EPA's comprehensive environmental response compensation liability act (cercla) section 128(a) grant program funds activities that establish or enhance the capacity of state and tribal response programs

The goals of this funding are to provide financial support for the elements of an effective state response program, as specified in comprehensive environmental response compensation liability act (cercla) section 128, and to ensure that states maintain a public record of sites included in their programs. The infrastructure investment and jobs act ('IIJA') provided additional funding to carry out the section 128(a) grant program. The purpose of this award is to enhance the capacity of the louisiana department of environmental quality brownfields response program to meet the section 128(a) elements. The louisiana department of environmental quality will oversee and perform planning, assessment, and cleanup of brownfields sites throughout the state. This new funding will increase their ability to provide perform necessary outreach to promote the program, assess previously implemented engineering and institutional controls, conduct assessments and cleanups throughout the state and provide planning activities and inventory development for local communities. Activities:the louisiana department of environmental quality will perform the following activities: timely survey and inventory of brownfield sites, which are properties whose expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence of hazardous substances. IT also includes oversight and enforcement authorities to ensure that response actions protect human health and the environment; resources to provide meaningful public involvement; mechanisms for approval of cleanup plans, and verification of complete responses. The objective of this project is to assist in remediating and reusing brownfields sites throughout the state. Activities to be performed include: planning activities, outreach, and inventory development for local communities, assess previously implemented engineering and institutional controls, outreach activities to promote the state program and assessments and cleanups throughout the state.subrecipient:activities include providing brownfield planning activities, outreach, and brownfield inventory development for local communities (3 communities) and cleanup activities for local communities.outcomes:the louisiana department of environmental quality will expand public education and outreach of the louisiana department of environmental quality's voluntary cleanup program to underserved communities, perform both assessments and cleanups throughout the state, perform site inventories and planning activities for local communities and assess previously implemented engineering and institutional controls. They will also be able to fund personnel, as a benefit to employees, and provide cost waivers to eligible entities entering the voluntary cleanup program for site oversight. Anticipated deliverables and expected outcomes should be completed by december 31, 2023. Intended beneficiary(IES) are the state and local communities impacted by brownfields.