EPA’s Brownfields Program provides assistance to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to prevent, assess, safely clean-up, and sustainably reuse brownsfields. A brownfields is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S.  Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off of undeveloped land, and both improves and protects the environment. 

Brownfields' grants continue to serve as the foundation of EPA’s Brownfields Program. These grants support revitalization efforts by funding environmental assessment, clean-up, and job training activities. Brownfields Assessment Grants provide funding for brownfields inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach. Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants provide funding to capitalize loans that are used to clean-up brownfields. Brownsfield Job Training Grants provide environmental training for residents of brownfields communities.  

Projects in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County

In 1998 and 1999, Bernalillo County and Albuquerque, respectively, were selected to participate in the Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot.  Due to the long history of industrial and commercial activities, the area may contain numerous vacant or abandoned sites with known or perceived contamination.  Many of these sites are also located in low-income communities.  Environmental contamination resulting from businesses such as rail yards, meat packing plants, electrical generating stations, and wood products companies continues to adversely impact neighborhoods.  Funding provided by the Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Program was used by Bernalillo County to develop an inventory of sites, a methodology to promote redevelopment, and to characterize the highest-priority sites.  Activities supported by the Pilot program were linked with many other innovative environmental programs implemented by the County.  The City of Albuquerque was provided with funding to support its redevelopment initiative to encourage redevelopment and sustainable reuse. 

In 2000, the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County formed a coalition, Bernalillo County Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF), to clean-up Brownfields sites.  Goals of the coalition included increased awareness of Brownfields financing needs, reduction in the number of contaminated properties, and in turn, reducing unemployment and crime.  Additional funding for BCRLF projects would also include the New Mexico Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the US Department of Commerce Economic Development, Administration programs, and the US Department of Housing and the Urban Development programs. 

Assessment Projects Include:

• Soil sampling and site characterization at the Nine-Mile Hill Landfill.
• Soil sampling and assessment of the Eubank Landfill at the Sandia Science and Technology Park.
• Assessment of the Serna Trucking site for redevelopment as a Bernalillo County park. 
• Installation of a well at Carlito Springs Open Space.
• Assessment of Durand Open Space
• Assessment of Pajarito/Beck Open Space

Revolving Loan Fund Projects Include:

• Removal of asbestos materials for redevelopment of the Bell Trading Post.
• Revitalization of the Albuquerque Public Library.
• Revitalization of Albuquerque High School

Bernalillo County also participated in the Brownfields Job Training Program.  Funding was used to provide workforce training workshops and seminars through TVI College, which were attended by 70 participants.  Information also included industry contacts and job information.

Brownfields Assessment Grants 
Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants