FY23 Guidelines for Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants | EPA I OLEM OBLR 22 08

FAQs: FY23 EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants

What is the FY23 Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant opportunity?

The FY23 Guidelines for Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity that helps communities clean up and reuse brownfield properties by capitalizing a revolving loan fund. Instead of funding only a single cleanup, the award is designed to create (or expand) a local or regional fund that can issue loans for multiple cleanups over time.

What is a brownfield in this context?

Brownfields are generally properties where redevelopment or reuse is complicated by the presence, or potential presence, of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. The program is meant to help communities move stalled, contaminated, or underused sites back into productive use while protecting public health and the environment.

How does an RLF work, and what does "revolving" mean?

An RLF award provides capitalization for a loan fund. The recipient then makes loans (and, in some cases, provides subawards) to support eligible cleanup activities at brownfield sites. The program "revolves" because money repaid on loans can be loaned out again for additional cleanups, extending the impact beyond the first set of projects and helping build longer-term local cleanup capacity.

What types of activities can RLF funds support?

Based on the description provided, the RLF is intended to support eligible cleanup activities at brownfield sites. The broader program purpose described includes addressing brownfield challenges by enabling assessment and cleanup and supporting safe reuse and redevelopment. Specific details on eligible vs. ineligible activities are laid out in the official FY23 guidelines referenced by the announcement.

Is this funding a standard grant or something else?

This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means recipients should expect an active federal partnership, with EPA involvement in key aspects of implementation, oversight, and compliance throughout the life of the award (more hands-on than a typical grant).

Is this a competitive grant program?

Yes. It is a discretionary funding opportunity, not a formula program. Applicants compete, and EPA selects recipients based on the criteria described in the FY23 guidelines.

Which EPA program is this opportunity part of?

This opportunity sits under EPA's Brownfields Program, which is designed to help communities address contaminated or potentially contaminated properties and return them to productive use.

What laws and authorities support the EPA Brownfields RLF program?

The legal foundation is the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act added CERCLA Section 104(k), creating federal financial assistance authorities for brownfields revitalization, including revolving loan funds. The BUILD Act of 2018 reauthorized EPA's Brownfields Program and updated certain grant authorities and ownership/liability provisions.

What is the source of FY23 funding for this RLF opportunity?

For FY23, the program is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided major federal investments including for brownfields cleanup and redevelopment.

What is the opportunity number and Assistance Listing (CFDA) number?

The opportunity is identified as EPA I OLEM OBLR 22 08. It is associated with Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 66.818.

When was the opportunity posted and what was the application deadline?

The opportunity was posted on September 12, 2022. The original application deadline listed was November 22, 2022.

How many awards did EPA anticipate making?

EPA anticipated making about 10 awards.

What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?

The listed award ceiling is $10,000,000, indicating that selected entities could potentially receive substantial capitalization for revolving loan activities, depending on EPA's final award decisions and the applicant's proposed program scale.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is labeled broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which indicates eligibility is not limited to a single entity type. In the context of EPA's Brownfields RLF program, eligible applicants commonly include states, tribal nations, local governments, and certain nonprofits, but the specific eligibility rules, restrictions, and prerequisites are detailed in the official FY23 guidelines referenced in the announcement.

What is the main goal of using an RLF model for brownfields cleanup?

The RLF model is oriented toward sustained, long-term impact. By revolving repayments into new loans, communities can build a pipeline for multiple cleanups over time rather than treating each cleanup as a one-off project. This approach is intended to help states, tribal nations, communities, and nonprofit organizations take practical steps toward cleanup and safe reuse and redevelopment.

Does this program focus on a single site or multiple sites?

The description emphasizes that the RLF approach is designed to support multiple cleanups over time. Because funds can be re-loaned as repayments come in, recipients can address clusters of contaminated or underutilized properties and build ongoing cleanup capacity.

Where are the detailed requirements and selection criteria described?

The detailed requirements, restrictions, prerequisites, and evaluation/selection criteria are described in the FY23 guidelines referenced by the announcement.