EPA brownfield site eligibility: What you should know
EPA brownfield site eligibility
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) specifies three types of properties potentially eligible for funding. They are:
- Sites contaminated by illegal controlled substances. This includes properties used to manufacture or distribute methamphetamine or other illegal drugs.
- Sites contaminated by petroleum or petroleum products. Such sites contain hazardous substances normally mixed with or added to crude oil or crude oil fractions during the refining process.
- Mine-scarred land. These sites include land, water and surrounding watersheds where there is ore and mineral extraction, beneficiation or processing.
|
Land where real or potential contamination from hazardous substances has affected property reuse. |
|
Environmental justice areas where redevelopment projects benefit the neighborhood and avoid physical or cultural displacement. |
|
Places where the applicant is not a party responsible for contamination. |
Sites and entities not eligible for brownfield grant funding
Some properties are ineligible for brownfields grant funding under CERCLA. You should not apply for brownfields grants if:
- The site is listed on the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL contains superfund sites with known releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants.
- The site is subjected to court orders and administrative orders.
- The site is owned or controlled by the federal government, such as formerly decommissioned defense sites.
- The site is targeted for enforcement.
- The site has liable entities for contamination, where grant funding would be used for remediation
Entities eligible for brownfield grants
In addition to the EPA brownfield site eligibility, you should also determine your eligibility as an entity for funding. The following entities are potentially eligible for brownfields grants.
- Local governments (county, municipality, city, town, township, school district, local public authority, etc.).
- Land clearance authorities.
- Government entities created by state legislature
- Regional councils.
- Redevelopment agencies.
- Nonprofit organizations.
- Limited liability corporations or partnerships.
- Qualified community development entities.
Determining your site's eligibility for brownfield grants is a detailed and time-intensive process. Partner with Fehr Graham to facilitate the timely submission of grant applications and the required additional information..
How Fehr Graham can help determine brownfield site eligibility
At Fehr Graham, we help at every stage of redevelopment. We’ll conduct environmental assessments after land transactions to develop remediation plans, secure funding and address regulatory issues. Let’s team up and transform empty industrial and commercial sites into useful spaces for your community. We’re proud of our work. Check out this list of our brownfield projects to discover what we can do for you.
- Redeveloping the vacant Amerock building into a hotel and convention center in Rockford, Illinois.
- Assessing and cleaning up the former Dixon Iron and Metal Company site in Dixon, Illinois.
- Remediating the Barber-Colman site in Rockford, Illinois.
Our multidisciplinary team has helped secure more than $7 million in funding to redevelop brownfield sites in communities across Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. When it comes to ensuring successful outcomes for your brownfield redevelopment projects, Fehr Graham is your one-stop solution.
To learn how Fehr Graham can help you determine EPA brownfield site eligibility, contact us or call 630.897.4651.
 |
Lynn Smith, PG, has more than two decades of experience navigating a wide variety of projects, from environmental due diligence and waste management to regulatory investigations and asbestos abatement. She has a knack for project and program management, real estate consultation and seamless client engagement. Contact her atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
