Today in Portland, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Portland Mayor Kate Snyder, EPA Regional Administrator David Cash, and Maine DEP Commissioner Melanie Loyzim announced a $19.7 million investment to help clean up and develop Brownfields in Maine.

This is part of a greatly increased Brownfields investment in New England this year made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to revitalize communities across the country by cleaning up contaminated and blighted sites and redeveloping them for productive use.

“Hazardous sites not only pose a health danger to Mainers–especially as extreme weather becomes more common–but they also limit important economic activity in our communities,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree.  “As Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for the EPA, I’m thrilled to see nearly $14 million coming back to Maine’s First District to help towns and underserved areas mitigate pollution by cleaning up and repurposing contaminated sites to create valued community spaces.

Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement that “we welcome this funding…which will help identify potential hazards and encourage community development across Maine.”

“EPA’s Brownfields program has a long track record of making critical investments that are a catalyst to revitalize communities in Maine and across New England,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David Cash.  “Thanks to funding from Congress and the Biden Administration in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is making a historic investment to help communities in Maine perform Brownfields assessments and cleanups.  These projects will jump start economic redevelopment and job creation, and will do so in many neighborhoods that have been underserved and are ready to turn environmental risks into economic assets.”

The following will receive a $500,000 assessment grant:

City of Bath

City of Gardiner

City of South Portland

City of Waterville

Town of Gray

The following will receive a $500,000 cleanup grant

City of Rockland

The following regional organizations will each receive RLF Supplemental funding to capitalize on their already successful Brownfields programs.

Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments will receive $1 million

Greater Portland Council of Governments will receive $3.9 million

Kennebec Valley Council of Governments will receive $1 million

Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission will receive $3.9 million

City of Portland will receive $3 million

Maine Department of Economic and Community Development will receive $3.9 million