S 1479 BUILD Act Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development Act of 2015

About S.1479

BUILD Act Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development Act of 2015 This bill amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to:

• (1) revise and reauthorize brownfields revitalization funding through FY2018, and
• (2) reauthorize state response programs through FY2018

(Brownfields are certain commercial properties that are hindered from reuse or redevelopment due to the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.) Certain nonprofit organizations and community development entities are made eligible for brownfields revitalization funding. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must establish a program to provide multipurpose grants to carry out inventory, characterization, assessment, planning, or remediation activities at brownfield sites. The brownfield site characterization and assessment grant program is revised by authorizing eligible governmental entities to receive grants for property that was acquired before January 11, 2002, even if the entities do not qualify as bona fide prospective purchasers. The bill increases the cap on the amount that may be given in grants and loans for each site to be remediated. The EPA must establish a program to provide grants to:

• (1) carry out inventory, characterization, assessment, planning, feasibility analysis, design, or remediation activities to locate a clean energy project at brownfield sites; and
• (2) capitalize a revolving loan fund for those purposes.