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News Releases from Region 10

EPA Brownfields Grants - totaling $600,000 - will help Idaho Falls assess and revitalize Brownfields properties

04/25/2018
Contact Information: 
Mark MacIntyre (macintyre.mark@epa.gov)
206-553-7302

Seattle - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected Idaho Falls to receive $600,000 from EPA’s Brownfields Grants program. The funding will provide key support toward the assessment of Brownfields property in Idaho Falls.

“EPA’s Brownfields Program expands the ability of communities to recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses, using existing infrastructure" said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. "These grants leverage other public and private investments, and improve local economies through property cleanup and redevelopment.”

According to Chris Hladick, EPA Regional Administrator in Seattle, EPA Brownfields grants are important resources for neighborhoods: “We’ve seen Brownfields projects make neighborhood revitalization and re-development dreams-come-true” said Hladick.  “By leveraging Brownfields funding to assess and clean-up contaminated properties, communities can prevent sprawl, protect the environment, and boost local economies.”

Here’s a “Snapshot” of the Idaho Falls Project:

Brownfields Assessment Grant - $351,000 for hazardous substances $249,000 for petroleum

Assessments will be conducted in the Idaho Falls Metropolitan Area, which consists of Idaho Falls, Ammon, Iona, and unincorporated areas of Bonneville and Jefferson Counties. The city’s coalition partners are the Idaho Falls Redevelopment Agency and the Bonneville Metropolitan Planning Organization.  Grant fundswill be used  to inventory and prioritize sites, support community outreach and conduct area-wide planning activities.  We are particularly interested in revitalizing our downtown and central portions of our city, “said Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper. “This Brownfields funding will greatly help revitalize these areas, encourage reinvestment, and help bring new life to places like Northgate Mile and the Warehouse District.” Contact: Kerry Beutler, (208) 612-8278.

EPA’s Brownfields ARC Grants assist communities where environmental cleanups and jobs are needed. These funds are used to conduct environmental assessments, cleanup planning, cleanups and conduct community outreach.

Brownfields are defined as those properties whose expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Brownfields sites include all "real property," including residential, commercial and industrial properties. It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 Brownfields in the U.S. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, reduces development pressure on undeveloped land, and improves and protects the environment.

For EPA’s National News Release: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/administrator-pruitt-announces-543-million-brownfield-grants-assess-and-clean

For more information on the ARC grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding
For more information on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
For more information on how brownfields restoration has positively impacted local economies and the quality of life for neighboring communitieshttps://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-success-stories