US Congress urged to reauthorise EPA brownfield funding program
02 October 2023
The National Demolition Association (NDA) in the United States has urged Congress to reauthorise the funding provision for the redevelopment of brownfield sites across the country, describing the program as a vital tool that helps to ensure “local communities remain safe and prosperous in the future”.
(PHOTO: Adobe Stock/Jim Glab)
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields Program was created in 1995.
It supports land revitalisation by providing grants, non-competitive funding and technical resources to states and communities to help “prevent, assess, safely clean up and rejuvenate contaminated properties”.
Like many government funding initiatives, the EPA Brownfields Program requires annual appropriation from the government. Its current authorisation is due to expire at the end of this year.
In an open letter to Congress, the association’s CEO Jeff Lambert said the association “believes the program is a critical tool that gives local communities the opportunity to reuse and redevelop formerly contaminated land in a way that improves the lives of their residents.
“In addition to the environmental benefits, the program’s investments help promote increased economic growth and job creation while broadening local tax bases through higher property values.”
This latest action by the NDA follows recent appeals to Congress and to the White House, concerning the workforce act and proposed changes to the overtime rule.
