FY20 GUIDELINES FOR BROWNFIELD CLEANUP GRANTS | EPA OLEM OBLR 19 07

Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OLEM OBLR 19 07

The FY20 Guidelines for Brownfield Cleanup Grants (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA OLEM OBLR 19 07) is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discretionary funding opportunity released under the agency's Brownfields Program. It is built on authority from 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). In plain terms, the EPA is required to publish guidance explaining how communities and other eligible entities can apply for federal help to clean up contaminated or potentially contaminated properties so they can be safely reused.

The program focuses specifically on "brownfield" sites, which are typically properties where redevelopment or reuse is complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. Through Cleanup Grants, EPA funding is meant to move sites from investigation and planning into actual cleanup work, supporting the broader goal of turning underused or blighted properties into assets that can serve community needs. The opportunity highlights that EPA's Brownfields Program is intended to empower states, local communities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations not only to clean up sites, but also to prevent and inventory brownfields, assess conditions, and ultimately support reuse and redevelopment outcomes that can improve environmental conditions and local economic vitality.

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the award is not just a simple reimbursement grant. A cooperative agreement generally involves substantial federal involvement during the project period, such as ongoing EPA coordination, oversight, and technical engagement to ensure the cleanup work aligns with federal requirements and program expectations. The funding activity category is Environment, and the CFDA number listed is 66.818, which corresponds to EPA's Brownfields program assistance.

Eligibility is summarized in the notice as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which signals that eligibility is broader than a single applicant type but depends on specific criteria described in the full announcement. The description also underscores the typical Brownfields Program target audiences: states, communities (often local governments or quasi-governmental entities), tribes, and nonprofit organizations. Since the eligibility note points to additional information in the full announcement, applicants would need to confirm their eligibility status and any site-specific requirements (for example, site ownership, liability considerations, or documentation related to cleanup authority) by reviewing the detailed eligibility section in the official guidelines.

From a funding perspective, the award ceiling is listed at $500,000 per award, and EPA anticipated making about 18 awards under this competition. While the summary provided does not list a separate floor amount, match requirements, or the specific costs that can and cannot be charged to the grant, the stated purpose is clearly focused on cleanup activities for brownfield sites and the steps necessary to support safe reuse. In practice, these grants typically fund cleanup actions that address contamination and reduce risk, often connected to a reuse plan or intended redevelopment outcome, but the exact allowable activities and cost categories would be defined in the full guidance.

Key administrative details include a creation date of October 10, 2019, and an original closing date of December 3, 2019, with a note instructing applicants to see Section IV of the announcement for additional submission information. That note usually indicates there may be specific instructions about how and where to submit, what system to use, required forms, and any special deadlines or procedural steps that are not fully captured in the short listing. Overall, this opportunity is best understood as EPA's formal FY20 guidance and application framework for organizations seeking federal support to carry out brownfield cleanup projects that remove barriers to redevelopment and deliver environmental and community benefits.

• The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY20 GUIDELINES FOR BROWNFIELD CLEANUP 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 Oct 10, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 03, 2019 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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 18 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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