years An EPA Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grant to the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority funded the environmental investigation needed to demonstrate the feasibility of residential construction on the site the Elevator Building has been redeveloped into loft-style office space for small businesses An EPA Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grant to the DWCPA was used to identify hazardous materials that were subsequently managed during building renovations The riverfront was mainly an industrial and warehouse district for most of the 19th and 20th centuries more than 3 million people a year use the Detroit RiverWalk the pedestrian/bike path that runs along the river from Belle Isle to Rosa Parks Boulevard It’s one of downtown’s most popular attractions The DWCPA conducted the necessary environmental investigations using its EPA Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grant Program funding Formerly the site of an abandon Studebaker plant the Piquette Square development in Detroit provides 150 apartments to house and care for homeless veterans the project offers space for a wide range of support services to help veterans develop self-sufficiency to reintegrate into the community Southwest Housing Solutions developed and manages the facility which opened for occupancy in June 2010 San Francisco is working with a diverse group of community partners to develop a 13-mile corridor of greenspace with trails, parks and bayfront access along the city’s southern waterfront. The Blue Greenway will include the India Basin Waterfront Park also known as a brownfieldbrownfieldWith certain legal exclusions and additions the term "brownfield site" means real property or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance that must be cleaned-up before park construction can begin This project is vulnerable to a range of climate change impacts San Francisco Department of the Environment and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department received Brownfields grants and technical assistance from EPA to evaluate assess and cleanup the former boatyard and Shipwright’s cottage on the property The initial property assessment considered the vulnerability of the brownfield property to climate change impacts from sea-level rise and shoreline alteration based upon the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s Living with a Rising Bay: Vulnerability and Adaptation report San Francisco collaborated with the Trust for Public Land to conduct the India Basin Waterfront Study This study provides a community-supported vision for development of parkland throughout the India Basin waterfront that explicitly accounts for sea-level rise have led to the selection of a master plan through a design competition Review the National Climate Assessment (NCA) regional projections to better identify projected climate risks Use the EPA's Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternative checklist to help consider anticipated climate changes in your Corrective Action Plan EPA's Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternative checklist Received Brownfields Funds to Assess and Cleanup Property and Conduct Community Outreach Learn more about how EPA’s Brownfields competitive grant funding for brownfields assessment and environmental training can be used to support climate adaptation for brownfields properties Types of Brownfields Grant Funding Conducted More Specific Coastal Processes and Sea-Level Rise Analyses Use EPA’s Storm Surge Inundation Map to visualize the current 100 and 500-year flood zones in your area use the Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool – Climate Scenarios Projection Map to identify projected climate scenarios for sea-level rise and other climate risks San Francisco India Basin Waterfront project actively anticipated the effects of sea-level rise within their brownfield redevelopment efforts To see how another community anticipated climate threats from increased precipitation events To see an example of how a Superfund waste site has prepared for climate changes see American Cyanamid Superfund case By Ellie Borst | 02/05/2025 01:33 PM EST The Environment and Public Works Committee advanced its first bills of the new Congress Senate Environment and Public Works Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) secured committee passage Wednesday of two bipartisan bills The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday approved legislation to address recycling concerns and reauthorize the brownfields program S. 347 from Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Sen would re-up EPA’s program to clean up dilapidated or previously contaminated sites through grants The “STEWARD Act” — S. 351 from Capito and ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) — would fund waste management data collection and building out recycling infrastructure primarily in rural areas Ed Markey (D-Mass.) expressed concern about the committee advancing the legislation when President Donald Trump is moving block spending Business Reports Community Profiles Governor’s Report Industry Focus Inside LiveXchange North American Focus Q&A Regional Focus Site Seekers’ Guide Special Reports The Last Word Workforce Focus Recent Issues Digital Back Issues Advertise and place workers for community revitalization and cleanup projects at brownfield sites while advancing economic opportunity and environmental justice “EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Program grants are changing lives and improving communities that have been overburdened by contaminated properties for far too long,” said EPA Office of Land and Emergency Management Deputy Assistant Administrator Cliff Villa “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda EPA is helping to create good-paying jobs for low income and under-employed residents who are helping make their communities cleaner Individuals typically graduate from the program with a variety of certifications that improve their marketability and help ensure that employment opportunities are not just temporary contractual work The Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas hosted the grant announcement and provides just one example of how the grants will be put to use The alliance will provide training in key areas obtaining a commercial driver’s license for the transportation of hazardous waste and OSHA 30-hour Occupational Health and Safety for General Industry This comprehensive training will equip students with the necessary expertise to contribute effectively to their community and empower students with the essential skills needed to tackle and mitigate critical environmental issues within the local community The full list of selected applicants includes: * First-time Brownfields Job Training Program grant recipients For detailed information on each grant recipient, visit the EPA’s Brownfields Grant Fact Sheet Search page Minnesota is attracting billions in high-impact investments—supercharging job creation and advanced manufacturing across the state Ohio’s technology-driven economy sees increased growth in the manufacturing sector and pioneering initiatives are attracting leading life sciences companies to establish roots in the state Ohio consistently ranks as one of the top U.S meaning prime sites are quickly snapped up Economic development officials and private developers are working cooperatively to ensure the pipeline of immediately-developable sites stays full with diverse location opportunities Minnesota is a place where the stars align — geography culture and institutions – to create an unmatched economic landscape See why Microbiologics CEO Kristen Knox says there’s no place in the world she’d rather do business than in Minnesota Talent Attraction – Engineering in ManufacturingLearn about high-paying careers in engineering and related fields in the manufacturing facilities of the Mount Rogers region in Virginia Doing Business in Minnesota, a Polar Semiconductor PerspectiveMinnesota is a place where the stars align — geography See what leaders at Polar Semiconductor believe are the key benefits of doing business in Minnesota Doing Business in Minnesota, a Rosenbauer PerspectiveBusiness climate. Workforce. Innovation. Infrastructure. Quality of life. Minnesota consistently ranks high for the factors important to success.  Rosenbauer is the world’s leading manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. See what role being located in Minnesota plays in their unmatched success. Business Facilities is a leading full-service media brand specializing in the site selection marketplace Business Facilities has created a dynamic community for C-level executives and economic development organizations Group C MediaThe Galleria2 Bridge Avenue,Suite 231Red Bank 800.524.0337 brownfield sites remain hidden treasures full of untapped potential just waiting for new life these sites can become community catalysts that spark economic growth Nebraska communities have done just that by transforming sights of blight and despair into new entertainment A site in Cozadthat once housed the former Rialto Theatre is now home to a new community bandstand city council had a vision to transform the site into a new community bandstand With the support of EPA Brownfields funding, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) completed a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment and Asbestos-Containing Materials Survey to help pave the way for redevelopment Additional funds were used to support removal and disposal of asbestos Events of all kinds have been held at the site “Where previously the Rialto Theater was in a state of disuse and disrepair the bandstand resurrects this dead space and converts it into a place that is still an asset to the public,” McKeone said A building In Kimballthat was once home to the Maginnis Flume Factory is now on its way to becoming the community fitness center a local innovator named Patrick Maginnis used the building to manufacture irrigation flumes the building found new life as the Maginnis Hardware store But after sitting vacant for nearly six years without upkeep or care it became a burden and an eyesore for the community Recognizing the historical significance of the site and the positiive economic impact a new business would have on local tax revenue EPA Brownfields Section 128(a) funding was used to complete Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and a Mold and Asbestos-Containing Materials Survey And it was used to assist with asbestos removal and disposal costs With the support of nearly $500,000 in local funding Hays is giving the building a much-needed makeover with plans in place to open a new fitness center and three second-floor apartments in fall 2020 Once completed, this project will not only benefit the health and well-being of Kimball citizens, it will help “modernize downtown Kimball, attracting new businesses and community members,” said Elyse Schlake, coordinator for city of Kimball Economic Development After serving Omahans for nearly a century the Micklin Lumber & Ace Hardware facility closed and plans were put in place to transform the site into a new student apartment complex serving Creighton Dental College just two blocks away the developer’s contractor requested a Data Gap Review from NDEE outlining additional environmental work needed to complete the housing project NDEE’s Data Gap Review helped summarize the additional sampling and remedial actions needed to move forward with redevelopment. With financial support from the Omaha City Council the developer addressed the environmental concerns and began construction what was once an old industrial corridor is home to the Muse Omaha Apartments a 240-unit apartment complex and $31 million investment in downtown Omaha brownfields across Nebraska continue to be recognized as hidden treasures full of untapped potential just waiting to be restored “Each successfully completed brownfield project benefits all Nebraskans by increasing the community tax base and property values and saving green space,” said NDEE Brownfields Coordinator and Voluntary Cleanup Coordinator Taryn Serwatowski “Remaining brownfields across the state should be looked at as opportunities “This program has been particularly beneficial to Nebraska’s small and rural communities that didn’t have a sufficient tax base to begin with to address their brownfield properties.” And efforts continue in northwestern Nebraska, where an EPA grant is supporting brownfields assessment work in communities throughout the Nebraska Panhandle Recognizing the pivotal role states have when it comes to brownfields redevelopment EPA provides funding to programs like NDEE’s to support communities developers and landowners in the assessment cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites these partnerships generally result in “quicker and more cost-effective cleanups while ensuring protection of public health and the environment,” said Susan Klein The Targeted Brownfields Assessment program and Site-Specific Activity program which is authorized and funded by CERCLA Section 128(a) is designed to help the states and municipalities—especially those without EPA Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilots—minimize the uncertainties of contamination often associated with brownfields Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBAs) and Site-Specific Activities (SSAs) supplement and work with other efforts under EPA's Brownfields Initiative and Florida’s Brownfields Redevelopment Program to promote cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields EPA provides funding and/or technical assistance to the state of Florida for environmental assessments and/or cleanups at brownfields sites throughout the state ATBA /SSA may encompass one or more of the following activities: Site-specific assessments and cleanups must comply with all applicable federal and state laws and are subject to the following restrictions and other restriction may apply: Targeted Brownfields Assessment funding may only be used at sites as authorized by the Comprehensive Environmental Response as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 The site must be contaminated or suspected to be contaminated with hazardous substances Sites contaminated only with petroleum products are not eligible for assistance EPA generally will not fund TBAs at sites where the owner is responsible for the contamination on the site unless there is a clear means of recouping EPA expenditures the TBA program does not provide resources to conduct cleanup or building demolition activities contact the Brownfields Program Manager at: Return to Brownfields Main Page Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of Groundwork Denver to receive $500,000 in grant funding for an environmental job training program in the City of Sheridan and the City and County of Denver.   “This EPA Brownfields Job Training grant will help young adults in Colorado land successful jobs in environmental fields,” said EPA Region 8 Regional Administrator KC Becker. “By investing in a local environmental workforce we can reduce contamination and further sustainability efforts to keep our communities clean.”  Funding from EPA’s Brownfields Job Training grant will support Groundwork Denver’s Green Infrastructure Training (GRIT) program over three years The GRIT program is a paid opportunity for young adults to develop professional skills in environmental careers The program provides federal certifications and training in green infrastructure information about environmental regulations and post-program graduation support.  A previous GRIT program student class visits a local water treatment plant “This grant will support Groundwork Denver’s important work to advance local economic opportunities and address environmental issues in the communities that need it most,” said U.S Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO). “I’m glad Colorado will benefit from this incredible nationwide investment in the health and sustainability of underserved communities nationwide.”  we need the workforce to match it,” said U.S Senator Hickenlooper (D-CO). “Investments like this give our workforce the skills and experience for in-demand jobs that’ll clean up contaminated sites and build a more sustainable economy!”   “Today's announcement is a huge win for our community and for our workforce Investing in Groundwork Denver will open doors for Coloradoans to gain in-demand environmental careers and strengthen our leadership in environmental justice,” said U.S Representative Diana DeGette (CO-01). “I’m grateful to the EPA for recognizing Denver’s potential and investing in our shared vision to create a cleaner “The EPA's Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grant gave Groundwork Denver the ability to create our Green Infrastructure Training Program (GRIT) which introduces young people to careers in green infrastructure and gives them the opportunity to build skills towards those careers,” said Groundwork Denver Executive Director Derek McCoy. “Thanks to the EPA Brownfields Job Training grant award we can continue the important work of supporting young people in finding their passion and choosing careers that can help make their communities healthier A previous GRIT program student class learns how to professionally tree climb Groundwork Denver is an environmental nonprofit organization that first piloted the GRIT program in 2021 with a previous EPA Brownfields Job Training Grant Groundwork Denver plans to use this year’s funding to further refine the program by investing in employer partnerships and facilitating employment placement.  Individuals that complete Groundwork Denver’s GRIT program training will graduate with certifications including:  Practices for Assessing and Protecting Water Quality on Brownfields Sites  Groundwork Denver is one of 16 organizations selected to receive over $7.6 million in funding to build skilled environmental workforces in economically distressed communities across the nation Job training and workforce development are an important part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advance economic opportunities and address environmental justice issues in underserved communities.  Visit EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Grants webpage for more information on these grants.  Former commercial and industrial properties in South Providence have been redeveloped into a campus for a nationally recognized non-profit for children with special needs and developmental delays has transformed an abandoned industrial area into a safer Its early childhood programs and schools now serve over 7,000 children and their families each year Working with EPA and other private and public partners Meeting Street turned a brownfields site into the organization's 9-acre campus in 2006 enrollment has drastically increased and demand for services is quickly outpacing the organization's ability to meet it Meeting Street recently expanded its campus by three acres and plans to further expand in one of the most economically distressed communities in Rhode Island The Lower South Providence neighborhood that is home to Meeting Street includes a mix of homes The neighborhood also once hosted metals manufacturing businesses and auto repair shops Changes in urban manufacturing in the 1970s led to a mass movement of middle-class families out of the neighborhood and concerns about contamination from lead A $200,000 EPA cleanup grant in 2004 funded the cleanup that led to Meeting Street opening the new campus in 2006 To continue with ambitious efforts to expand Meeting Street applied for and received three additional cleanup grants totaling $600,000 in 2018 They were also successful in competing for funds at the state level winning a total of $1.2 million in funding through Rhode Island's Brownfield Bond Fund and the Brownfields Remediation and Economic Development Fund These funds paid to clean up three blighted industrial lots associated with a former metal plating business and automotive junkyard and repair shop Meeting Street then expanded its parking and athletic facilities onto these properties adding a new outdoor track and a multi-sport artificial turf field that completed the second step in its four-part master expansion plan the RI Department of Environmental Management the RI Health and Educational Building Corporation and other private and public funders has led to the successful cleanup of these four properties and the creation of a world-class $55 million campus "The EPA Region 1 team has been an invaluable partner in Meeting Street's 15-year journey to productively reuse brownfields across Lower South Providence Our work to be a community resource for families supporting the healthy development and education of all children has been made possible by the EPA Brownfields program and their collaboration with the RI Department of Environmental Management." Meeting Street has transformed the community of South Providence once an economically distressed area with high rates of poverty The neighborhood now boasts this center of academic achievement that serves families and children of all abilities at its early childhood programs and schools that deliver customized therapy and occupational and speech-language therapy rooms The new parking lots offer a safer traffic flow and more parking for visitors and student families The new athletic facilities are home to cross country and spring track teams Over 83 percent of the students enrolled come from families living at or below the federal poverty threshold highlighting the enormous contribution this project brings to economically distressed communities With the influx of students and new programs Meeting Street has even bigger plans for future redevelopment Meeting Street has plans to expand its 9-acre campus by three more acres and more than 100,000 square feet of program space as part of its five-to-seven year Campus Expansion plan The goals are to create a center for preschool and early childhood development fostering higher educational achievement in the community EPA's Targeted Brownfields Assessment Program is helping Meeting Street assess another brownfield for the next expansion The final project is expected to create 50 new permanent full-time and part-time jobs in South Providence Meeting Street took what was left behind by New England's industrial past and revamped it to improve safety and academic achievement empowering residents and giving children a better chance to succeed EPA’s Brownfields Program helps communities assess and clean up brownfield sites so they can be sustainably reused more than 125 sites have been assessed using federal resources others need less redevelopment intervention A brownfield is a property or site where suspected contamination has prevented its use or redevelopment Cleaning up and reusing these sites increases property values Riverfront Park in Manchester was once the site of Smitty’s Appliance The site was included in a larger plan to redevelop the area that runs alongside the Maquoketa River which travels through the community and was connected to a hydroelectric dam This historic low-head dam was deemed a safety hazard for recreational use of the river and was removed in 2014 Part of the plan to redevelop the area included making the river more accessible and safer to use along with the creation of a whitewater flow for recreational use the Manchester Brownfield Site had underground storage tanks that prevents people from using the property,” said Jennifer Morris Mel Pins, Brownfields program manager for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) found that their contents were non-hazardous indicate the presence of asbestos materials on the property the cleanup of which was funded by a cost-match grant from EPA “The Brownfields Program was instrumental in getting rid of hurdles that were in the way of them realizing their vision They could approach their redevelopment project confidently and safely because we assisted with this assessment and cleanup funding,” Pins said Following the cleanup of the Manchester Brownfield Site in 2019, Riverfront Park has been transformed into a bustling public access point for the city’s Whitewater Park And where Smitty’s Appliance once blocked access to the Maquoketa River complete with amenities such as public restrooms EPA’s contribution of nearly $38,000 resulted in area redevelopment totaling over $1.3 million Council Bluffs received an EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant to evaluate one of the Harvester Warehouses Artspace, a nonprofit real estate developer focused on creating affordable spaces for artists, hoped to revitalize the 100-year-old abandoned industrial warehouse. Council Bluffsused the $200,000 grant to assess the environmental hazards at the site in 2006 the abandoned brick warehouse in the heart of the city’s industrial district was impacted by heavy metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in its upper soils The Pottawattamie County Development Corporation (PCDC) purchased the property in 2003 and enrolled in the IDNR Voluntary Cleanup Program IDNR awarded PCDC a $23,000 EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant which assisted in soil cleanup at the site in late 2008 The contributions of different organizations working together makes the redevelopment of these brownfield sites so successful “We like to help turn brownfields from obstacles into opportunities,” Pins said The renovation of the warehouse was completed in July 2010 and includes 36 residential lofts While the goal was to create a mixed-use space where artists can live redevelopment of the Harvester Warehouse also contributed to an area-wide revitalization of downtown Council Bluffs Following the successful development of the first Harvester Warehouse the city used another $200,000 award to assess and clean up a second one which was built in the 1890s and used as an agricultural implement warehouse until about 1968 It was then used by a video equipment rental business and as a storage facility “To clean up the second Harvester building the city of Council Bluffs and I worked with the state of Iowa Historic Preservation Office to ensure that historic features of the building were protected during the abatement of asbestos,” Morris said when I visited the site during its redevelopment by PACE I experienced the grandeur of the preserved windows in the open concept function hall The second life of the building is transforming the industrial downtown of Council Bluffs and is becoming a destination for education entertainments and events for diverse patrons.” Housing and Economic Development manager for Council Bluffs echoed these sentiments: “Fifteen years ago the Harvester buildings were vacant warehouses that many believed should be demolished Local leaders had a vision for this area that would spotlight its uniqueness and save the historic buildings With the help of EPA’s Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup programs Council Bluffs created the Harvester Lofts and now the Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center Without the Assessment and Cleanup programs no developer would be willing to create projects of this magnitude on the previously contaminated ground “The completion of the $27 million Hoff Center showcases the importance of EPA’s program to identify opportunities and mitigate contamination that may stand in the way of redevelopment We are incredibly grateful to EPA for its continued support of Council Bluffs and the impact made in our community.” Areas with priority sites include the Arts and Cultural District 16th Avenue area west of the South Expressway and Iowa Highway 275 area north of Lake Manawa On June 15, 2008, floodwaters crested the Coralville Reservoir at 31½ feet, the highest ever recorded. Residents of Iowa City had only five days’ notice before this 500-year flood event covered 1,600 city acres Volunteers from the city and the University of Iowa filled more than 100,000 sandbags per day amounting to over 1 million bags by the time the flooding stopped nearly 100 homes were irreparably damaged and 20 university buildings flooded Iowa City suffered over $6.5 million in total property damage while damage to the University of Iowa was valued at $230 million The Riverfront Crossings District (RCD)sustained immense flood damage EPA partnered with Iowa City along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Rebuild Iowa Office a state agency formed to assist in post-flood rebuilding and urban design options for the flood-damaged areas of the RCD the city applied for additional EPA assistance and was chosen as one of five cities nationwide to participate in a Brownfields Pilot Project The project centered on development planning “EPA technical assistance was helpful in many ways and think about development and the river in a different way – and think about infill differently the workshop and other technical assistance were very positive.” In 2011, after drafting the initial redevelopment plans, the Iowa City community took the lead. They completed the Riverfront Crossings Park master plan in 2015 Wetlands and trails were created as part of the restoration And a nature play area was completed in 2018 “The difference between what is there now and what was there 10 years ago is incredible,” said David Doyle community revitalization coordinator for EPA Region 7 “EPA aided in plans for long-term recovery focusing on how to rebuild in a sustainable way The city took those plans and expanded them and they plan to continue to build alongside the river and attract new development in the future.” with plans to continue building in the area “One of the highlights of my planning career was the Riverfront Crossings work that was funded by EPA The plan has been very useful to the city and is helping transform the area into a cool urban neighborhood,” said Robert Miklo EPA Region 7 is committed to assisting communities with improving and revitalizing brownfield sites While some sites may require continuous support others may simply require the assurance established by site assessments which help community partners attract investors The development of mixed-use spaces at former brownfield sites brings people together to create vibrant Brownfields cleanup and revitalization does much more than transform abandoned contaminated properties; it contributes to millions of dollars in leveraged redevelopment ultimately transforming the communities within which they reside Brownfields redevelopment encourages the creation of community through space and Eastern Branch Head Sharon Poissant Eckard listen as residents speak out during a public information meeting on the 828 Site Draft Brownfields Agreement at Chapel Hill Library on Sept The Department of Environmental Quality held a public meeting on Wednesday to discuss the draft Brownfields Agreement for the redevelopment of the Town of Chapel Hill Police Property located at 828 Martin Luther King The meeting included a summary of the proposed plan to cap coal ash at the site along with public comment from community members Home » Home » ‘The Compound’ in Palm Bay to Benefit from Brownfields Assessment Grant By  //  December 19 FLORIDA – The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council received a $1.5 million Brownfields Assessment Grant for use community-wide over four years The target area identified in the grant application focused on the area of Palm Bay, which is referred to as “the compound.” Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $300 million in Brownfields Multipurpose The East Central Florida Resilient Corridors Coalition will administer the grant “Brownfields grant funding can serve as a vital economic development tool to foster redevelopment and reuse of key commercial and industrial sites in communities with real or perceived contamination,” said Joan Junkala-Brown Grant funds can be used to conduct Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments on identified sites the cost of which can be a barrier to certain development opportunities The Resilient Corridors Coalition will complete an evaluation of proposals from professional consulting firms interested in contracting to assist with implementing the brownfields program under federal regulations Following the start of the 2025 calendar year the City will bring forth a Memorandum of Understanding between the RPC and the City of Palm Bay to formalize the partnership and use of the grant funds Following the selection of a professional consultant the Coalition will kick off grant deliverables including community engagement opportunities CLICK HERE for more information as updates become available When General Development Corporation went bankrupt in 1991 and the land that makes up The Compound was liquidated The Compound remains largely undeveloped aside from the roughly 200 miles of roadway installed by GDC the area known as the Compound is mostly privately owned and zoned for residential use although the City of Palm Bay owns the paved roadways The area known as The Compound is not zoned as a recreation area open to the public The City of Palm Bay officials said that although nearly all of The Compound is privately owned the area has been increasingly used illegally as a popular spot for outdoor recreational activities This misconception has led to an increase in illegal activity in the area Anyone entering private property without the consent of the landowner is trespassing The public may access the City-owned paved roadways; however and operating off-road vehicles are all prohibited on City roadways or waste of any other kind is also prohibited as The Compound is zoned for residential use shooting firearms is illegal and a public safety hazard Dealing weapons in The Compound is especially hazardous as bordering areas such as the Three Forks Marsh Recreation area Anyone in the area must observe all laws for their safety and that of others All violations in The Compound are punishable and may include fines or possible jail time The Palm Bay Police Department engages in spot enforcement and public information campaigns to educate those using the area known as The Compound as a recreational site The City of Palm Bay will introduce additional public education materials to deter improper or illegal use of properties in the compound and increase safety awareness Educating the community about The Compound’s realities is key to public safety and impacts the City of Palm Bay’s first responders Police and Firefighters need to be able to reach the call location safely and on time Emergency response times may suffer if routes are blocked by vehicles or debris The efficacy and well-being of these workers can be compromised by issues like unsafe drivers and firearm use in The Compound The Compound is many things to many people Many choose to use the area for off-roading “The reality of the situation is that there is one thing The Compound is not: a recreational area,” said City of Palm Bay officials on the city website “Anyone who chooses to use The Compound for recreational activities is likely in violation of the law and could be compromising their safety The City of Palm Bay urges residents and visitors to seek out other sanctioned authorized venues for outdoor recreation.” mainly depends on the individual landowners There are no plans to revisit the concept of a large-scale ‘GDC-style’ development at the site Conceptual plans for a future extension of the St John’s Heritage Parkway pass through The Compound The Florida Department of Transportation is currently carrying out an Alternative Corridor Evaluation to determine possible alignments for the roadway Providing the results of the ACE are positive FDOT will then begin a Project Development and Environmental Study to determine the proposed project’s environmental impacts before any construction can begin Click Here to Sign Up for Text Alerts Ninety new apartments will soon be available on five acres that once hosted a paper recycling company The site of the former Creative Paper and Packaging Co is the future home of a $20 million development of one- and two-bedroom apartments The site is located along the James Street Corridor in Worcester which is a gateway to the city from the southwest This area has been recognized by the state as having high unemployment and high asthma rates a 124,100-sqaure-foot single-story building at 175 James St. was used as a cardboard recycling facility from the 1980s through 2011 Prior use of the property was as a cardboard box manufacturer The Worcester Fire Department contacted EPA's Emergency Response program in early 2013 with concerns about barrels of chemicals remaining in the 57-year-old building EPA found multiple 55-gallon drums and containers of hazardous and reactive chemicals along with asbestos pipe insulation in the building At the request of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection EPA's Emergency Response program did a cleanup in the summer and fall of 2013 to address the most time-critical issues at the site This short-term cleanup cost $191,000 and included removing the drums The City of Worcester remained concerned about the vacant site because of additional asbestos in the building and residual contamination in the soils and wanted to see it redeveloped for a productive purpose Because of their extensive experience with EPA's Brownfields program the city charted a course to take control of the property and use the Brownfields process to complete cleaning up the site and readying it for redevelopment The City of Worcester took ownership of the property through tax foreclosure in 2014 and asked for proposals to redevelop the property a private developer was selected to redevelop the site into much-needed market rate housing that would transform the James Street corridor The developer funded Phase I and II environmental assessments from 2016 through 2019 to further characterize any residual pollution left on the site after the EPA Emergency Response action underutilized property has been remediated and put back to productive use leveraging $20 million in private investment to create 90 units of much needed housing for our community." Through its Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program the city loaned the developer $1.25 million in March of 2020 that paid to demolish the building remove additional asbestos and other hazardous building materials and excavate and remove soils contaminated with PCBs and arsenic Phase I of the construction developed 16 market rate apartments in 2022 ranging in size from 900 to 1,200 square feet The remaining phase of project will include 74 additional units for a total of 90 units is revitalizing a gateway corridor that welcomes people coming into Worcester Investments from this project have spurred other improvements along this corridor Residents of the James Street Corridor are enjoying a revitalization of their neighborhood with this project transforming an eyesore into rental housing ← → Toxicologist Danielle Stevenson cleans up carbon-based pollutants and heavy metals from contaminated sites using fungi and plants She’s also training environmental justice and tribal communities in using these methods so they can remediate toxic sites on their own The United States is dotted with up to a million brownfields — industrial and commercial properties polluted with hazardous substances These sites are disproportionally concentrated near low-income communities and communities of color according to the Environmental Protection Agency and researchers predict that heavy rains and flooding due to climate change are likely to both spread and increase exposure to these contaminants who holds a PhD in environmental toxicology from the University of California has been pioneering a nature-based technique for restoring contaminated land using fungi and native plants to break down toxins like petroleum The usual way of dealing with tainted soil is to dig it up and cart it off to distant landfills But that method is expensive and simply moves the problem somewhere else Stevenson says in an interview with Yale Environment 360 “typically to another state with less restrictive dumping laws.” Yale Environment 360: I understand that you grew up on the shores of Lake Erie in a highly polluted area Subscribe to the E360 Newsletter for weekly updates delivered to your inbox. Sign Up But I was surprised to see abandoned oil refineries and factories with trees they’ve found fungi growing in Chernobyl in a melted down nuclear reactor I’ve been on sites that look so desolate and bleak It looks like nothing could possibly live there and we especially find fungi that are really resilient and have found a way to live in those conditions and get some sort of food from the pollution e360: So you became interested in fungi, eventually founding your own mycoremediation company, D.I.Y. Fungi e360: How do fungi help restore contaminated soil Stevenson: Decomposer fungi can degrade petrochemicals the same way they would break down a dead tree they reduce the toxicity of these petrochemicals and create soil that no longer has these contaminants or has much reduced concentrations of it They can also eat plastic and other things made out of oil Stevenson: They would probably rather eat cellulose and instead there’s diesel or something that’s essentially made out of carbon applying their enzymes the same way they would if it was cellulose e360: You worked at industrial sites in Los Angeles that were highly contaminated with heavy metals: How did the fungus help there e360: How did the sites look different after the work that you did on them Stevenson: They became basically beautiful meadows of native plants that were flowering and now there are bees and birds and all sorts of life coming through In three months we saw a more than 50 percent reduction in all [petrochemical] pollutants Scientists are trying to coax the ocean to absorb more CO2. Read more It costs millions of millions of dollars per site contaminated sites sit all over the country for decades not being cleaned up typically to another state with less restrictive dumping laws It spreads a ton of toxic dust along its route and [all that trucking] leads to emissions contributing to climate change Stevenson: They showed me a massive pile of garbage bags filled with lubricant-soaked rags that all get sent to the landfill Bike lubricants are made of petrochemicals So it’s super toxic and sticks around forever e360: So this pilot project was a two-step process: You begin with the mycelium Is this something that other bike shops could start doing themselves Stevenson: I’m actually working with this really awesome bike shop in L.A I just need some funding to actually test that system I have a whole design that’s had many iterations and is greatly improved e360: You’ve said that using fungi and plants to treat contamination is so much cheaper than other ways of dealing with the problem Is it that we just don’t know enough yet which is why I’ve been working with academia There’s a lot of regulatory barriers and even funding barriers to testing some of these so-called newer methods e360: I understand that you also run training programs with Native people so that they can start doing this restoration work themselves [on tribal lands] and you work with youth programs and environmental justice communities to empower them to clean up their own communities Stevenson: There have been a number of sacred sites that I have worked on at the invitation of several tribes that wanted to explore bioremediation What I have been told is that a lot of times [these communities] haven’t felt listened to And then I come in with the science that basically backs up the knowledge that the people already have — affirming the power of nature to restore itself except I’m using the scientific language that regulatory agencies and other groups are more likely to listen to Can a California oilfield be retrofitted to store solar energy? Read more People who live in a place impacted by pollution need to have a say in how their neighborhood is being cleaned up We need to empower them with the tools to do this That’s why along with doing these studies and pilot projects I’ve been running workforce development programs they could bring economic opportunities and benefits to the community in addition to cleaning up the contaminated site This interview was edited for length and clarity Never miss an article. Subscribe to the E360 Newsletter → The oil industry keeps finding new ways to maximize production from existing assets One operator has identified best practices for resurrecting production at dead gas condensate wells, while another has used machine learning (ML) to locate new reserves in a giant brownfield. Both highlighted their work during the International Petroleum Technical Conference (IPTC) in Kuala Lumpur in February After liquid loading halted gas production from some of Saudi Aramco’s wells the operator identified two best practices for reviving production The resulting effort realized “significant gas gain” from previously dead wells and made it possible to prolong the productive life of those fields, Qassim Hashim, a gas production engineer for Saudi Aramco, and coauthors wrote in IPTC 25106 Liquid loading occurs in a gas condensate reservoir when the reservoir pressure drops below the bubblepoint and liquid starts to drop out of the gas phase This isn’t problematic if there is enough energy provided by the pressure difference between the reservoir and wellbore to bring the liquid to the surface But if the hydrostatic pressure exceeds the reservoir pressure “Liquid loading is a common challenge in gas condensate producers where liquid accumulation can hinder the flow of gas the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ flagship magazine presents authoritative briefs and features on technology advancements in exploration and production ISSN: 1944-978X (Online)ISSN: 0149-2136 (Print) Nevada Business Magazine a full-service environmental consulting firm with over 35 years of experience offering environmental has been awarded a contract by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection’s (NDEP) Bureau of Corrective Actions This contract is to provide consulting services for the Nevada Brownfields Program and Environmental Assistance Program and redevelopment activities across the state Broadbent will assist NDEP in identifying and assessing brownfields sites which are properties potentially contaminated by hazardous substances The program aims to facilitate cleanup and prepare these sites for sustainable redevelopment providing economic benefits to communities statewide will provide a range of environmental services ensuring compliance with both state and federal environmental regulations “Our team at Broadbent is honored to have been selected and we embrace the opportunity to continue our partnership with NDEP by contributing to the success of the Nevada Brownfields Program,” said Randy Miller president and principal engineer at Broadbent & Associates “This work aligns with our commitment to environmental stewardship and community revitalization We look forward to leveraging our expertise to assess and remediate sites helping transform them into valuable assets that foster economic development.” For more information about Broadbent & Associates The historic Sibley Mill was a textile manufacturing site that closed in 2006 Located between the Savannah River and the Augusta Canal the 21-acre site has contaminated soil and several buildings contaminated with hazardous substances The commercially desirable canal-side location provided strong incentives for the site to be redeveloped the Augusta Canal Authority purchased the mill to clean up and redevelop the site The Augusta Canal Authority used EPA’s Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) checklist to guide the cleanup and redevelopment process This checklist requires that the resilience of remedial options be evaluated in light of reasonably foreseeable changing climate conditions The Augusta Canal Authority used climate change considerations provided by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to understand and account for expected climate impacts The site is vulnerable to more frequent and intense storms and flooding which can impact the mobility of contaminated material left onsite By including current and future risks from environmental changes in its analysis the Augusta Canal Authority was better able to understand potential vulnerabilities associated with their planned brownfields cleanup and to provide assurances to future site tenants or owners the Authority started a $1.3 million environmental cleanup which is expected to be highly resilient to climate projections developed for the area Rather than isolate and cap contaminated material onsite the Augusta Canal Authority excavated the contaminated soil and disposed of it offsite With assurance that the site was cleaned up in a resilient and safe manner Cape Augusta Digital Properties began a 75-year lease on the Sibley Mill complex in 2016 The property is being developed into a mixed-use technology park with a 20-megawatt data center Review the National Climate Assessment regional projection to better identify projected climate risks National Climate Assessment Considered climate risk and vulnerability when evaluating cleanup alternatives Use one of EPA's brownfields checklists to help consider anticipated climate changes in your Brownfields Corrective Action Plan Selected a Brownfield Cleanup Alternative with Adaptive Benefits Use EPA Brownfield Revitalization in Climate-Vulnerable Areas planning tool to help inform selection of appropriate adaptation option Climate Resilience Planning Tool Use State or Federal guidance to help direct cleanup alternatives and decisions: Georgia  Environmental  Protection  Division (GAEPD) Brownfield Corrective Action Plan (CAP) are at potential risk from the impacts of climate change See how sites are accounting for climate change during cleanup and redevelopment planning By Ellie Borst | 02/03/2025 06:31 AM EST Environment and Public Works Committee leaders are trying again to pass legislation to boost recycling data and infrastructure Senate Environment and Public Works Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) talk as the panel kicked off the new Congress last month The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will consider legislation to boost recycling and continue a popular program for revitalizing contaminated areas The panel will mark up a bill nicknamed the “STEWARD Act,” S. 351, and legislation to reauthorize EPA’s Brownfields Program, S. 347 The “STEWARD Act,” sponsored by Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), combines two bipartisan recycling and composting bills that Capito and former Chair Tom Carper (D-Del.) have been attempting to pass for years. Both bills cleared the Senate by unanimous consent last March but failed to become law who replaced Carper as the top Democrat on the committee John Boozman (R-Ark.) joined as co-sponsors for the new Congress HomeSponsored Series3BL NewsBrands Taking StandsArchiveAbout UsContact UsEnvironmentSocietyEconomyWake up daily to our latest coverage of business done better Get your weekly dose of analysis on rising corporate activism The best of solutions journalism in the sustainability space By signing up you agree to our privacy policy. You can opt out anytime. Commercial property owners are making space for community solar projects In addition to supporting positive community relations these projects enhance grid resiliency and enable local ratepayers to save money on their electricity bills as community solar arrays become a remediation strategy for contaminated sites like brownfields — abandoned industrial and commercial sites that contain contaminants like hazardous substances or pollutants Using shuttered landfills and other environmentally-compromised sites for solar development is already a common practice in the solar industry It allows solar developers to avoid the land use issues that arise when a large solar project is located on a farm or natural habitat The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began promoting brownfield-to-solar projects during former President Barack Obama’s administration, through the RE-Powering program the permitting and zoning process is typically shorter for these projects transmission and transportation infrastructure is already available Landfills are typically large enough to accommodate utility-scale projects and they include large areas where the grade is optimal for the placement of solar panels Communities tend to support re-use projects because they put derelict space into service while preserving open space for the possibility of another conversion in the future Unlike conventional power plants and other structures solar panels can be installed and removed with minimal disruption to the surface in which land is shared between solar arrays and habitat restoration projects Community solar began as a fringe concept, typically using property owned by local jurisdictions or nonprofit organizations. More recently, commercial property owners began supporting the community solar movement with rooftop arrays and ground-mounted projects “Community solar is a wonderful thing,” Richard Lu president and CEO of the Canadian solar developer SolarBank “More than 50 percent of households can’t have rooftop solar and a community solar project enables everyone to participate.” SolarBank specializes in community solar projects on brownfields and other compromised land. “There’s not much you can do with some of these legacy sites, not even a parking lot,” Lu said. “But a solar project can turn a Superfund site into a power generation site and it puts the property owner on much better terms with the EPA.” “It would be ridiculous to cover it all with a tarp Honeywell is happy about their community relations and the neighbors have a discount on their electricity,” Lu said SolarBank takes a systematic approach to site selection working closely with economic development officials in New York to understand the needs of underserved counties and local communities Opening up community solar arrays for local shepherds to graze their flocks is one example To help improve local grid resiliency, SolarBank is also integrating energy storage into its projects The company carefully researched emerging technologies before committing to a safety-enhanced battery to accompany a new community solar project on a landfill in Buffalo Although federal energy policy is in a state of disarray, state-based solar policies can still provide ample support for community solar projects on brownfields. Last September, for example, lawmakers in New Jersey approved additional incentives for community solar projects on landfills The enhancements earned acclaim from the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce. The new legislation "will turn underutilized and dormant sites into vibrant, productive properties that will have great economic development potential,” Michael Egenton, executive vice president of government relations for the chamber, said in a statement There is also room for growth in the broader field of landfill-to-solar conversions. The Florida-based engineering firm Castillo calculates that landfill solar projects in the U.S. rose 80 percent over the last five years, Waste Today reports Massachusetts and New Jersey — account for 70 percent of these utility-scale projects Whether or not the EPA continues to actively support the RE-Powering program, the stage is already set for growth. The agency calculates that approximately 6,000 landfills in the U.S. closed between 1988 and 2009, containing thousands of acres that could be converted to solar energy. Tina writes frequently for TriplePundit and other websites clean tech research and emerging energy technologies She is a former Deputy Director of Public Affairs of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and author of books and articles on recycling and other conservation themes Read more stories by Tina Casey Match Expires at Midnight GIVE NOW Report finds that mines and other brownfields are an untapped resource for accelerating the clean energy transition If clean energy continues to be sited the way it always has been, the U.S. will need an area the size of Texas to meet our climate targets Developing new large-scale energy projects on natural lands has long been thought to be the most affordable option but it also can create local conflict and negatively impact nature suggests that siting clean energy infrastructure on degraded lands like mining sites landfills and brownfields can be a win-win solution for climate The Mining the Sun report tells us the benefits of building clean energy projects on mine lands It offers two case studies of solar projects being built on mine lands that TNC has helped catalyze and includes overviews of relevant state and federal policies community engagement best practices and maps showing brownfield and mine sites viable for energy development Repurposing mines and brownfields for clean energy can reduce costs accelerate the clean energy transition and protect wildlife Renewable energy development on mine lands is an exceptionally promising avenue to produce clean energy in a way that respects communities and local landscapes 5 Benefits of Solar Energy on Former Mines and Brownfields: Worldwide there are an estimated 25 million acres of active and inactive mine lands, enough to accommodate a large amount of renewable energy development. The Mining the Sun national webmap shows where lands This navigable map goes one step further outlining lands that are suitable to renewable energy development so energy developers utilities and state and federal energy offices can easily identify lands that minimize impacts to nature While Illinois has the second largest coal reserves in the country mining has declined precipitously in the state remnants of the state’s economic past are evident on the landscape Coal mining peaked in 1935 with over 1,000 mines leaving Illinois with more than 200,000 acres of former strip mines across the state Illinois contains several thousand brownfield sites as Illinois seeks to meet ambitious clean energy goals these sites can serve as locations for wind and solar Download the Illinois state map that shows brownfields, mines and solar suitability lands across the state. Indiana has seen rapid growth in solar development in the recent past It was tied with Illinois as the most productive solar state in the Midwest Most projects have been sited on croplands which has given rise to controversies over the transformation of croplands into large scale solar projects to focus future clean energy development on mine lands and brownfields Analysis by The Nature Conservancy indicates there are just over 150,000 acres of mine lands in southwestern Indiana within ten miles of transmission that could host solar and other clean energy technologies Brownfields with an area greater than ten acres and within proximity of transmission are found across the state and offer a similar area (155,000 acres) for future clean energy development Download the Indiana state map that shows brownfields, mines and solar suitability lands across the state. Kentucky’s legacy of mining and industrial development could be key to helping the state play a leading role in the energy transition while protecting its rich natural areas The Martin County Solar Project will develop a new solar energy facility on 1,200 acres The project will supply Toyota Motor with renewable energy to reduce its carbon footprint The $1 billion project at the Starfire Mine developed by BrightNight will supply solar energy to Rivian Motors and other off takers; it will be built in several phases culminating in a 800-MW facility Download the Kentucky state map that shows brownfields, mines and solar suitability lands across the state. TNC estimates 370,700 acres of brownfields and 3,808 acres in mines have technical potential for renewable energy Many brownfield and mine sites are too small for utility scale projects but they offer great possibilities for community scale projects This could be especially valuable for the state’s widely scattered and remote rural communities As Nevada’s public utility prepares to expand transmission and renewable generation infrastructure these land assets can be incorporated in the utility’s statewide energy plan The state also has numerous brownfield sites many associated with mineral processing and smelting These sites represent the best opportunities for avoiding and minimizing impacts to Nevada’s diverse and sensitive ecosystems as renewable energy deployment accelerates Download the Nevada state map that shows brownfields, mines and solar suitability lands across the state. North Dakota is home to over 280,000 acres of previously developed sites where new energy development would not convert native habitat A TNC analysis suggests that across North Dakota there are 589 brownfield sites larger than five acres—identified as EPA- and state-designated brownfields former gas plants and abandoned oil/gas sites about 24,000 acres are low-impact brownfields—those that do not intersect with sensitive natural habitats and wildlife species These low-impact land areas could provide nearly 3 GW of low-impact solar electricity generation capacity assuming local nameplate capacity density of 30 MW/km2 Download the North Dakota state map that shows brownfields, mines and solar suitability lands across the state. there is a path to encourage renewable energy development in a way that does not harm agricultural operations many mines in the state have shuttered or downsized operations as the U.S TNC has identified roughly 567,600 acres of mine lands with access to transmission lines that are potentially suitable for renewable energy development nearly 300 brownfield sites totaling over 50,000 acres are located near transmission and potentially suitable for both community scale and utility scale solar projects Download the Ohio state map that shows brownfields, mines and solar suitability lands across the state. Virginia offers significant opportunities for solar development on previously mined lands and brownfields TNC estimates roughly 170,000 acres of brownfields and 70,000 acres of mine land are potentially suitable for solar development in Virginia The Virginia Clean Economy Act passed in 2020 mandates that the two major utilities in the state Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Electric Power produce 100% renewable electricity by 2045 and 2050 and requires at least 200 MW of solar to be developed on brownfields and mined lands Download the Virginia state map that shows brownfields, mines and solar suitability lands across the state. West Virginia has a timely opportunity to build on its legacy as a domestic energy provider for the 21st century by capitalizing on the vast land base of former surface coal mines as sites for new solar generation facilities TNC’s preliminary analysis suggests that up to 508,300 acres of mine lands and over 134,000 acres of brownfields could meet minimum site suitability requirements for large-scale solar across West Virginia Download the West Virginia state map that shows brownfields, mines and solar suitability lands across the state.  Wyoming’s economy has been deeply dependent on coal representing an opportunity and challenge for new wind and solar projects TNC’s analysis shows there are approximately 118,000 acres of mine lands and 70,000 acres of brownfields that could be suitable for renewable energy development in Wyoming Download the Wyoming state map that shows brownfields, mines and solar suitability lands across the state. Tucked away in the shadows of the Green Mountains dirt roads and general store where people stop to greet their neighbors Vermont looks like the quintessential worry-free New England village But sitting at Strafford’s center was the Elizabeth Mine an old copper mine that shuttered in the 1950s the leftover elements were still leaching acid into the Ompompanoosuc River a local waterway that feeds the Connecticut River when the mine's dam was on the brink of failure the Environmental Protection Agency swooped in to help When the mine clean up was coming to an end the community voted to develop a solar project on the former mine site 20,000 panels were put in place across the 45-acre mine site The Elizabeth Mine Solar project came online in 2016 generating 5 megawatts—enough to power every home in Strafford Today it stands as a testament to the power of what can be created when governments work together and to the importance of giving new ideas a chance The mine was still leaching acid into the Ompompanoosuc River with the mine's dam was on the brink of failure the Environmental Protection Agency swooped in to clean up the site After the clean up, the community voted to develop a solar project, installing 20,000 panels across the 45-acre mine site. The Elizabeth Mine Solar project came online in 2016, generating 5 megawatts—enough to power every home in Strafford our miners labored at Starfire to provide the energy that powered this country To think that the site can be reimagined as a new energy producer facilitating hundreds of millions in private capital investment and the creation of a skilled workforce in green energy is truly exciting Ready to get started on a Mining the Sun Project An environmentally sustainable development on the site of a former dairy factory in Richmond has brought new businesses to the heart of this town of 5,000 people with the help of a Vermont-led program The development at the former Richmond Creamery site was selected to receive support from the Brownfield Economic Revitalization Alliance (BERA) which joins government agencies and private investors in a team effort to revitalize high-priority brownfield properties The Richmond Creamery site is also the first project supported by the alliance where the cleanup and redevelopment have been completed The new environmentally sustainable development is bringing new housing and businesses to the heart of Richmond work and enjoy village life just minutes away from the city of Burlington closed in 1999 after 100 years of operation The loss of this employer was a blow to the community but the need for residential and commercial space in the village center has grown over the years worked together to allow the multi-phase redevelopment of the Richmond Creamery site including demolition of the remnants of the old buildings and construction of up to 60,000 square feet of apartments and commercial space The old creamery sat unused and derelict for two decades Contaminants on the property included ammonia refrigeration tanks asbestos and lead paint in the dilapidated buildings and heavy metals and toxic chemicals in the soil The buildings were in various stages of disrepair becoming increasingly dangerous to residents and posed a threat of materials containing lead and asbestos being released into the environment The Town of Richmond in 2014 passed interim zoning in order to ease the way for development and help attract developers The State of Vermont prioritized the project for Brownfields and other funding based on its designation as a Brownfield Economic Revitalization Alliance site in 2015 This project is a great example of collaboration among a long list of partners including the Alliance EPA's total investment of over $109,000 in assessment funding plus $136,000 in cleanup funding helped cover a substantial portion of the $1.3 million needed to assess and clean-up the contamination at the site This allowed Vermonters to see a path forward for turning a derelict brownfield in the downtown of a quaint Vermont village into a vibrant environmentally friendly mixed-use development that could drive the economic viability of the community "The primary reason we are now able to drive economic opportunities in Richmond Vermont is the Brownfield funding provided to mitigate the high cost of the clean‐up there were other elements that ensured the success but private or public investor would have been able to justify the costs of the brownfield clean‐up The economics would have been upside down and the property would continue to be unused and dangerous for the environment and our community Brownfields funding is a vital element to ensure that projects like the Creamery are viable and offer economic opportunity to businesses are grateful and honored to have received the support and hope that our success paves the way for other projects and communities." The first building is complete and has 14 apartments and almost 6,000 square feet of commercial space with 70 percent of the commercial space leased Tenants include a national environmental testing company With a major housing shortage in Vermont - especially for smaller lower-cost units – a long list of residents have expressed interest Construction is pending for the second building which will add another 36,000 square feet and up to 30 apartments The third phase is slated to add two more buildings totaling another 25,000 square feet The new building was constructed with environmentally friendly practices and a goal of minimizing its impact on the environment The first building will be fully net zero through solar arrays on the roof and on a 40-car parking canopy and future solar is planned in conjunction with future buildings The building was designed to achieve Efficiency Vermont's highest level of building standards for energy efficiency & utilization and to reduce waste local sourcing of construction materials reduced travel and shipping impacts and provided revenue and benefits to local businesses On September 6, the EPA announced $232 million in grant funding through the EPA’s Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup (MARC) program Counties are eligible for funding to assess and clean up polluted brownfields within their jurisdiction Brownfield sites are properties that have been exposed to pollutants damaged areas cause nearby residents to face environmental concerns and reduced property values The purpose of Brownfields program funding is to assess and clean up contaminated sites to remove harmful substances and pollution Counties can also use Brownfields funding to redevelop these sites to return them to productive use Through the Brownfield funding opportunities counties can clean up and revitalize these contaminated and abandoned properties Counties are eligible to apply for the following Brownfields Program grants: Cleanup Grants: These grants fund the cleanup of sites contaminated by hazardous substances They support the removal or treatment of environmental contaminants to restore the safety and usability of affected properties Community-wide Assessment Grants: These grants help communities create and manage inventories of Brownfield sites They support activities such as prioritizing sites for redevelopment Assessment Coalition Grants: These grants are similar to Community-wide Assessment Grants but are intended for a lead entity to partner with two to four smaller This collaborative approach assists counties and other organizations that may lack the capacity to apply for or manage EPA grants independently Revolving Loan Fund Grants: These grants offer no-interest or low-interest loans for eligible brownfield cleanups EPA anticipates awarding approximately 200 grants nationwide this cycle at amounts ranging from $500,000 to $4 million per award. This funding is provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,  (P.L 117-58). Applications are due by November 14, 2024 through grants.gov Multipurpose, Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Application Resources EPA Brownfields Homepage NACo’s Brownfields Primer NACo’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Resource Assessment Grants: September 19, 2024 at 12:00 pm ET Cleanup Grants: September 24, 2024 at 12:00 pm ET Commissioner Melody Villard and Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Sasha Nelson discuss the transition Moffat County planned to diversify its economy after the closure of coal mines and a power plant decimated its property tax revenue Communities rose all over the country to help build modern America those places became home for the people who made that work possible Amid the high-level work that put groundbreaking geothermal energy projects into Beaver County the local work has been crucial to making the endeavors a success Contact Us