Brownfields Revitalization for a Better Tomorrow Act

Key Points

• The bill doubles the maximum federal grant for cleaning up a single contaminated brownfield site from $500,000 to $1,000,000 and doubles multipurpose brownfields grants from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. This helps communities tackle bigger, more expensive cleanup projects.
• Small communities and disadvantaged areas get extra support. The bill waives the cost-sharing requirement so these communities don't have to pay a portion of cleanup costs, and it funds technical assistance to help them successfully apply for grants.
• The bill expands who can apply for brownfields grants by adding 501(c)(6) organizations (like chambers of commerce and trade associations) to the list of eligible entities, alongside existing 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
• Grant recipients can now use up to 10% of their funding for demolition of old or unsafe buildings, and the bill adds ranking criteria that prioritize former military installations and sites eligible for redevelopment under the FAST Act.
• The bill authorizes $123.5 million per year for brownfields cleanup from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, along with $46.25 million per year in state assistance grants. It also requires states and tribes to maintain a public inventory of all brownfield sites receiving funded activities.
• Regular oversight is built in, with EPA Inspector General audits every two years covering federal fund use, grants and loans, and state or tribal grant activities. The bill also directs studies on revolving loan fund performance and barriers to deleting sites from the Superfund National Priorities List.