October 6, 2004

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Remediation and Redevelopment Division is requesting public comment for a grant proposal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The proposal is for a Brownfield Cleanup Grant to undertake cleanup actions at two tax-reverted facilities:

• An abandoned manufacturing plant in Grand Rapids, Kent County

• An abandoned grain elevator in Adrian, Lenawee County

The EPA, as authorized by the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002, has made these funds available to states, tribes, municipalities, and communities to promote site assessments, perform environmental cleanups, and enhance redevelopment options at contaminated properties.

Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. Brownfields include old manufacturing buildings, commercial and industrial properties, and sites where pollutants came into contact with soil and groundwater.

The cleanup grant provides funding for the recipient to undertake remedial actions to reduce levels of soil and groundwater contamination at brownfield sites and remove hazardous structures. Up to $200,000 can be applied for per site under this grant. Both locations are sites of environmental contamination.

The DEQ’s draft proposals and a summary will be available for public review on the DEQ Web page at www.michigan.gov/deq (select Land, Land Redevelopment, Brownfield Redevelopment Overview) by October 18. Proposals will be submitted to the EPA by November 12. Comments and/or letters of support are welcomed by November 5, and may be sent to: Ron Smedley, Department of Environmental Quality, Remediation and Redevelopment Division, P.O. Box 30426, Lansing, MI 48909, or by email to smedleyr@michigan.gov.

Additional information on the EPA Brownfield Grant program may be found on the web at www.epa.gov/brownfields. Other additional information may be found at the following Web page: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3311_4110_23243-101378--,00.html.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised October 6, 2004 by Patricia Watson