Brownfields are real property, the expansion, development or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 awarded a $1 million Cooperative Agreement to the City of South Portland under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818), effective July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. This award, funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), capitalizes a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to provide loans and subgrants for brownfield remediation and redevelopment in South Portland, Maine. The City will procure qualified environmental professionals to oversee site activities, establish community involvement plans and administrative records for remediated sites, and report progress through the EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES).

The City of South Portland will deliver both non-site-specific and site-specific services through this agreement. Non-site-specific activities include program marketing to municipalities, developers, and nonprofits, along with public outreach and materials development. Site-specific deliverables encompass borrower and site eligibility verification, subgrant agreement development, site-specific public relations, and enrollment of sites in the Maine Voluntary Cleanup Program. The recipient anticipates issuing approximately two loans and two subgrants to remediate four brownfield sites and conducting up to three community meetings. The City will oversee site remediation completion and prepare cleanup documentation, including implementation of institutional controls necessary for long-term site management.

This agreement will provide funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to the city of south portland to capitalize a revolving loan fund as authorized by cercla 104(k)(3) in south portland, maine.activities:specifically, this agreement will provide funding for the recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which to make loans and subgrants to clean up brownfield site(s) and conduct other necessary activities to prudently manage the RLF. Additionally, the recipient will competitively procure (as needed) and direct a qualified environmental professional to oversee the environmental site activities, will create a community involvement plan and administrative record for each site that is remediated, and will report on program income, interim progress, and final accomplishments by completing and submitting relevant portions of the property profile form and brownfields RLF form using EPA's assessment, cleanup and redevelopment exchange system (acres). Subrecipient:non-site-specific tasks include: marketing the program to cities, towns, developers, and non-profits, conducting public outreach, and preparing outreach materials relevant to the city of south portland's RLF program. Site-specific tasks include: verifying site and borrower/subgrant eligibility, sub-grant agreements, conducting site-specific public relations activities, and consulting with and enrolling sites in the maine voluntary cleanup program. The city of south portland will oversee completion of site remediation and preparation of cleanup completion documentation, including implementation of institutional controls.outcomes:further, the recipient will issue approximately two loans and two subgrants to remediate four brownfield sites; anticipates holding up to three community meetings, finalizing up to two analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, and submitting 20 quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near south portland, maine.