On May 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $14,232,308 is going to Pennsylvania from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Pennsylvania while advancing environmental justice.

EPA selected 18 communities in Pennsylvania to receive grants totaling more than $13.5 million in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs.

Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is the largest ever funding awarded in the history of the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs.

“We’re working across the country to revitalize what were once dangerous and polluted sites in overburdened communities into more sustainable and environmentally just places that serve as community assets. Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we’re moving further and faster than ever before to clean up contaminated sites, spur economic redevelopment, and deliver relief that so many communities have been waiting for,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This critical wave of investments is the largest in Brownfields history and will accelerate our work to protect the people and the planet by transforming what was once blight into might.”

“This unprecedented funding will make a big difference in communities where assessing and cleaning up idle properties can spur growth and create economically-thriving places,” said EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz.  “I’ve visited communities across Pennsylvania where past brownfields funding has helped revitalize neighborhoods, some with new, affordable housing, new jobs and businesses, and greener, healthier spaces.”

Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects.

As brownfield sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places.

EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities.

The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations into all aspects of its work. Approximately 84 percent of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities.

PA Grant Recipients

In Pennsylvania, 18 organizations have been selected to receive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Programs.

These two are among the 18 selected for MARC grants:

-- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has been selected to receive a $2 million grant to conduct 21 Phase I and 10 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds will also be used to prepare five cleanup plans and to conduct community engagement activities including holding 20 community meetings.

The target areas for this grant are communities impacted by coal-fired plants, communities within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and other small and rural communities throughout the state.

 Priority sites include a former coal-powered power plant, a former rail line and station, the Harrisburg International Airport, a mixed-use creek-side property, and a former paper mill.

-- Earth Conservancy has been selected to receive over $1.9 million. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Nanticoke Creek watershed in Hanover Township. The cleanup site is on mine-scarred land with adjacent properties, particularly those upstream, that contain sulfide minerals.

These minerals produce acid mine drainage that flows into the watershed, rendering groundwater impotable and impairing, if not destroying, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community outreach activities.

Other grant recipients in Pennsylvania include: Ambridge, PA, Beaver County, Clarion County Economic Development Corporation, Cresson Township, Dauphin County Redevelopment Authority, Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County, Geisinger Clinic-Dickson City, Johnstown Redevelopment Authority, North Side Industrial Development Company, Pottstown, Redevelopment Authority of the City of Harrisburg, Redevelopment Authority of Montgomery County, SEDA-COG and the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh.

You can read more about this year’s MARC Grant selectees in Pennsylvania and other states and Tribes MARC selectees.

EPA also selected the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development to receive $600,000 in  non-competitive supplemental funding for its existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant program. 

PAID’s RLF grant program has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to four cleanup projects that have been completed.

Potential projects highlighted for use of the BIL funding include Frankford Transportation Center, ACANA Africa Center, and Sharktown. The BIL funding will extend the capacity of the program to provide funding for more cleanups in the most underserved areas in the City of Philadelphia.

Read more about this year’s RLF recipients.

[Posted: May 26, 2023]

5/29/2023