EPA is extending to January 21 the deadline for applicants to submit proposals for the brownfields assessment, revolving loan fund and cleanup grants that are affected by the bona fide prospective purchaser reopener. Final proposals must be received before 6 p.m.

EPA's recently signed 2005 appropriations bill temporarily expands the number of brownfield sites that are eligible for funding under EPA's brownfields assessment, revolving loan fund, and cleanup grants. According to the appropriations bill, purchasers of brownfields sites may be considered bona fide prospective purchasers (and hence not liable for contamination on the site) if the property was purchased prior to January 11, 2002, provided all other provisions of the bona fide prospective purchaser requirements are met. This change applies only for grants awarded during the federal fiscal year 2005.

Because of this change, EPA is reopening the brownfields grant competition to allow entities that are affected by the changes to submit and/or resubmit proposals for brownfields funding. To qualify for participation in the reopened competition, applicants must identify specific brownfields sites.

If you have questions about whether a brownfields site may be eligible for grant funding based on this temporary change to the definition of bona fide prospective purchaser, please contact Tom Stolle, EPA Region III Brownfields Coordinator in Philadelphia at 215-814-3129 or stolle.tom@epa.gov.

1/14/2005