EPA Press Advisory

EPA REQUESTS PROPOSALS FOR BROWNFIELDS GRANT AWARDS IN FY 2003

Dave Ryan 202-564-7827/ryan.dave@epa.gov

FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2002

EPA is accepting proposals for national brownfields assessment, revolving loan fund and cleanup grants. These grants are part of the new Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act signed by President Bush in January 2002 to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize Brownfield sites. As part of his FY 2003 budget request, the President has called for a doubling of money for the Brownfields program to $200 million. (Brownfields are abandoned, idled or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.) EPA estimates that funds will be available to make up to 200 grant awards, almost double last year's awards, contingent upon availability of funds in the agency's 2003 budget. These grants may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances (including substances mixed with petroleum.)

• The brownfields assessment grants (each funded up to $200,000 over two years) provide funding for a grant recipient to inventory, characterize, assess and conduct planning and community involvement related to Brownfield sites.
• The brownfields revolving loan fund grants (each funded up to $1 million over five years) provide funding for a grant recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at Brownfield sites that are owned by the subgrant recipient.
• The brownfields cleanup grants (each funded up to $200,000 over two years) provide funding for a grant recipient to carry out cleanup activities at Brownfield sites that are owned by the grant recipient.

These grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. Initial proposals, due Dec. 16, will be evaluated and ranked by EPA regional evaluation panels. EPA will then determine those initial proposals that have the highest rankings, and invite those applicants to prepare and submit final proposals. Final proposals, which are due March 5, 2003, will be evaluated and ranked by National Evaluation Panels composed of EPA and other federal officials. Final selections will be made based upon the ranking of final proposals by the National Evaluation Panels, as well as other statutory and policy considerations. All initial proposals must be postmarked by USPS or delivered to the appropriate EPA regional office by other means, no later than Dec. 16, and a duplicate copy sent to EPA Headquarters. For more detailed information and assistance regarding the application process, contact the EPA Call Center at 703-412-9810 or 1-800-424-9346. The proposal guidelines are also available at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields. EPA will be cosponsoring a Brownfields conference Nov. 13-15 in Charlotte, NC, to help introduce the new and enlarged program inspired by the federal legislation signed by President Bush. The conference website is: http://www.brownfields2002.org.

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For more information or to view the Brownfields Proposal Guidelines, visit Brownfields Application Information