S2959-118

Reported

To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to reauthorize brownfields revitalization funding, and for other purposes.

118th Congress Introduced Sep 27, 2023

Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.

Summary

What This Bill Does

This bill reauthorizes and expands the EPA Brownfields Program, which provides grants and loans to clean up contaminated former industrial sites (brownfields) and return them to productive use. It doubles the maximum grant amount from $500,000 to $1,000,000 per site and extends the program through 2029 with increased funding.

Who Benefits and How

Small communities and disadvantaged areas benefit from reduced matching requirements (from 20% to 10%) and a streamlined application process. Alaska Native Regional and Village Corporations gain new eligibility for brownfield grants they were previously excluded from. Environmental remediation contractors and community development organizations (including 501(c)(6) nonprofits now eligible) will see increased funding opportunities. State environmental agencies receive increased appropriations (growing from $50M to $75M annually).

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal taxpayers bear the cost of increased appropriations. The EPA must complete a report within one year evaluating application processes and update guidance, creating administrative workload.

Key Provisions

  • Doubles maximum brownfield remediation grants from $500,000 to $1,000,000 per site
  • Reduces matching share requirement from 20% to 10% for small and disadvantaged communities
  • Extends Alaska Native corporation eligibility for brownfield funding
  • Authorizes state response program funding of $50M-$75M annually through FY2029

Evidence Chain:

This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.

At a Glance

What This Bill Does

Reauthorizes and expands the EPA Brownfields Program by increasing grant amounts, improving access for small and disadvantaged communities, extending eligibility to Alaska Native corporations, and streamlining the application process

Key Policy Areas

Environment, Economic Development, Community Development, Tribal Affairs

Primary Purpose

Reauthorizes and expands the EPA Brownfields Program by increasing grant amounts, improving access for small and disadvantaged communities, extending eligibility to Alaska Native corporations, and streamlining the application process

Policy Domains

Environment Economic Development Community Development Tribal Affairs

Brownfields Revitalization Amendments

Identified Gains
  • Small and disadvantaged communities
  • Environmental remediation contractors
  • Alaska Native corporations
  • State environmental agencies
  • Nonprofit community development organizations
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: rs
Alaska Native corporations:
State environmental agencies:
Small and disadvantaged communities: ,
Environmental remediation contractors: ,
Nonprofit community development organizations:
Identified Costs
  • Federal taxpayers
  • EPA administration
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: rs
Federal taxpayers:
EPA administration:

Legislative Progress

Reported
Introduced Committee Passed
Sep 27, 2023

Mr. Carper, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works, …

Stakeholder Effects

cui bono?

How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.

Waste Management
4 mentions across 4 clauses
+4 positive

Environmental remediation contractors, Environmental remediation contractors in Alaska

Government
3 mentions across 2 clauses
+2 positive -1 negative

Alaska Native Regional Corporations, Alaska Native Village Corporations, Environmental Protection Agency

Positive-direction: Alaska Native Regional Corporations, Alaska Native Village Corporations

Negative-direction: Environmental Protection Agency

Advocacy Groups
2 mentions across 2 clauses
+2 positive

Community development organizations, Potential grant applicants

State & Local Government
2 mentions across 2 clauses
+2 positive

Local governments with brownfield sites, State environmental agencies

Taxpayers
2 mentions across 2 clauses
-2 negative

Taxpayers

Business Associations
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations (business leagues, chambers of commerce)

Real Estate
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

Real estate developers

5/6
sections analyzed
Full impact breakdown

Bill Structure & Actor Mappings

Who is "The Secretary" in each section?

Domains
Environment Economic Development Community Development
Actor Mappings
"the_administrator"
→ Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Key Definitions

Terms defined in this bill

2 terms
"Regional Corporation and Village Corporation" §43_USC_1602

As defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602) - Alaska Native entities now eligible for brownfield grants

"small communities and disadvantaged areas" §128(a)(1)(B)(iv)

As defined in section 128(a)(1)(B)(iv) of CERCLA - used for determining eligibility for reduced matching requirements

We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.

Learn more about our methodology