Bills
| 3.23.22

Grant Programs to Clean Up Unused Industrial Sites (Senate Bill) (S. 491)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is S. 491?

(Updated July 18, 2017)

This bill deals with what's known as "brownfields sites": empty or undeveloped properties that once housed industrial buildings. Since many of these sites require expensive environmental cleanup, companies are reluctant to purchase these areas for new facilities, and local communities may not have the funds to clean them up on their own. This Act lays outs provisions for grants that would help with such cleanup. Details may be found below. The House bill is identical. 

Argument in favor

Would create jobs and aid growth in and around states' largest cities. Communities need these incentives to deal with these costly and often toxic properties. Would boost civic pride, public health, and morale.

Argument opposed

These sites have been in their present condition for decades, and do not need to be a priority now. Local communities could put the available grant money toward projects that are more functional and would better communities more fully.

Impact

The bill affects some of the most rundown and/or unusable parts of urban centers, and the areas around them. If enacted, cities and counties containing brownfields sites might see an increase in investment dollars, construction jobs, and hazmat jobs.

Cost of S. 491

A CBO cost estimate is not yet available.

Additional Info

Media: 



Of Note:

A separate piece of brownfields legislation that offers tax deductions to businesses who purchase and subsequently clean up old industrial sites has been introduced in the House. It reauthorizes deductions that expired in 2012. 

In Detail: 

Among other provisions, the Act:

-increases funding for clean-up grants to $500,000;
-allows nonprofits and LLCs to request a tax waiver of up to $650,000;
-caps for multi-purpose (cleanup, assessment and revolving loan fund) grants at $950,000;
-states that grant funds must be fully used within 3 years;
-makes nonprofits eligible for all grant categories, along with nonprofit LLC subsidiaries; 
-allows grantees to use up to 8% of the grant for administrative costs; 
-authorizes clean energy- and waterfront-specifc grants; and

-sets aside a portion of total grant funds to be used specifically for small communities, rural areas, Indian tribes, and low-income areas with a population less than 15,000.