EPA Proposes Major Increase in Brownfields Spending

Date: January 10, 2002

Source: News Room

The Bush administration will propose doubling spending next year on cleaning up abandoned industrial sites in urban areas. The administration's budget proposal for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 will seek $102 million more than the $98 million Congress appropriated this year for cleaning up so-called brownfields. Congress in December approved a five-year program awarding up to $250 million a year to state and local governments and Indian tribes for cleaning up some 450,000 polluted industrial sites, including $50 million annually for administrative costs. After raising the spending level to $200 million, EPA officials said the administration may propose spending the full $250 million in fiscal 2004. So far the government has handed out $2 million of the $98 million available this year. Ten recipients, ranging from nonprofit groups to local governments such as the District of Columbia, are getting $200,000 each for a brownfields job training pilot program. More information: www.epa.gov/brownfields.

Sign up to receive our free Weekly News Bulletin