EPA is committed to providing technical assistance and resources to help small, rural, environmental justice, and other community stakeholders with the necessary technical assistance to aid in the assessment and cleanup of Brownfields properties.

EPA is committed to providing technical assistance and research resources to help small, rural, environmental justice, and other community stakeholders with the necessary assistance to aid in the assessment and cleanup of brownfield properties. The major mechanism the EPA Brownfields program provides this assistance is through grant funding to recipients who in turn operate programs which provide direct technical assistance to communities or develop tools and materials that communities can use which will assist them. Funding also goes to organizations that provide research on brownfield issues that can benefit communities. The technical assistance and research is funded using the §104(k)(6) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (CERCLA or Superfund), 42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(6). This statute authorizes EPA to provide, or fund eligible entities or nonprofit organizations to provide Brownfields training, research, and technical assistance to individuals and organizations. Below is a list of  active 104k(6) programs and cooperative agreement recipients currently providing technical assistance and research projects helping communities in addressing brownfields:

• Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities (TAB)
  • New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
  • Kansas State University (KSU)
  • Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR)
• Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA)
• Groundwork USA
• Hazardous Materials Training and Research Institute at Eastern Iowa Community College (HMTRI)
• California Department of Toxic Substance Control
• University of Louisville

In addition, other EPA programs also have technical assistance and tools that may be of benefit to communities. They include the following:

• The Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technology Support Center (BTSC)
• Hazardous Waste Clean-Up Information (CLU-IN)
• Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC)

Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities (TAB)

The TAB program funds technical assistance to communities and other stakeholders on Brownfields issues with the goal of increasing the community's understanding and involvement in brownfields cleanup and revitalization, and helping to move brownfields sites forward toward cleanup and reuse. The TAB grantees funded through the TAB program, among other things, serve as an independent resource assisting communities with community involvement, better understanding the health impacts of Brownfields sites, science and technology relating to Brownfields site assessment, remediation, and site preparation activities, Brownfields finance questions, information on integrated approaches to Brownfields cleanup and redevelopment, facilitating stakeholder involvement, identifying sources of Brownfields assessment and cleanup funding, understanding and complying with state Brownfields and voluntary cleanup program requirements, and facilitating redevelopment activities.  View the brochure for EPA's Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Communities Program.

Fact sheets on the TAB grantees providing technical assistance in your state can be found by clicking on the map below.

National Fact Sheet

• New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT): TAB grantee for Regions 1, 3 and 4
• Kansas State University (KSU): TAB grantee for Regions 5, 6, 7, 8 and nationwide
• Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR): TAB grantee for Regions 2, 4, 9, and 10

CERCLA 104k(6) Technical Assistance Grants

Funding for the Brownfields training, research, and technical assistance cooperative agreements is authorized under §104(k)(6) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (CERCLA or Superfund), 42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(6). This statute authorizes EPA to provide, or fund eligible entities or nonprofit organizations to provide Brownfields training, research, and technical assistance to individuals and organizations. A list of the active 104k(6) cooperative agreements currently providing technical assistance is provided below:

Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) Exit

The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) is a national association dedicated to the advancement of development finance concerns and interests. The organization was formed in 1982 with the mission to strengthen the efforts of state and local development finance agencies fostering job creation and economic growth through the use of tax-exempt and other public-private partnership finance programs. CDFA members include state, county, and municipal agencies that provide or otherwise support economic development financing programs, as well as a variety of non-governmental and private organizations ranging from regional and large investment banks to commercial finance companies to bond counsel, bond insurers, trustees, venture capital companies, rating agencies, and other organizations interested in development finance.

Groundwork USA Exit

Groundwork USA is a national organization with local roots, engaging local businesses, residents and government officials to revitalize neighborhoods and transform community liabilities into community assets. They have a network of 20 local Trusts based in small “legacy” cities, in underserved neighborhoods within larger cities, and in rural communities– all frequently overlooked by funders and policymakers.

Hazardous Materials Training and Research Institute at Eastern Iowa Community College (HMTRI) 

The Hazardous Materials Training and Research Institute (HMTRI) at Eastern Iowa Community College is an environmental health and safety education and training organization established in 1987. HMTRI promotes environmental worker health and safety and the maintenance of a clean and safe environment through education and training. HMTRI offers and promotes educational opportunities, partnerships, and training programs related to Brownfields cleanup and redevelopment. 

University of Louisville Exit

The research to investigate and develop a brownfield benefits tool that communities can use to see where it makes the most economic and environmental sense to invest their brownfields resources has moved from Virginia Tech to the University of Louisville, their research partner.

California Department of Toxic Substance ControlExit

The mission of DTSC is to protect California’s people and environment from harmful effects of toxic substances by restoring contaminated resources, enforcing hazardous waste laws, reducing hazardous waste generation, and encouraging the manufacture of chemically safer products.

The Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technology Support Center (BTSC) Exit
Decision-makers involved with preparing brownfields sites for productive reuse often require technical and legal assistance to fully understand the complexities of investigating and cleaning up contaminated sites. EPA created the BTSC in 1998 to help decision-makers:

• Evaluate strategies to streamline the site investigation and cleanup process
• Identify and review information about complex technology options
• Evaluate contractor capabilities and recommendations
• Explain complex technologies to communities
• Technical Assistance

Hazardous Waste Clean-Up Information (CLU-IN) website Exit
The CLU-IN Web Site provides information about innovative treatment and site characterization technologies to the hazardous waste remediation community. It describes programs, organizations, publications, and other tools for federal and state personnel, consulting engineers, technology developers and vendors, remediation contractors, researchers, community groups, and individual citizens. The site was developed by EPA but is intended as a forum for all waste remediation stakeholders.

Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC)Exit
The ITRC is a state-led coalition working together with industry and stakeholders to achieve regulatory acceptance of environmental technologies. ITRC consists of 40 states, the District of Columbia, multiple federal partners, industry participants, and other stakeholders. This page links to publications that pertain to guidance documents created by ITRC.