Remediation Programs

Brownfields

An estimated $1 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will go to three North Carolina cities to help these communities clean up sites known as “brownfields” that may be contaminated by hazardous chemicals or pollutants. The grants will help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community use.

Applicants selected to receive Recovery Act funds for community-wide assessment are:
Concord - $200,000
Durham - $400,000
Greensboro - $400,000

The grants will help to assess, cleanup and redevelop abandoned, contaminated properties known as brownfields. Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.

In addition, EPA announced on Aug. 6, 2009, that the Land-of-Sky Regional Council in western North Carolina has been selected to receive $660,000 to provide loans and subgrants to help carry out cleanup activities, redevelopment projects, and create jobs for local residents living near brownfields sites.

Funds will be used to replenish the Revolving Loan Fund, from which the council will provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup activities at as many as three shovel-ready projects identified by the council that are contaminated with hazardous substances and petroleum. Of the $660,000, $360,000 will be used to address hazardous substance contamination and another $300,000 will go towards petroleum contamination.