Louisiana receives $4.8 million in grants from EPA

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected five Louisiana communities to receive grants totaling more than $4.8 million in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the 2023 Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs.

A total of 262 communities were chosen for Brownfields Grants nationwide. “This critical wave of investments is the largest in Brownfields history and will accelerate our work to protect the people and the planet by transforming what was once blight into might,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.

City of Alexandria

The City of Alexandria was selected for a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 20 Phase I and ten Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare an inventory of brownfield sites, develop up to seven cleanup and reuse plans, hold seven community meetings, update a Community Involvement Plan, and conduct other community outreach activities. The target area for this grant is the City of Alexandria with a focus on the BLA District, an area around Bolton Avenue, Lee Street, and Arial Drive. Priority sites include a former dry cleaner that has been vacant since 2001 and a vacant four-story former commercial building.

Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana (Shreveport)

EPA selected the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana for a $1,000,000 Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the BRF Bell Street property at Bell Street in the City of Shreveport. The 1-acre cleanup site was used as an oilfield pipe laydown yard for the storage of surplus oilfield drilling and production equipment from 1940 to 1970 and is contaminated with naturally occurring radioactive material. The property has since been vacant and undeveloped. Grant funds also will be used to develop a Community Involvement Plan and conduct other community engagement activities.

City of Monroe

EPA chose the City of Monroe for a $872,900 Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Ouachita Candy Company at 211-305 Walnut Street. Historically, various portions of the property operated in a variety of functions, including a Masonic Temple, a woodworking facility, a residential site, a candy company, a soft drink bottling company, an automotive repair facility with a filling station that included vehicle washing and greasing operations, a vehicle maintenance area, a storage warehouse, and personal storage. Currently, the property is vacant and unused. The site is contaminated with hazardous substances, including solvents, and petroleum. Grant funds also will be used to prepare cleanup plans and conduct community engagement activities.

City of New Orleans

The largest Louisiana Brownfields grant EPA announced was $2,000,000 to the City of New Orleans for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Naval Support Activity East Bank Complex at 4400 Dauphine Street. The cleanup site was formerly a military logistical center, a shelter and training center during the Great Depression, a former Naval stronghold, and a recruitment center. The structures are currently vacant and contaminated with metals, inorganic contaminants, and other hazardous substances.

City of Tallulah

EPA selected the City of Tallulah for a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 17 Phase I and eight Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to inventory sites, develop five cleanup plans, and support community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is Downtown Tallulah. Priority sites include former fueling stations, automobile service facilities, and dry cleaners.

EPA selected these communities to receive funding in order to address and support the reuse of brownfield sites. EPA anticipates making the awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. The Brownfields Grant funding will help communities remove longstanding barriers to reuse and spur new redevelopment to transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places. These Brownfields Grants not only support economic growth and job creation, but they also empower communities to address the environmental, public health, and social issues associated with contaminated land.

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