EPA Announces $2.4 Million Arizona Investment, Supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to Revitalize Communities
Arizona Communities Will Receive Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grants to Help Build A Better America While Advancing Environmental Justice
Phoenix – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a $2.4 million investment in Arizona to revitalize communities across the state by cleaning up contaminated and blighted properties and redeveloping them for productive reuse. The funding in Arizona will be provided through four EPA Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup, and Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund grants. The grants are supported by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides a total of $1.5 billion to advance environmental justice, spur economic revitalization, and create jobs by cleaning up so called “brownfield” properties -- contaminated, polluted, or hazardous sites slated for revitalization through a specialized EPA program.
“Today’s announcement breathes new life into Arizona communities by turning contaminated properties into economically productive community resources,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “Thanks to the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is significantly increasing our investments in Arizona communities, providing assistance to areas long overburdened and underserved.”
“I worked hard to ensure the Brownfields program was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These grants will help Arizona cities and tribes turn abandoned, unused, and contaminated properties into prime sites for economic redevelopment,” said United States Senator Mark Kelly. “Today’s grants are just the first of many awards Arizona communities will receive to support healthier environments, more jobs and economic growth.”
“These Brownfields Grants directly invest in the safe cleanup of dangerous chemicals in Arizona communities, helping ensure continued economic development and opportunities throughout Arizona,” said United States Senator Kyrsten Sinema.
EPA’s Brownfields Program also delivers on the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which directs at least 40 percent of the overall benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities. EPA is committed to meeting and exceeding this goal. Approximately 86 percent of the communities selected to receive funding as part of today’s national announcement will support historically underserved areas.
EPA’s funding supports Arizona communities’ efforts to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields by stimulating economic opportunity and environmental revitalization. Projects range from cleaning up buildings with asbestos and lead to assessing and cleaning up abandoned properties contaminated by former chemical use.
Cochise County is selected to receive $500,000 to focus on the Cities of Benson, Bisbee, Douglas, and Wilcox. The funds will be used to identify, prioritize, and assess brownfield properties, as well as support community engagement and reuse and cleanup planning.
The City of Show Low is selected to receive $409,000 for cleanup of the now-abandoned Woody’s Bulk Fuel Storage and Distribution Facility. The facility operated from the 1940s until 2009, leaving the property contaminated with inorganic contaminants, heavy metals and petroleum.
The City of Tucson is selected to receive $1,000,000 as a Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund from which the city will provide six loans and two subgrants. The loans will revolve back into the Fund to support future brownfield cleanups. The project will focus on the Tucson neighborhoods of La Doce, the Oracle Road/Miracle Mile area, Barrio Centro/Julia Keen Neighborhood and Downtown Tucson/Historic Barrios. Priority properties for cleanup include a former fueling station, a former private school and a transit center and adjacent parking lot.
The White Mountain Apache Tribe is selected to receive $500,000 for cleanup of dilapidated cabins at the Hawley Lake Recreational Area near the Town of McNary. The cabins were constructed between 1959 and 1978, and the buildings and surrounding soil is contaminated with metals from hazardous building materials, such as lead and asbestos. Rehabilitation of these rental cabins presents an economic opportunity for the tribe and builds on previous EPA-funded assistance. Grant funds also will be used to support community engagement.
A full list of the applicants selected for funding is available here: Brownfields Applicants Selected.
Since its inception in 1995, EPA’s investments in brownfield sites have leveraged more than $35 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. This has led to significant benefits for communities across the country. For example:
To date, this funding has led to more than 183,000 jobs in cleanup, construction, and redevelopment.
Based on grant recipient reporting, recipients leveraged an average $20.43 for each EPA Brownfields dollar and 10.3 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds expended on assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund cooperative agreements.
In addition, an academic peer-reviewed study has found that residential properties near brownfield sites increased in value by 5% to 15% because of cleanup activities.
Finally, analyzing data near 48 brownfields, EPA found an estimated $29 million to $97 million in additional tax revenue for local governments in a single year after cleanup—2 to 7 times more than the $12.4 million EPA contributed to the cleanup of those brownfield sites.
For more on Brownfields Grants: Types-brownfields-grant-funding.
For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: Brownfields Program.
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