State and Tribal Response Programs

• Background
• Tribal Brownfields and Response Programs: Respecting Our Land, Revitalizing Our Communities
• Grant Funding Guidance for State and Tribal Response Programs
• Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) Memoranda of Agreement (MOA)
• RCRA Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs)
• Links to State Brownfields Program Web sites
• State Brownfields and Voluntary Response Programs: An Update from the States

Background

State and tribal response programs play a significant role in cleaning up brownfields. As Congress recognized in the legislative history of the Brownfields Law, "The vast majority of contaminated sites across the nation will not be cleaned up by the Superfund program. Instead, most sites will be cleaned up under State authority." Prior to the passage of the Brownfields Law, EPA developed a framework for negotiations between EPA regions and states regarding State Voluntary Cleanup Programs. This preliminary framework was the precursor to how EPA works with states and tribes today. For additional information, see State Voluntary Cleanup Program Guidance History.

The continued demand for brownfields cleanup and redevelopment in communities throughout the country, coupled with increasingly limited state and tribal resources, makes access to federal funding critical. The law authorizes EPA to provide up to $50 million in grants to states and tribes to establish or enhance their response programs. Generally, these response programs address the assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of brownfields. In 2003, EPA distributed almost $50 million among all 50 states, 30 tribes, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. This funding will enable states and tribes to develop or enhance their response program's infrastructure and capabilites. For some recipients, the funding will provide an opportunity to create new response programs to address contaminated properties. States and tribes also can use the new funding to capitalize a revolving fund for cleanup, purchase environmental insurance, or develop other insurance mechanisms to provide financing for cleanup activities. In addition, the funds can be used to establish or maintain the statutorily required public record, to oversee cleanups, and to conduct site-specific activities.

Providing financial assistance to states and tribes increases their capacity to meet the brownfields cleanup and redevelopment challenges. It will also help to ensure that properties are cleaned up safely, according to state and tribal standards.

Tribal Brownfields and Response Programs: Respecting Our Land, Revitalizing Our Communities

The "Tribal Brownfields and Response Programs: Respecting Our Land, Revitalizing Our Communities" report explores how tribes are using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) brownfields funding to address contaminated land in Indian country and discusses the challenges they face. It provides an historic overview of EPA’s Brownfields Program, as it relates to tribes, and includes examples of tribal successes to both highlight accomplishments and serve as a resource for ideas, information and reference.

• Tribal Brownfields and Response Programs: Respecting Our Land, Revitalizing Our Communities (PDF) (20 pp, 987K)
  Publication Number: EPA-560-R-08-002
  April 2008

FY 2008 Grant Funding Guidance for State and Tribal Response Programs - CERCLA Section 128(a)

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) or Superfund, Section 128(a); Notice of Grant Funding Guidance for State and Tribal Response Programs.

• Grant Funding Guidance for State and Tribal Response Programs (PDF) (18 pp, 103K)
  [HTML (54K) ]
  Publication Number: EPA-560-F-07-254 
  December 2007

Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) Memoranda of Agreement (MOA)

• Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) (PDF) (1 pg, 33K)
  Listing of States with VCP MOA's
  [ HTML (20K) ]



• Links to MOA documents
• U.S. Map of States with Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) (PDF) (1 pg, 95K)
  [ HTML (21K) ]

RCRA Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs)

The following states have finalized Memorandums of Understanding specifically regarding RCRA site cleanups.

Links to State Brownfields Program Web sites

You will be leaving the EPA.gov domain and entering an external link. This link provides additional information that may be useful or interesting and is being provided consistent with the intended purpose of the EPA Web site. However, EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by this link or any other linked site.  

To find a Brownfields Pilot/Grant in your state, visit our Geographic Locator Map Web page.