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 5 awarded a $1.2 million Cooperative Agreement under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818) to the Downriver Community Conference, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2029. The award funds environmental assessment and remediation activities across 22 member communities in the Downriver region of southeastern Michigan, including municipalities in Wayne and Washtenaw counties.

The Downriver Community Conference will conduct eligible assessment-related activities authorized under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 104(k)(2), including property inventory and characterization, environmental site assessments, cleanup planning, and community engagement. Specific deliverables include conducting up to 40 Phase I and 24 Phase II environmental site assessments, hosting 20 community meetings, developing up to 5 site-specific cleanup plans and alternatives analyses, creating up to 5 planning documents to support brownfields revitalization, and submitting 16 quarterly progress reports through EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES). The recipient will competitively procure qualified environmental professionals as needed to execute site assessment activities. No sub-awards are included in this agreement.

This agreement will provide funding to the downriver community conference to conduct eligible assessment-related activities as authorized by cerlca 104(k)(2) in the downriver communities and coalition members of allen park, dearborn, dearborn heights, ecorse, flat rock, gibraltar, lincoln park, melvindale, monroe, riverview, river rouge, rockwood, romulus, southgate, taylor, tecumseh, trenton, woodhaven, and wyandotte and the townships of brownstown, grosse ILE and huron, and washtenaw county, michigan. Activities:specifically, this agreement will provide funding to the recipient to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct cleanup planning and community involvement related activities. Additionally, the recipient will competitively procure (as needed) and direct a qualified environmental professional to conduct environmental site activities. Also, the recipient will report on interim progress and final accomplishments by completing and submitting relevant portions of the property profile form using EPA's assessment, cleanup and redevelopment exchange system (acres). Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:further, the recipient anticipates conducting up to 40 phase i and 24 phase II environmental site assessments, holding 20 community meetings, developing up to 5 site-specific cleanup plans/analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, developing up to 5 planning documents to initiate brownfields revitalization, and submitting 16 quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near the downriver communities and coalition members of allen park, dearborn, dearborn heights, ecorse, flat rock, gibraltar, lincoln park, melvindale, monroe, riverview, river rouge, rockwood, romulus, southgate, taylor, tecumseh, trenton, woodhaven, and wyandotte and the townships of brownstown, grosse ILE and huron, and washtenaw county, michigan.