PROGRAM OVERVIEW: Since the late 1970s, Michigan has had a program to address sites where liable parties are unwilling or unable to respond to contamination. Over $830 million in public funding has allowed for cleanup actions at 1,674 sites to protect public health, safety, welfare, and the environment, and to facilitate redevelopment. Funding to support the cleanup and redevelopment program has predominantly been provided by:
- The 1988 Environmental Protection Bond Fund for $425 million
- The 1998 Clean Michigan Initiative Bond Fund for $675 million, of which $235 million was for brownfield redevelopment and environmental cleanup.
- The Cleanup and Redevelopment Fund

For a chart showing the distribution of the appropriations for cleanup and redevelopment click on the link below.
Chart of State Funded Expenditures

Past funding provided the following:
- Water supplies have been replaced at 10,000 homes and businesses.
- Immediate physical contact and fire/explosion risks have been addressed at hundreds of sites.
- Containment and cleanup has been done at nearly 50 landfills.
- More than 150 abandoned, dangerous buildings have been demolished.
- More than 500 sites have been prepared for redevelopment.
Despite the above progress, there are still thousands of sites to be addressed that need additional sources of revenue.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: One focus of the state funded and managed cleanup program has been to provide an alternate water supply (bottled water, replacement well, or link to municipal system) where the drinking water has been threatened. See link Water System Replacements for sites that have received alternate water supply monies. For further details on program accomplishments, see the links below:
- Redeveloped State Funded Brownfield Sites
- Brownfield Cleanup Project for Grand Rapids Site
- Redeveloped USTfield State Funded Cleanup Sites
- Brownfield/USTfield Sites Database

FUNDING NEEDS: Funding to support the cleanup and redevelopment program has historically been provided by a variety of sources, but predominantly by bond issues in 1988 and 1998. Currently, available funding for the programs is nearly exhausted; consequently, in FY08 no new projects can be funded. The DEQ needs a secure and stable source of funding for the cleanup and redevelopment program. The DEQ has identified a need of $90-100 million per year to provide a continuing level cleanup and redevelopment program that includes addressing orphan sites and redevelopment needs. This estimate does not include the additional funding needed to address leaking underground storage tank releases.

For further information on the Remediation and Redevelopment Division's programs visit the Remediation and Redevelopment Division Home Page www.michigan.gov/deqrrd