The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the largest investment ever in brownfields communities made by ‘President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda.’
Brownfield refers to land that is abandoned or underutilized due to pollution from industrial use.
The $16,222,850 will be used to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfields sites in Maine while advancing environmental justice.
From the EPA:
EPA selected 14 communities in Maine to receive 14 grants totaling $10,222,850 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. In addition, the agency is announcing $6,000,000 in non-competitive supplemental funding to two successful existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant programs to help expedite their continued work at sites in their area by extending the capacity of the programs to provide more funding for additional cleanups.
One of the sites included is in Augusta:
The City of Augusta has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments and community outreach activities as well as prepare cleanup and revitalization plans. Priority sites include the 57,330-square-foot APGAR Building, which is a former cotton and textile manufacturing facility, and the former Carey’s Body Shop.
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