NH Gets $4M In Federal Funding To Assess, Clean Up Brownfield Sites

NASHUA, NH —The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) and other organizations have been awarded $4 million in federal funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess and clean up brownfield sites across the state, according to the EPA.

The funding, which comes from bipartisan infrastructure law, was highlighted Monday at a Nashua news conference featuring David Cash, the EPA's New England regional administrator, representatives from the NHDES, members of the New Hampshire congressional delegation and local politicians.

According to the EPA, a brownfield is a property —often a former industrial or commercial site — where expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.

Brownfield sites often lie close to underserved and economically disadvantaged communities. But the cleanup of these sites can lead to redevelopment and revitalization— with the building of businesses or affordable housing and the creation of jobs —helping to address economic, social and environmental challenges that have long burdened the communities.

"EPA's Brownfields program has a long track record of making critical investments that are a catalyst to revitalize communities in New Hampshire and across New England, especially in many neighborhoods that have been historically underserved and overburdened," Cash said.

Cash continued: "Thanks to funding from Congress and the Biden Administration in the bipartisan infrastructure law, EPA is making a historic investment to help communities in New Hampshire perform brownfields assessments and cleanups. These projects will jump-start economic redevelopment and job creation, turning environmental risks into community and economic assets."

Nationwide, the new Brownfields funding announced this year includes approximately $180 million from the $1.5 billion bipartisan infrastructure law, the EPA said.

Across the six New England states this year, EPA will be awarding over $51 million to assess or clean contaminated brownfield sites in 42 communities.

The Brownfields investment announced Monday includes:

• $2 million for the NHDES to address sites throughout the state and in communities such as Berlin, Derry, and Winchester.
• $500,000 assessment grant for the Nashua Regional Planning Commission to address sites in Nashua and the surrounding communities the agency serves in Hillsborough County.
• $500,000 assessment grant to the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission to address sites in Manchester, Derry and other communities that the agency services in Hillsborough County and Rockingham County.
• A $500,000 assessment grant to the Southwest Region Planning Commission to address sites in Keene, Swanzey, Winchester, Hinsdale and the other communities the agency serves in the southwestern part of the state.
• $500,000 cleanup grant to the BRI Development LLC, a nonprofit organization, to help remediate the former Sinclair Hotel property in Berlin.

"This federal funding represents an important investment in our Granite State communities to clean up and rehabilitate contaminated sites and build a cleaner environment and stronger economy right here in New Hampshire," said U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH), who attended Monday's news conference.

Kuster continued: "I'm pleased to see the EPA direct these substantial Brownfields program resources from the bipartisan infrastructure law to cities and towns across our state, and I will continue working to protect and preserve our New Hampshire lands and environment for generations to come."