FY21 GUIDELINES FOR BROWNFIELD ASSESSMENT GRANTS | EPA OLEM OBLR 20 06

Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OLEM OBLR 20 06

The FY21 Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment Grants is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity that supports communities and other eligible entities in identifying, inventorying, and assessing brownfield sites so they can be safely cleaned up and put back into productive use. Brownfields are generally properties where redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. This opportunity is rooted in federal law under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), as updated by the Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development (BUILD) Act (Public Law 115-141), which directs EPA to issue guidance and provide grants to help assess and clean up these sites. In practical terms, the program is designed to help states, local governments, tribes, and nonprofit organizations move stalled or underused properties toward redevelopment by paying for the early-stage environmental work that is often a barrier to investment.

This particular announcement is a discretionary grant competition administered by EPA, with awards made through cooperative agreements. A cooperative agreement typically means the EPA expects to have substantial involvement during the project period, such as coordinating on workplans, reporting, and compliance requirements, rather than simply issuing funds with minimal federal interaction. The funding is categorized under environmental activities and is also tagged for Opportunity Zone benefits, indicating the work can align with broader place-based economic development goals where applicable. The assistance listing associated with the program is CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) 66.818, which is the standard identifier for EPA Brownfields funding.

The guidelines focus on Assessment Grants, which are intended to pay for activities that help a community understand environmental conditions at candidate sites and plan next steps. Typical assessment-related activities under the Brownfields program include developing brownfield inventories, prioritizing sites, conducting Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, sampling and analysis, developing cleanup or reuse plans tied to assessment findings, and community engagement connected to assessment and redevelopment planning. The overarching purpose is to reduce uncertainty about contamination and liability concerns, making it easier to attract cleanup funding, private investment, or redevelopment partners later.

Key administrative details in the announcement include the funding opportunity title (FY21 Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment Grants) and the funding opportunity number (EPA OLEM OBLR 20 06), indicating it is managed within EPA offices responsible for land and emergency management and brownfields/revitalization. The opportunity was posted with a creation date of August 17, 2020, and had an original closing date of October 28, 2020, with applicants directed to review Section IV of the official announcement for the full submission requirements and instructions. The notice lists an award ceiling of $600,000 per award and anticipates making about 87 awards, which suggests EPA intended to distribute funds broadly across multiple communities and regions rather than making a small number of very large awards.

Eligibility is described as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which signals that the detailed eligibility rules are in the full announcement. In the EPA Brownfields context, eligible applicants commonly include local governments, quasi-governmental entities, state agencies, tribes, and certain nonprofit organizations, with specific requirements and limitations that can vary by grant type and applicant category. Because the summary field in the source data points to additional eligibility text, an applicant would need to verify their status against the full guidelines, especially if they are a nonprofit, a coalition, or an entity applying on behalf of multiple partners.

Overall, this grant opportunity is aimed at turning uncertainty into actionable information: it funds the due diligence and environmental assessment work that helps communities take the first concrete steps toward cleanup and redevelopment. By supporting assessment, planning, and related community processes, EPA is trying to remove the early technical and financial hurdles that prevent brownfield properties from being reused for housing, commercial activity, green space, or other community priorities.

• The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment, opportunity zone benefits sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY21 GUIDELINES FOR BROWNFIELD ASSESSMENT GRANTS" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.818.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 17, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 28, 2020 Please see Section IV of the announcement for additional submission information. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 87 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for EPA OLEM OBLR 20 06

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