News Releases from Region 04

EPA Awards South Carolina $685,000 to Assess and Clean Up Brownfields

ATLANTA – (November 1, 2018) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $685,000 to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) to assess and clean up contaminated Brownfield sites throughout the state. The grant will enhance SC DHEC’s Voluntary Cleanup Program and funds the first year of a projected five-year project period.

“State Voluntary Cleanup Programs play a major role in cleaning up Brownfields,” said Region 4 Administrator Trey Glenn. “EPA’s grant will support South Carolina efforts to assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse Brownfields across the state.”

SC DHEC plans to build the capacity of its Response Program to accomplish its overall goal of achieving more Brownfield site assessments and cleanups which are performed in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment.

The grant is part of the EPA’s State and Tribal Brownfields Response Program funding under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Authorized at $50 million per year, the funding is shared among states, tribes and territories. The funding primarily supports new or existing environmental response programs. Funds can also be used for limited site assessments or cleanups at Brownfield sites; for activities that increase response actions by the state or tribal response program; to capitalize revolving loan funds for cleanup; and to purchase environmental insurance or develop other insurance mechanisms for Brownfields cleanup.

More information about State and Tribal Response Program grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding

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