Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025
Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would extend and update the federal Brownfields Program through 2030. Brownfields are abandoned or underused properties contaminated with hazardous substances. The EPA currently provides grants and technical help to clean up these sites so they can be redeveloped.
The bill would make several changes to this program: it expands eligibility to include nonprofit organizations like chambers of commerce; increases the maximum grant per site from an unspecified amount to $1 million; removes a 5% cap on administrative costs for grant recipients; and reduces the cost-sharing requirements (meaning recipients would need to contribute less of their own money). **Who It Affects:** This bill primarily affects states, local communities, Native American tribes, and nonprofit organizations that work on environmental cleanup projects. It also benefits property owners and developers who want to reuse contaminated land, and communities hoping to revitalize abandoned industrial or commercial sites. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate. The bill addresses environmental contamination, rural development, and Native American land issues.
CRS Official Summary
Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025This bill extends through FY2030 and modifies the Brownfields Program under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). The Brownfields Program is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants and technical assistance to states, communities, tribes, and other entities to assess, clean up, and reuse contaminated properties.First, the bill expands eligibility for Brownfields Program resources to tax-exempt organizations defined under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, which are organizations that are not organized for profit and do not provide net earnings to private shareholders or individuals (e.g., chambers of commerce).Additionally, the billincreases to $1 million the maximum grant amount that the EPA may provide for brownfield remediation per site,removes the 5% cap that a grant recipient may use for administrative costs,reduces the cost-sharing requirement for grant recipients from 20% to 10%,requires the EPA to waive cost-sharing requirements for grant recipients located in small communities or disadvantaged areas,authorizes the use of grants by a state or Indian tribe for the implementation of a response program,modifies the criteria used to rank grant applications by requiring the consideration of whether the applicant has a plan to engage a diverse set of local groups and organizations that represent the views of the local community directly affected by the proposed brownfield project, andrequires the EPA to report on and update application ranking criteria and the approval process.
Latest Action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 6.