Almost $1.8 million federal dollars are coming to Maine to help seven municipalities and groups across the state to get possibly contaminated properties ready for redevelopment.
This latest round of competitive EPA brownfield grants, announced Thursday, are for planning, site assessment and, in two cases, clean-up.
"A brownfiield site is a site where there is concern about potential contamination from past, historic operations at that site," says David Wright of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
Two clean-up grants will be used in Berwick at the former Prime Tanning Company, and in Millinocket at the former Miller's department store.
Wright says brownfield money focuses on facilities that are in the centers of cities and towns. "And that's important because we can then maximize efficient use of local infrastructure, like sewer systems, water systems and three-phase power and that sort of thing, and prevent redevelopment of green spaces outside of town."
Among the grants announced Thursday is $300,000 awarded to the Maine DEP, which Wright says will allow the agency to quickly assess sites.