The Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends and improves a federal program that helps clean up contaminated land so it can be reused. The EPA currently offers grants and technical help to states, communities, and tribes to assess and remediate these polluted sites—often called brownfields—which might be old industrial properties or gas stations. This bill keeps the program running through 2030 and makes it easier and more affordable for organizations to participate.

The changes make a real difference for communities trying to revitalize contaminated properties. The maximum grant amount increases to $1 million per site, and organizations now only need to contribute 10% of cleanup costs instead of 20%, making projects more feasible for smaller communities. The bill also removes restrictions on how much grant money can go toward administrative expenses, giving organizations more flexibility. Importantly, the EPA must waive cost-sharing requirements entirely for small communities and disadvantaged areas, ensuring that poorer neighborhoods aren't left behind. The program now also includes tax-exempt organizations like chambers of commerce, expanding who can access these resources.

Another key change focuses on community input. When the EPA ranks grant applications, it must now consider whether applicants have a genuine plan to involve diverse local groups and listen to the people actually affected by the cleanup project. This helps ensure that cleanup decisions reflect what communities actually want rather than being decided from the top down. The EPA must also regularly report on and update how it evaluates applications, keeping the process transparent and responsive to what's working.

Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025

Capito, Shelley Moore

Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025This bill extends through FY2030 and modifies the Brownfields Program under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). The Brownfields Program is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants and technical assistance to states, communities, tribes, and other entities to assess, clean up, and reuse contaminated properties.First, the bill expands eligibility for Brownfields Program resources to tax-exempt organizations defined under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, which are organizations that are not organized for profit and do not provide net earnings to private shareholders or individuals (e.g., chambers of commerce).Additionally, the bill<ul><li>increases to $1 million the maximum grant amount that the EPA may provide for brownfield remediation per site,</li><li>removes the 5% cap that a grant recipient may use for administrative costs,</li><li>reduces the cost-sharing requirement for grant recipients from 20% to 10%,</li><li>requires the EPA to waive cost-sharing requirements for grant recipients located in small communities or disadvantaged areas,</li><li>authorizes the use of grants by a state or Indian tribe for the implementation of a response program,</li><li>modifies the criteria used to rank grant applications by requiring the consideration of whether the applicant has a plan to engage a diverse set of local groups and organizations that represent the views of the local community directly affected by the proposed brownfield project, and</li><li>requires the EPA to report on and update application ranking criteria and the approval process.</li></ul>