Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OSWER OBLR 10 09

  • The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.818 Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Sep 23, 2010 and posted on Aug 19, 2010.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 15, 2010 Please refer to the full announcement, including Section IV, for additional information on submission methods and due dates.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $52,400,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 185 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • See Section III of the announcement for additional eligibility information.
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Opportunity Summary:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant opportunity titled "Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment Grants" is a discretionary federal funding program created under the authority of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (commonly called the Brownfields Law, P.L. 107-118). The core purpose of the announcement is to provide guidance that helps applicants put together strong proposals for funding aimed at assessing brownfield sites and moving them toward safe cleanup and productive reuse. In practical terms, this funding supports the early, critical steps communities need to take to understand what contamination may be present, what risks it poses, and what realistic paths exist to return underused or problem properties to beneficial use.

This opportunity sits within EPA's broader Brownfields Program, which is designed to help states, local communities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations prevent, inventory, assess, clean up, and reuse brownfield sites. Brownfields are generally properties where redevelopment or reuse is complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. Because uncertainty around environmental conditions can stall investment and planning, EPA's program is structured to help reduce that uncertainty and create a clearer foundation for cleanup decisions, redevelopment planning, and community-driven outcomes.

The announcement explains that EPA provides brownfields funding through three main grant types. First, Brownfields Assessment Grants fund activities such as inventorying potential brownfield sites, characterizing and assessing environmental conditions (for example, conducting site assessments), and carrying out planning work, including cleanup planning and community involvement tied to brownfield properties. Second, Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants provide money to capitalize a revolving fund that can then issue loans and provide subgrants to support cleanup activities at brownfield sites, allowing funds to be reused over time as loans are repaid. Third, Brownfields Cleanup Grants support cleanup work at a specific brownfield site, with the important detail that the site must be owned by the applicant. While this specific opportunity is focused on Assessment Grants, it is presented in the context of the full Brownfields funding framework so applicants can understand how assessment work connects to later cleanup and redevelopment steps.

From an administrative and funding standpoint, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number EPA-OSWER-OBLR-10-09 and is offered as a grant under the environment funding activity category. It is associated with CFDA number 66.818, listed as "Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements." The estimated total funding available is $52,400,000, and EPA anticipated making about 185 awards. The posting date was August 19, 2010, with an original and current closing date of October 15, 2010, and an archive date of November 14, 2010. The program indicates there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not required to provide a local match as a condition of receiving the award, although the full announcement may still discuss the role of leveraging other resources as part of a competitive proposal.

Eligibility is summarized at a high level in the listing as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," with a note to consult Section III of the full announcement for the complete eligibility rules. That wording generally signals that eligibility can extend beyond a single category and may include certain government entities, tribes, and nonprofits, but the definitive criteria and any exclusions are located in the full solicitation. Likewise, the notice points applicants to Section IV of the full announcement for the official submission requirements, allowable submission methods, and any detailed due-date instructions.

For applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically, the notice provides a point of contact: Rachel Lentz at EPA. The included "Additional Information Link" points to the full "Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment Grants" document, which would contain the detailed proposal instructions, evaluation criteria, required forms, and other compliance expectations that govern how EPA reviews and selects projects for funding.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this EPA grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment Grants."

2) What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to provide guidance to help applicants prepare competitive proposals for EPA funding that supports assessment of brownfield sites and helps move those properties toward safe cleanup and productive reuse.

3) What does EPA mean by a "brownfield" in this context?

Brownfields are generally properties where redevelopment or reuse is complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.

4) What kinds of work does an EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant support?

Assessment Grants fund early-stage work such as inventorying potential brownfield sites, characterizing and assessing environmental conditions (for example, conducting site assessments), and planning activities tied to brownfield properties, including cleanup planning and community involvement.

5) How does this opportunity fit within EPA's broader Brownfields Program?

This opportunity is part of EPA's broader Brownfields Program, which is designed to help states, local communities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations prevent, inventory, assess, clean up, and reuse brownfield sites. The Assessment Grant focus is on understanding site conditions and risks so communities can make informed cleanup and reuse decisions.

6) Is this opportunity only about Assessment Grants, or does it involve other brownfields grants too?

This specific opportunity focuses on Brownfields Assessment Grants, but it is presented in the context of EPA's three main brownfields grant types so applicants can understand how assessment work connects to later cleanup and redevelopment steps.

7) What are the three main EPA Brownfields grant types described in the announcement?

The announcement describes three main grant types: (1) Brownfields Assessment Grants, (2) Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants, and (3) Brownfields Cleanup Grants.

8) What is a Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant?

RLF Grants provide money to capitalize a revolving fund that can issue loans and provide subgrants to support cleanup activities at brownfield sites. The fund can be reused over time as loans are repaid.

9) What is a Brownfields Cleanup Grant, and is there a site ownership requirement?

Cleanup Grants support cleanup work at a specific brownfield site. The announcement notes an important detail: the site must be owned by the applicant.

10) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is EPA-OSWER-OBLR-10-09.

11) What federal program listing number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 66.818, listed as "Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements."

12) What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?

It is offered as a grant under the environment funding activity category.

13) How much total funding is EPA estimating for this competition?

The estimated total funding available is $52,400,000.

14) About how many awards did EPA anticipate making?

EPA anticipated making about 185 awards.

15) When was the opportunity posted?

The posting date was August 19, 2010.

16) What was the application closing date?

The original and current closing date listed is October 15, 2010.

17) When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date is November 14, 2010.

18) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The program indicates there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to provide a local match as a condition of receiving an award.

19) Does "no match required" mean leveraging other resources is irrelevant?

The listing states there is no required cost share or match. However, it also notes that the full announcement may still discuss leveraging other resources as part of a competitive proposal.

20) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is summarized in the listing as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." The notice directs applicants to Section III of the full announcement for complete eligibility rules.

21) Where do applicants find the definitive eligibility criteria and any exclusions?

The notice points applicants to Section III of the full announcement for the complete eligibility rules and details.

22) Where are the official submission requirements and due-date instructions provided?

The notice points applicants to Section IV of the full announcement for the official submission requirements, allowable submission methods, and detailed due-date instructions.

23) What is the legal authority for this funding program?

This is a discretionary federal funding program created under the authority of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, commonly called the Brownfields Law (P.L. 107-118).

24) What is the practical value of assessment funding for communities?

Assessment funding supports early, critical steps communities need to understand what contamination may be present, what risks it poses, and what realistic paths exist to return underused or problem properties to beneficial use. By reducing uncertainty about environmental conditions, it helps create a clearer foundation for cleanup decisions and redevelopment planning.

25) Where can applicants find the full "Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment Grants" document?

The notice includes an "Additional Information Link" that points to the full document, which contains detailed proposal instructions, evaluation criteria, required forms, and other compliance expectations used by EPA to review and select projects.

26) Who should applicants contact if they have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically?

The notice provides a point of contact: Rachel Lentz at EPA.

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