April 25, 2018

Manchin Speaks with Administrator Pruitt, Announces $1.4 Million for Brownfields Programs in west Virginia

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) spoke with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt and is happy to announce $800,000 through the Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund for the city of Weirton, as well as an $600,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant for the Region 2 Planning and Development Council.

“I was so glad to speak directly with Administrator Pruitt today to discuss the ongoing needs to ensure West Virginia is progressing in cleanup of our brownfields sites and how EPA can help.  That’s why I am glad to announce $1.4 million to help make sure that sites that have been contaminated are cleaned up and restored.  This infrastructure is necessary in the rebuilding of our communities affected by these sites and essential to growing our economy.  I’m glad the Administration recognizes the importance of these efforts,” Senator Manchin said. “That’s why I made sure that the EPA Brownfields program continues to be able provides important resources for many communities in West Virginia including Weirton and Boone, Cabell, Clay, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Putnam, and Wayne Counties. I look forward to seeing the communities use this funding to revitalize the region and for the continued development of the Mountain State.”

“Senator Manchin was instrumental in making the calls necessary to make it happen and I can’t thank him enough,” Weirton Mayor, Harold E. “Bubba” Miller said.

Senator Manchin supported the re-authorization of the Brownfields program until 2023 in the FY2018 omnibus.  It also makes numerous improvements to provide states and local governments with additional tools and flexibility to effectively clean up these contaminated sites. To read a full list of West Virginia Highlights in FY 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, click here.

EPA’s Brownfields Program provides funds to empower states, communities, tribes, and nonprofits to prevent, inventory, assess, clean up, and reuse brownfields sites. EPA provides brownfields funding for three types of grants: Brownfields Assessment Grants, Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants, and Brownfields Cleanup Grants.

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