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 City of Bethlehem received a $500,000 cooperative agreement awarded October 1, 2025, under the Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818). The agreement, administered by EPA Region 3, funds eligible brownfield assessment and remediation activities in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania through September 30, 2029. The city will conduct environmental site inventory, characterization, and assessment activities; develop cleanup planning documentation; engage the community through stakeholder meetings; and competitively procure qualified environmental professionals to perform Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments as needed.

Specific deliverables under the agreement include conducting three Phase I environmental site assessments and one Phase II environmental site assessment, hosting three community meetings, developing fifteen planning documents to support brownfields revitalization, and submitting sixteen quarterly progress reports to EPA via the Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES). The agreement includes no subawards. These assessment and planning activities will benefit residents, business owners, and stakeholders throughout Bethlehem by identifying environmental contamination at brownfield sites and establishing the foundation for future cleanup and redevelopment efforts.

This agreement will provide funding for the city of bethlehem to conduct eligible assessment-related activities as authorized by cerlca 104(k)(2) in bethlehem, pennsylvania. 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 three phase i and one phase II environmental site assessments, holding three community meetings, developing fifteen planning documents to initiate brownfields revitalization, and submitting sixteen quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near bethlehem, pennsylvania.