Environmental Law

Pennsylvania's Share of Brownfield Stimulus Dollars

By M. Joel Bolstein

Lots of people ask me whether Pennsylvania has received any federal stimulus dollars that are being directed toward brownfield redevelopment.  Based on the information available on US EPA's website, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, $98,250,000 is supposed to be made available for brownfield redevelopment.    On May 8, EPA announced the release of $37.3 million in Recovery Act Funds for brownfield projects in 252 communities.  Included on that list were 5 projects in Pennsylvania receiving cleanup or assessment grants between $200,000 and $900,000 for a combined total of $2,060,000.   So, roughly 5.5 percent of the federal stimulus money for brownfield projects has been awarded to projects in Pennsylvania.  The projects are located in Sayre Borough, Central City, Johnstown, Pottstown, Pittsburgh, and Steelton.  If an equal percentage of the remainder of the federal brownfield stimulus money is received by Pennsylvania communities, we can expect to see another $3 million dollars from US EPA made available in the Commonwealth.  In addition to the stimulus money, EPA continues to provide brownfield assistance money through its normal appropriations.  For example, the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority (for which this author serves as the outside environmental solicitor) was recently awarded an additional $500,000 for its community-wide hazardous substance revolving loan fund.   Those funds are available for site assessment and remediation work at projects located in Bucks County.  The Redevelopment Authority maintains a brownfield inventory on its website.  I'd encourage developers and companies looking to locate or expand in Bucks County to go to the BCRDA's website, review the brownfield inventory, and make an appointment to meet with the BCRDA's executive director, Bob White, to talk about potentially using the RLF money.  

I'll continue to monitor the EPA's release of the remaining $61 million in federal stimulus money targeted at brownfield development and alert readers to awards being made in Pennsylvania communities.

Full post as published by PA Brownfields Environmental Law on June 16, 2009 (boomark / email).