Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 awarded a $1.2 million Cooperative Agreement to the South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818) effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029. This award supports brownfields assessment and remediation activities across five South Carolina counties (Cherokee, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and the city of Gaffney, town of Walhalla, city of Pickens, town of Pacolet, and town of Iva) pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 104(k)(2).

Under this cooperative agreement, the recipient will conduct environmental site assessments, community engagement initiatives, and cleanup planning activities to address brownfield properties—real property whose development or reuse may be complicated by the presence of hazardous substances or contaminants. Specific deliverables include 24 Phase I and II environmental site assessments, 16 community meetings, 8 site-specific cleanup plans with alternatives analysis, 10 reuse planning documents, and 16 quarterly progress reports submitted through the EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES). The grantee will competitively procure and oversee qualified environmental professionals to execute environmental site tasks. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement.