Biden-Harris Administration Announces $500,000 Brownfields Grant Through Investing in America Agenda to Rehabilitate and Revitalize Raton, New Mexico

 US EPA News Release:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $500,000 Brownfields Grant Through Investing in America Agenda to Rehabilitate and Revitalize Raton, New Mexico

Funded by $1.5 billion investment into Brownfields sites from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address legacy pollution, advance environmental justice, and create healthier communities

 

DALLAS, TEXAS (May 23, 2024)  –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $500,000 from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Raton, New Mexico, while advancing environmental justice. These investments through EPA’s Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Grant Programs and Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant Programs will help transform once-polluted, vacant, and abandoned properties into community assets, while helping to create good jobs and spur economic revitalization in overburdened communities.

EPA selected the city of Raton for a Brownfields Community-wide Assessment Grant to conduct 12 Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to identify and prioritize additional sites, prepare cleanup and reuse plans for priority sites and up to six additional sites, and conduct community engagement activities. Priority sites include a nearly 1-acre former family-run market, a 214.5-acre former horse-racing track, and a 6.6-acre former hospital site.

“Far too many communities across America have suffered the harmful economic and health consequences of living near polluted brownfield sites,” said President Joe Biden. “I've long believed that people who’ve borne the burden of pollution should be the first to see the benefits of new investment. Under my Administration, we are making that a reality by ensuring the historic resources from my Investing in America agenda reach communities that need it most. I am proud that my Administration is helping Philadelphia clean up and transform this area into an economic engine, while tackling a longstanding environmental injustice and creating good-paying jobs.”

 

“President Biden sees contaminated sites and blighted areas as an opportunity to invest in healthier, revitalized communities,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “That’s why he secured historic funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, supercharging EPA’s Brownfields program to clean up contaminated properties in overburdened communities and bring them back into productive use.” 

 

“EPA’s Brownfields funding helps communities of all sizes deal with the environmental and economic burden of abandoned, contaminated properties,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “This grant from President Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda will give Raton a boost to clean up these sites and revitalize their environment while spurring more economic development.”

 

“I’m proud to welcome this important investment that will help clean up abandoned facilities that leak toxic waste and transform them into assets to the community,” said U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (NM). “This funding is a win-win for New Mexico by helping the City of Raton enjoy cleaner air and a safer environment while expanding economic opportunities through renovations of these deserted properties.”

 

"This $500,000 investment in Raton for brownfield assessment and cleanup preparation will be welcomed by all local residents,” said Rep. Leger Fernández (NM-03). “This investment, which was made possible by our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is a tremendous opportunity for our community to turn abandoned and oftentimes environmentally hazardous sites into thriving business hubs and vibrant community spaces. I look forward to seeing Raton flourish as a result of this funding." 

Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfield sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places.

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.

EPA’s Brownfields Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative which set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations in all aspects of its work. Approximately 86% of the MAC and RLF Supplemental program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include disadvantaged communities.

To see the list of the FY 2024 Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup applicants selected for funding visit EPA’s FY 2024  Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup Applicants webpage.

Additional Background:

EPA has selected these organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfield sites to address the health, economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields. EPA anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.7 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. Prior to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this program made approximately $60 million available each year. Thanks to the President’s historic investments in America through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA has now increased that yearly investment nearly 400 percent. More than half of the funding available for this grant cycle (approximately $160 million) comes from the historic $1.5 billion investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This investment has also allowed the MAC grants’ maximum award amounts to increase significantly from $500,000 to a new maximum of $5 million per award.

To see the list of the FY 2024 Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup applicants selected for funding visit EPA’s FY 2024  Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup Applicants webpage.

 

To see the list of RLF Supplemental funding recipients visit EPA’s FY 2024  Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup Applicants webpage.

 

To learn more about RLF Technical Assistance grant recipient visit EPA’s Brownfields Grow America webpage.

 

For more information on EPA’s Brownfields Program visit EPA’s Brownfields webpage.     

 

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