EPA funds headed to CNY for brownfields cleanup

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced 254.5 million in brownfields grants to 265 communities, including several in the Central New York region.

Brownfield projects can range from cleaning up buildings with asbestos or lead contamination to assessing and cleaning up abandoned properties that once managed dangerous chemicals. Once cleaned up, those properties can be redeveloped into productive uses.

“With today’s announcement, we’re turning blight into might for communities across America,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a news release. “EPA’s Brownfields Program breathes new life into communities by helping to turn contaminated and potentially dangerous sites into productive economic contributors.”

Applicants selected for funding in the Central New York region are Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency, which received a $500,000 assessment grant; Mohawk Valley EDGE, allocated a $1 million revolving loan-fund grant; and Oswego County, a recipient of a $500,000 assessment grant.

“The Herkimer County IDA truly appreciates the continued support given by EPA, and we look forward to working on many projects throughout the course of this assessment grant,” John J. Piseck, CEO of the IDA, said. “Herkimer County continues to invest in brownfield redevelopment to get properties back to being productive. With this grant funding we look to support many community brownfield projects.”

“MV EDGE has worked for nearly two decades to build a brownfields coalition across the Mohawk Valley, so this $1 million revolving-loan fund arrives at a uniquely opportune moment in time,” Mohawk Valley EDGE President Steven J. DiMeo said. “The region has solid economic momentum as there is more private sector investment interest for reclaiming our urban centers and village main streets, redeveloping our industrial corridors, and revitalizing our waterfronts across Oneida and Herkimer counties. EDGE is grateful to the U.S. EPA for this award and the opportunity it provides to reimagine our region’s economic future.”

“Oswego County has a long history of working with the EPA and the (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) to address brownfield properties,” Jim Weatherup, chairman of the Oswego County Legislature, said. “Rehabilitation of these sites not only helps to increase tax revenue on those properties, but it also can inspire new investment and the jobs that come with it. We appreciate the EPA’s help and look forward to the positive impact this program will have on our local and regional economy.”

The EPA announcement includes about $180 million from the $1.5 billion in funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help turn brownfield sites across the nation into hubs of economic growth and job creation, along with more than $75 million from fiscal-year 2022 appropriations.

The funding includes $112.8 million for 183 assessment grants to provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach; $18.2 million for 36 cleanup grants to fund cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the recipient; $16.3 million for 17 revolving-loan fund grants to provide loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites; and $107 million for high-performing revolving-loan fund grants to help communities continue work on cleanup and redevelopment projects.

The EPA defines a brownfield as a property for which the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.