About
EPA’s Brownfields Program brings unique technical and program management experience, as well as public and environmental health expertise, to individual brownfield communities. Our direct, ongoing involvement with communities encourages and strengthens local efforts to expand stakeholder engagement, convene partners, build capacity and plan for the safe reuse and redevelopment of brownfields to meet economic development and public health goals.
Our History
In the mid-1990s, EPA began providing seed money to local governments to launch hundreds of two-year pilot projects and developed guidance and tools for cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites. The 2002 Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act codified many of EPA's practices, policies and guidance. Read more about our program history.
The 2018 Brownfields Utilization, Investment and Local Development (BUILD) Act reauthorized EPA’s Brownfields Program and approved changes that affect grants, ownership and liability provisions, and State and Tribal Response Programs.
Under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, Congress provided major funding to support planning, construction and operation of various public infrastructure improvements. These laws include new and existing federal programs that could be relevant and valuable for the brownfield and community revitalization projects. Explore how the program is using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding.
Brownfields Now
Since then, EPA's Brownfields Program has continued to empower states and communities to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse contaminated properties.
From Brownfields to Land Revitalization
EPA’s Brownfields Program supports land revitalization by providing grants and technical assistance to help communities clean up and sustainably reuse brownfield sites. The program distributes funds appropriated annually by Congress through competitive grants, non-competitive funding and technical assistance.
EPA’s Land Revitalization Program goes beyond site assessment and cleanup to support local community efforts to identify practical reuse options, remove barriers to site reuse, integrate sustainable and equitable approaches and attract resources. Land revitalization includes several different types of site reuse planning activities that can help communities understand local market conditions, financial feasibility and site design reuse scenarios. EPA’s Land Revitalization Toolkit contains a range of reuse-focused tools to help communities deal with their contaminated properties.
Announcements
Find the latest solicitations, awards, trainings and press releases.
Contact Us
Reach out with general questions or comments, or contact a brownfields representative in your EPA regional office.