Virginia receives a big boost in federal funds for brownfields work

Virginia has been awarded a file quantity of federal {dollars} to put the groundwork for the cleanup of contaminated or probably contaminated websites often known as brownfields within the cities of Emporia and Newport Information and the cities of Appalachia and Blackstone.

This month, the U.S. Environmental Safety Company awarded the Virginia Division of Environmental High quality $2 million in brownfields grants, probably the most of its form ever obtained by DEQ, with an extra $3.5 million going to regional and native governments and authorities.

The $5.5 million in funding is the newest signal of elevated funding in Virginia’s brownfields cleanup efforts, which can additionally see extra infusions of money because the federal Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act prepares to funnel $1.5 billion towards such efforts over the subsequent 5 years.

Most lately, federal brownfields funding amounted to $200 million yearly via 2023, mentioned Chelsea Barnes, legislative director of the environmental and financial growth group Appalachian Voices. With the $1.5 billion earmark, “we will certainly see a rise within the funding ranges Virginia receives,” she mentioned.

These monies will likely be along with roughly $22 million Virginia is slated to obtain for the rehabilitation of deserted mine lands. Altogether, mentioned Virginia Division of Vitality Financial Growth Supervisor Daniel Kestner, the state expects to “get rid of a file variety of potential security hazards and enhance environmental advantages.”

Brownfields are outlined as properties whose “enlargement, redevelopment, or reuse … could also be sophisticated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.” They will embody all the pieces from former industrial websites to railyards to dry cleaners to gasoline stations.

Each the federal authorities and Virginia function their very own applications to revive and redevelop such websites.

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The Virginia Mercury is a nonpartisan, nonprofit information group masking Virginia authorities and coverage.

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