EPA Brownfialds Cleanup Grants:
Interested in Applying for Funding?
' what you need to know to get started...
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Brownfields Program?
The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's
(EPA) Brownfields
Program is designed
to empower states,
communities, and
other stakeholders
to work together in
a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up,
and sustainably reuse brownfields. EPA provides
technical and financial assistance for brownfields
activities through an approach based on four main
goals: protecting human health and the environment,
sustaining reuse, promoting partnerships, and
strengthening the marketplace. Brownfields grants
serve as the foundation of the Brownfields Program and
support revitalization efforts by funding environmental
assessment, cleanup,
and job training
activities. Thousands
of properties have been
assessed and cleaned up
through the Brownfields
Program, clearing the
way for their reuse.
Abrownfield is defined as: real property,
the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse
of which may be complicated by the
presence or potential presence of a
hazardous substance, pollutant, or
contaminant.The2002BrownfieldsLaw
further defines the term to include a site
that is: "contaminated by a controlled
substance; contaminated by petroleum
or a petroleum product excluded from
the definition of 'hazardous substance';
or mine-scarred land."
What are the Four Grant Types?
* Assessment grants provide funding for brownfields
inventories, planning, environmental assessments,
and community outreach.
^ Revolving Loan Fund grants provide funding
to capitalize a revolving loan fund that provides
subgrants to carry out assessment and/or cleanup
activities at brownfields.
* Cleanup grants provide direct funding for cleanup
activities at specific sites.
^ Job Training grants provide environmental training
for residents of brownfields communities.
What are Cleanup Grants?
Brownfields Cleanup grants provide funding for a grant
recipient to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield
sites. Funds may be used to address sites contaminated
by petroleum and/or hazardous substances, pollutants,
or contaminants (including hazardous substances com-
ingled with petroleum).
For the complete discussion of Brownfields Program
grant funding, refer to the EPA Proposal Guidelines
for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan
Fund, and Cleanup grants at: http://www.epa.gov/
brownfields/applicat. htm
How Do I Apply for a Cleanup Grant?
Applicants submit a proposal for each grant type that
they are applying for (i.e., assessment, revolving loan
fund, and/or cleanup). Each proposal must address the
selection criteria outlined in the guidelines.
Grant proposals should be concise and well organized,
and must provide the information requested in the
guidelines. Applicants must demonstrate that they
meet threshold criteria requirements and must respond
to evaluation criteria. Factual information about your
proposed project and community must be provided.
Proposals must include:
^ Cover letter describing project
^ Applicant information
^ Applicable mandatory attachments
(e.g., state letter)
^ Responses to evaluation criteria
All applicants must refer to the Proposal Guidelines
published by EPA.
Who is Eligible to Apply for a Cleanup
Grant?
Eligible entities include: state, local, and tribal
governments, with the exception of certain Indian tribes
in Alaska; general purpose units of local government,
land clearance authorities, or other quasi-governmental
entities; regional council or redevelopment agencies;
states or legislatures; or nonprofit organizations.
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Some properties are excluded from the definition of a
brownfield unless EPA makes a site-specific funding
determination that allows grant funds to be used at
that site.
In order to receive a Cleanup grant, the applicant
must be the sole owner of the property that is the
subject of its cleanup grant proposal by time of
proposal submission. For the purposes of eligibility
determinations in the guidelines only, the term "own"
means fee simple title. A written ASTM or equivalent
Phase I report must be completed and a minimum of an
ASTM or equivalent Phase II site assessment must be
underway or completed prior to proposal submission.
How Much Cleanup Grant Funding is
Available?
* Up to $200,000 per site - no entity may apply for
funding cleanup activities at more than five sites.
^ Cleanup Grants require a 20 percent cost share,
which may be in the form of a contribution of
money, labor, material, or services, and must be for
eligible and allowable costs.
How Long is the Cleanup Grant Period?
The performance period for a cleanup grant is three
years.
Is Pre-Application Assistance Available?
If resources permit, EPA Regions may conduct open
meetings with potential applicants. Check with your
regional office for date and location information. Your
regional Brownfields Program contacts can be found at:
http://www. epa.gov/brownfields/corcntct. htm
EPA can respond to questions from applicants about
threshold criteria, including site eligibility and
ownership.
What is the Evaluation/Selection Process?
Brownfields grants are awarded on a competitive
basis.Evaluation panels consisting of EPA staff and
other federal agency representatives assess how
well the proposals meet the threshold and ranking
criteria outlined in the Proposal Guidelines for
Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and
Cleanup grants. Final selections are made by EPA
senior management after considering the ranking
of proposals by the evaluation panels. Responses to
threshold criteria are evaluated on a pass/fail basis. If
the proposal does not meet the threshold criteria, the
proposal will not be evaluated. In some circumstances,
EPA may seek additional information.
Where Do I Find the Proposal Guidelines?
Electronic copies of the Proposal Guidelines can be
obtained from the EPA brownfields Web site at:
http://www. epa.gov/brownfields/applicat. htm
Additional information on grant programs may be
found at: www.grants.gov
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5105T)
EPA-560-F-05-238
August 2009
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
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