Today we continue our tour of funds doled out by the federal government, looking at environmental cleanup grants.   The money goes to a broad range of programs in many states, often to help with economic redevelopment.

Again, this list is not to say that these individual projects are bad or good, but rather an insight for you - the taxpayer - into how your money is being spent.

As always, I would observe that if these projects were stuffed in a Congressional spending bill, then they would probably be labeled as pork barrel spending.

Instead, what happens here is that the Congress gives a federal agency a chunk of money, and then that department hands it out to local groups.

In this case, it is the Environmental Protection Administration, with money that goes to address so-called "brownfields", which are usually former industrial parcels that need some sort of cleanup and restoration in order to be used again.

It is money that is welcomed by lawmakers.

"Ohio's brownfield sites can be opportunities for redevelopment and new growth," said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in a press release issued on Tuesday.

"These funds will help support clean-up and decontamination efforts critical for the safety and economic success of communities across the state."

There are 242 EPA Brownfields projects listed here from around the nation, totaling $78,921,964.

So as you read through these awards and other grants that the feds give out, are these important enough to stay in the budget, or should they be cut to get the deficit under control?

East Hampton, CT Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Griswold, CT Cleanup Former Triangle Plastic Wire and Cable property $200,000
Hartford, CT Cleanup Ramon Qurious Park $124,500
Middletown, CT Cleanup Remington Rand Complex $200,000
New Haven, CT Cleanup 10 Wall Street site $200,000
RLF Community-wide, CT $1,000,000
Preston Redevelopment Agency, CT Cleanup Former Norwich State Hospital property $200,000
Cleanup Parcel B, Former Norwich State Hospital property $200,000
Cleanup Parcel C, Former Norwich State Hospital property $200,000
Shelton, CT Cleanup Former Cel-lastik Parcel $200,000
Waterbury Development Corporation, CT Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Dover-Foxcroft, ME Cleanup Former Maine Leathers Tannery Site, Lagoon $200,000
Cleanup Former Maine Leathers Tannery site, sludge pits $200,000
Cleanup Former Maine Leathers Tannery site, sludge pits $200,000
Maine Department of Economic and Community RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Parsonsfield, ME Cleanup Robinson Mill - Lot 2 $200,000
Parsonsfield, ME Cleanup Robinson Mill - Lot 7 $200,000
Pine Crest Development Corporation, Cleanup Former Moosehead Manufacturing Mill site, Main $200,000
ME Mill Parcel Cleanup Former Moosehead Manufacturing Mill site, $200,000
Saco, ME Cleanup Former Saco Steel Company/Earth Waste $200,000
Sanford, ME Cleanup Aerofab site $200,000
Boston, MA Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Brookfield, MA Cleanup Former Brookfield Mill $200,000
Chelmsford, MA Cleanup Former Silicon Transistor Corporation site $200,000
Franklin, MA Cleanup Former Nu-Style Property - Lot 027 $200,000
Gardner, MA RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts, Cleanup 13 Hope Avenue $200,000
Cleanup Hamilton Canal District - Appleton Mills site at 193.1 Jackson Street $200,000
Cleanup Hamilton Canal District - Appleton Mills site at 239.1 Jackson Street $200,000
Mystic Valley Development Commission, Malden, Medford, and Everett, MA Assessment Community-wide $300,000
Northborough, MA Cleanup 167 Bearfoot Road $200,000
Peabody, MA Cleanup 45 Walnut Street Redevelopment Project $200,000
Salisbury, MA Cleanup Former Shoe Factory site $200,000
Somerville, MA Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Manchester, NH Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Nashua, NH RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Rockingham Economic Development Corporation, Southeast New Hampshire RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Rockingham Planning Commission, Southeast New Hampshire Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Southwest Region Planning Commission, Southwest New Hampshire Assessment Community-wide $335,000
Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc., Berlin, NH Cleanup Brown Co. Research and Development site $200,000
Pawtucket, RI Rhode Island Cleanup State Pier site $200,000
Bellows Falls Historical Society, Inc., VT Vermont Cleanup Bellows Falls Historic Riverfront Park and Trail System $200,000
Bennington County Regional Commission, VT Assessment Community-wide $356,000
Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, VT Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Northwest Regional Planning Commission, Northwest Vermont RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Rutland Regional Planning Commission, Rutland County, VT Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission, VT Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
St. Johnsbury, VT Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, East Central Vermont Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Camden Redevelopment Agency, NJ Cleanup 121-123 Penn Street $200,000
Cleanup 300 Block of North Second Street $200,000
Cleanup 324-330 North Front Street $200,000
Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, NJ Cleanup Berry Lane Park - Hit or Miss site $200,000
Cleanup Berry Lane Park - MA & OK site $200,000
Cleanup Berry Lane Park - Purple Fish site $200,000
Newark, NJ Cleanup Former Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company Site - $200,000
Lot 63 Cleanup Former Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company Site - $200,000
Lot 64 Cleanup Former Synfax Manufacturing site $200,000
Trenton, NJ Cleanup Anthony Storcella property $200,000
Cleanup Former Gasoline Station - 678 North Clinton Avenue  $100,000
Cleanup Greg Grant site $200,000
Auburn, NY Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Broome County, NY Cleanup 312 Maple Street $131,666
Camden, NY Cleanup Former Laribee Machine Company site $200,000
Fort Edward, NY Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Ogdensburg, NY Cleanup Former Standard Shade Roller site $200,000
RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Rochester, NY Cleanup 62-64 Scio Street site $200,000
Watertown, NY Cleanup Ogilvie site $200,000
Camuy, PR Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Gurabo, PR Assessment Community-wide $200,000
Juncos, PR Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Washington College, Chestertown, MD Cleanup Alger Oil, Inc., property $200,000
Cleanup Crop Production Services site $200,000
Central City, PA Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Earth Conservancy, Hanover Township, PA Cleanup Hanover 9 Parcel B $200,000
Cleanup Hanover 9 Parcel C $200,000
Cleanup Hanover 9 Parcel D $200,000
Lackawanna Valley Conservancy, Inc., Old Forge, PA Cleanup 7.8-acre former mine $200,000
Lawrence County, PA Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Assessment Assessment Coalition $1,000,000
North Side Industrial Development Company, Inc., PA Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, PA Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Taylor Borough Development Authority, PA Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Cleanup Taylor Colliery $200,000
Roanoke, VA Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Fayette County, WV Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Nitro, WV Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Parkersburg, WV Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Assessment Community-wide Petroleum $200,000
Alabama Department of Environmental Management Assessment Community-wide $200,000
Freshwater Land Trust, Birmingham, AL Assessment Community-wide $200,000
Casselberry, FL Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Clay County Development Authority, FL Assessment Community-wide Petroleum $200,000
Daytona Beach, FL Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Escambia County, FL Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency, FL Cleanup H.D. King Power Plant $200,000
Cleanup H.D. King Power Plant - supporting site $200,000
Cleanup H.D. King Power Plant - supporting site $200,000
Gadsden County, FL Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Miami, FL Cleanup Former Shamrock Gas Station $200,000
South Daytona, FL Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Atlanta, GA Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Brunswick, GA Assessment Community-wide $200,000
Millen, GA Cleanup Former SOC Station $200,000
Crab Orchard, KY Cleanup Former Lincoln Scrap Metal site $200,000
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, KY Assessment Community-wide $200,000
Newport, KY Assessment Community-wide $200,000
Northern Kentucky Area Development District Assessment Assessment Coalition $200,000
Owensboro, KY Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Charlotte, NC Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Wayne County, NC Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Whiteville, NC Assessment Community-wide $200,000
Wilson, NC Assessment Community-wide $200,000
Anderson County, SC Cleanup Riverside Mill $200,000
Cleanup Toxaway Mill $200,000
Hartsville, SC Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Williamsburg County, SC Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Chattanooga, TN Cleanup Old 36th Street Landfill site $200,000
Cleanup Old Railroad property$200,000
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency, TN Assessment Assessment Coalition $250,000
Saltillo, TN Assessment Community-wide $250,000
Shelby County, TN Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Franklin Park, IL Cleanup Downtown Franklin Avenue Redevelopment $200,000
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, North Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Lena, IL Cleanup 1873 Lena Depot Restoration Project site $200,000
Rock Island, IL RLF Community-wide $500,000
Rockford, IL Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Assessment South Main Rail Yards site $350,000
Vandalia, IL Assessment Community-wide $200,000
Vermilion County, IL Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Columbia City, IN Assessment Community-wide $400,000
DeKalb County, IN Assessment Assessment Coalition $200,000
Fort Wayne, IN Cleanup Former Hubcap Express site $200,000
Goshen, IN Cleanup Former NIPSCO property $200,000
Cleanup Former Weaver Property (site 3), Former Gruntman Property (site 4), Former Hawkins Property (site 6)  $200,000
Cleanup West Subparcel of the Former Jack Wait property $200,000
Pike County, IN Cleanup Jean's Junction $200,000
Terre Haute, IN Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Assessment Community-wide Petroleum $200,000
Allegan County, MI Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Bay City, MI RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Calhoun County, MI Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Cedar Springs, MI Assessment Assessment Coalition $200,000
Clinton County, MI Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, MI RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Grand Rapids, MI Assessment Community-wide $300,000
RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Grand Traverse County, MI RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, MI Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Leelanau County, MI RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Lenawee County, MI Assessment Community-wide Petroleum $200,000
Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Redford, MI Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Reed City Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, MI Assessment Community-wide $384,000
Schoolcraft County, MI Assessment Community-wide $400,000
St. Clair County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, MI Assessment Assessment Coalition $1,000,000
St. Joseph County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, MI Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Van Buren County, MI Assessment Community-wide Petroleum Minnesota $200,000
Coon Rapids, MN Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Assessment Community-wide Petroleum $200,000
Dakota County, MN Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Assessment Community-wide Petroleum $200,000
Red Wing, MN Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Assessment Community-wide Petroleum $200,000
Saint Paul Port Authority, MN Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Cleanup 3M Parcel 2 $200,000
Cleanup 3M Parcel 4 $200,000
Cleanup 3M Parcel 5 $200,000
South St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority, MN Cleanup Former Van Hoven Auxiliary site $200,000
RLF Community-wide St. Paul Housing $1,000,000
Akron, OH Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Ashtabula City Port Authority, OH Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Barberton, OH Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Columbiana County Port Authority, OH Assessment Community-wide $200,000
Columbus and Franklin County Metropolitan Park District, Columbus, OH Assessment Columbus Impound Lot $200,000
Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation, OH Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Hancock County, OH Assessment Assessment Coalition $1,000,000
Lorain, OH Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Middletown, OH Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Minster, OH Cleanup Former Minster Oil Facility $84,600
Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, OH Assessment Assessment Coalition $1,000,000
Sidney, OH Assessment Former Wagner Manufacturing site $185,000
Van Wert County, OH Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Wood County, OH Assessment Assessment Coalition $250,000
Woodlawn, OH Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Marinette County, WI Assessment Community-wide Petroleum $200,000
Oshkosh, WI Cleanup East 8th Avenue Block $200,000
Racine, WI RLF Community-wide $1,000,000
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewas, WI Cleanup Buffalo Arts Building $151,900
Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee, WI Cleanup 1027 North Edison Street $200,000
Cleanup 21st and Garfield $200,000
Cleanup 30th and North $200,000
Wisconsin Rapids, WI Assessment Community-wide $400,000
City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Luna County, NM Assessment Tulip Drive Landfill $200,000
New Mexico Environment Department Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Community Development Support Association, Inc., Cleanup Former Newman's Department Store $200,000
Oklahoma City Housing Authority, OK Cleanup Will Rogers Courts $200,000
Arlington, TX Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Greenville, TX Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Irving, TX Assessment Community-wide $200,000
McKinney, TX Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Sulphur Springs, TX Cleanup Old City Library $200,000
Texarkana, TX Assessment Community-wide $400,000
West Central Texas Council of Governments Assessment Community-wide Hazardous Substances $200,000
Coralville, IA Iowa Assessment Community-wide $383,000
Ottumwa, IA Assessment Community-wide $200,000
Waterloo, IA Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Kansas City Community Center, MO  Cleanup Kansas City Community Center $200,000
Kansas City, MO Assessment Assessment Coalition $1,000,000
Kaysinger Basin Regional Planning Commission, West Central Missouri Assessment Assessment Coalition $1,000,000
St. Louis Development Corporation, MO Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Great Northern Development Corporation, Eastern Montana RLF Community-wide $1,500,000
Lewis and Clark County, MT Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, ND North Dakota Cleanup Building #27 - Old Teachers Quarters $200,000
Cleanup Building #38 - Old Stockade Building $200,000
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, SD Cleanup Old White Horse Day School $200,000
Crook County Museum District, Sundance, WY Wyoming Cleanup Old Stoney Renovation Project site $200,000
Pima County, AZ Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Tucson, AZ Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Brea, CA Assessment Brea "Rails to Trails" project site - Union Pacific $141,085
Esparto Unified School District, CA Cleanup Proposed Esparto High School $200,000
Los Angeles County, CA Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Nevada City, CA Cleanup Providence Mine: Mining Features Area $200,000
Cleanup Providence Mine: Waste Rock Pile site $200,000
Cleanup Stiles Mill $200,000
Northcoast Environmental Center, Arcata, CA Cleanup Northcoast Environmental Center parcel $200,000
Oroville Redevelopment Agency, CA Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Placer County, CA Cleanup Snow Creek Restoration Project - Batch Mixing $200,000
Cleanup Snow Creek Restoration Project - Settling Pond/Washout Area  $200,000
Cleanup Snow Creek Restoration Project/Raw Materials $200,000
Rancho Cordova Community Redevelopment Agency, CA Community-wide $400,000
Rialto Redevelopment Agency, CA Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Cleanup WDJL site $200,000
Sacramento, CA Cleanup Jibboom Street Power Station site $200,000
San Diego Redevelopment Agency, CA Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Lyon County, NV Assessment Assessment Coalition $400,000
Moscow, ID Assessment Assessment Coalition $475,000
King County, WA Washington Assessment Community-wide $400,000
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, WA Cleanup Lime Storage site $170,213
Today we continue our tour of funds doled out by the federal government, looking at environmental cleanup grants.   The money goes to a broad range of programs in many states, often to help with economic redevelopment. Again, this list is not to say that these individual projects are bad or ...

About the Author

Featured

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Credit: AP