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

Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 awarded Centro Para La Reconstrucción del Hábitat Inc. $500,000 on October 1, 2025, under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818) to conduct brownfield assessment and remediation activities in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico through September 30, 2029.

The recipient will inventory, characterize, and assess brownfield sites, procure and direct qualified environmental professionals to conduct environmental site activities, and conduct cleanup planning and community involvement activities. Anticipated deliverables include nine Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments, nine community meetings, three site-specific cleanup plans or analyses of brownfield cleanup alternatives, approximately three planning documents to initiate brownfields revitalization, and 16 quarterly progress reports documenting interim and final accomplishments through EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES).

Centro Para La Reconstrucción del Hábitat Inc., a Puerto Rico–based nonprofit, is the sole recipient. The organization will operate with no subawards under this agreement. Work is performed at San Juan, Puerto Rico (00928). The award benefits residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near Vega Baja.

This agreement will provide funding for 'centro para LA reconstruccioacute; n DEL haacute; bitat' to conduct eligible assessment-related activities as authorized by cerlca 104(k)(2) in the municipality of vega baja, puerto rico. 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 9 phase i and 4 phase II environmental site assessments, holding 9 community meetings, developing 3 site-specific cleanup plans/analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, developing ~3 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 municipality of vega baja.