Bipartisan infrastructure law led by Sinema and shaped by Kelly provides $1.99 million to remediate contaminated brownfield sites across Arizona
WASHINGTON – A total of $1,992,681 will be invested in cleaning up brownfield sites across Arizona from the bipartisan infrastructure law led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly.
The investment, delivered through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Program, awards the Northern Arizona Council of Government (NACOG) $1,500,000 and Pima County $492,681 to remediate contaminated brownfield sites – strengthening Arizonans’ health and safety, revitalizing communities, and creating economic opportunities.
“Thanks to my bipartisan infrastructure law, we’re cleaning up brownfield sites in Northern Arizona and Pima County to ensure our communities are vibrant, safe, and healthy places to live and thrive,” said Sinema, co-author and lead negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure law.
“Our infrastructure bill is addressing environmental and economic needs across Arizona,” said Kelly. “By investing in the cleanup of brownfield sites, these funds will help transform the outlook of entire communities, driving economic growth and improving the environment in which families grow and thrive.”
According to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, properties must possess three qualities to be considered brownfields: 1) It is an underused commercial or industrial site; 2) It has redevelopment potential; 3) Its redevelopment potential is complicated by known or perceived contamination from a hazardous substance as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).
In the time since Sinema and Kelly’s bipartisan infrastructure bill became law, it has delivered over $38 million to Arizona for environmental cleanup – capping orphaned oil and gas wells, reclaiming abandoned mine lands, and cleaning up brownfield sites.
Sinema led bipartisan Senate negotiations with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio that included Senator Kelly and senators from both parties.
The bipartisan infrastructure law was supported by groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, The National Association of Manufacturers, The AFL-CIO, The National Retail Federation, The Bipartisan Policy Center, North America’s Building Trades Unions, the Outdoor Industry Association, The American Hotel and Lodging Association, The National Education Association, as well as hundreds of mayors across all 50 states.