FY22 GUIDELINES FOR BROWNFIELD CLEANUP GRANTS | EPA OLEM OBLR 21 06

Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OLEM OBLR 21 06

The FY22 Guidelines for Brownfield Cleanup Grants (Funding Opportunity Number EPA OLEM OBLR 21 06) is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Brownfields Program. The program is rooted in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and reflects updates made by the Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development (BUILD) Act (Public Law 115-141). In practical terms, this opportunity is meant to help communities move contaminated or potentially contaminated properties (brownfields) from abandonment or underuse toward cleanup and productive reuse, by providing federal support and clear application guidance specifically for Cleanup Grants.

The core purpose of the opportunity is to fund cleanup activities at eligible brownfield sites so that they can be safely returned to community use. EPA describes the broader Brownfields Program mission as empowering states, communities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations to prevent, inventory, assess, clean up, and reuse brownfield sites. While many brownfield funding discussions include assessment and planning, this particular guidance is focused on the cleanup phase, meaning applicants should be prepared to describe site conditions, cleanup needs, how the work will be carried out, and how the property will be positioned for reuse after cleanup.

Awards under this opportunity are issued as cooperative agreements rather than standard grants. That matters because cooperative agreements typically involve a more active role for the federal agency during the project period, such as ongoing coordination, review, and involvement consistent with EPA oversight expectations. The funding activity category is environment, and the associated CFDA number is 66.818, which is the identifier commonly used for EPA Brownfields Program assistance listings and related compliance/reporting.

Funding details in the source data indicate an award ceiling of $650,000 per award and an expected total of 26 awards. The opportunity was created on September 21, 2021, with an original closing date of December 1, 2021, and applicants are directed to consult Section IV of the official funding opportunity announcement for close date specifics and any additional timing or submission requirements. In most federal competitions, that section also clarifies how deadlines are handled (for example, whether late submissions are rejected outright and how time zones are treated), so it is a key reference point for prospective applicants.

Eligibility is summarized as "Others," with the note to see the funding announcement text for additional clarification. That phrasing usually signals that eligibility is not limited to a single governmental category and may include a defined set of entity types such as local governments, tribal entities, states, and eligible nonprofit organizations, potentially with additional constraints tied to brownfields statutory definitions and cleanup grant eligibility rules. Because Cleanup Grants can involve site-specific legal and liability considerations, the eligibility section of the full announcement is typically where EPA clarifies which entities can apply, what site ownership or control is required, and what conditions must be met to be considered an eligible recipient under CERCLA and the BUILD Act-related provisions.

Overall, this opportunity is designed for applicants that are ready to take a brownfield site into the cleanup stage and can present a clear, compliant plan to remediate contamination and support safe reuse. It provides a structured federal pathway, backed by EPA guidance, to help communities address environmental hazards, reduce blight, protect public health, and unlock redevelopment potential by funding the work needed to clean up brownfield properties.

• The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY22 GUIDELINES FOR BROWNFIELD CLEANUP GRANTS" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.818.
• This funding opportunity was created on Sep 21, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 01, 2021 See Section IV of the funding opportunity announcement for close date information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $650,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 26 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for EPA OLEM OBLR 21 06

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: