Maine gets ‘historic’ $20M Brownfields funds from EPA

The U.S. Environmental Safety Company (EPA) introduced this week a complete of $19.7 million in new grants and investments might be issued to 12 communities and governmental organizations in Maine to pay for the cleanup and growth of Brownfields properties all through the state.

The EPA’s Brownfields program units funding apart to assist pay to scrub up hazardous substances, air pollution or contaminants that will in any other case make it tough to develop a chunk of property. 

Portland, in line with the EPA, will obtain $3 million in funding for such cleanups. Mary Davis, town’s interim director of housing and financial growth, mentioned it was not clear the place town could be utilizing the brand new funding but, however Portland has used Brownfields cash to assist different growth tasks citywide prior to now.

For instance, Davis mentioned, Brownfields cash contributed to the cleanup crucial on the property on Thompson’s Level earlier than the Kids’s Museum and Theater may very well be relocated there. She additionally famous Brownfields cash has helped pave the way in which for brand new housing tasks, such because the Portland Housing Authority’s Solterra Residences, which opened final fall at 58 Boyd St. 

Proper now, she mentioned, work associated to no less than two new tasks within the metropolis has already been paid for partly by Brownfields cash: One other housing mission at the moment in progress by the Portland Housing Authority on Entrance Avenue, and a brand new mission about to start to renovate the house of Portland Housing’s Youth and Household Outreach program on Cumberland Avenue.

Davis mentioned that it was potential that the brand new Brownfields cash could be appropriated to extra inexpensive housing tasks given the demand for inexpensive housing within the metropolis.

“Their budgets are at all times tight,” she mentioned, including that funding for inexpensive housing “ensures that we’re getting the housing that we want.”

With out the help of Brownfields funding, Davis mentioned, such tasks would require paying for costly cleanup of supplies resembling lead paint and asbestos when the tasks contain renovating outdated buildings.

“This cash may very well be used to assist mitigate these hazards,” she mentioned.

The EPA’s assertion indicated that, along with Portland, the communities of Bathtub, Gardiner, South Portland, Waterville, Grey and Rockland will every get $500,000. 

The EPA can also be awarding $1 million to the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, $3.9 million to the Larger Portland Council of Governments, $1 million to the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, and $3.9 million to the Southern Maine Planning and Improvement Fee. 

On the state stage, the Maine Division of Financial and Group Improvement will obtain $3.9 million.

“Because of funding from Congress and the Biden Administration within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, EPA is making a historic funding to assist communities in Maine carry out Brownfields assessments and cleanups,” mentioned EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Money. “These tasks will bounce begin financial redevelopment and job creation, and can accomplish that in lots of neighborhoods which were underserved and are prepared to show environmental dangers into financial belongings.”

“As chair of the Home Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for the EPA, I’m thrilled to carry this funding again to Maine’s cities and underserved areas that are working to scrub up and repurpose contaminated websites,” Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) said in saying the funding.