Congressman Begich Applauds EPA for $267 Million in Brownfields Grants Supporting Alaska and the Nation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 19, 2025 — Congressman Nick Begich commended the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Administrator Lee Zeldin for announcing $267 million in Brownfields Grants that will help clean up and revitalize communities across the United States, including crucial investments in Alaska.

"This announcement by Administrator Zeldin and the EPA is a strong example of how smart, targeted investments can strengthen both our environment and economy.” said Congressman Begich. “The Brownfields program has a proven track record of transforming contaminated and underused properties into vibrant community assets. This $2 million grant to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and another $2 million to the St. George Tanaq Corporation are important investments for our state, and I commend the Trump Administration for recognizing the unique challenges we face in Alaska and the importance of stewarding our resources.”

The EPA’s latest round of Brownfields funding includes significant support for Region 10 and Alaska:

• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation: $2,000,000 for a community-wide assessment grant to identify, plan for, and evaluate brownfield sites statewide.
• St. George Tanaq Corporation: $2,000,000 for a community-wide assessment grant to support environmental assessments and outreach efforts in St. George, helping build a cleaner and more prosperous future for the Aleut community.

Under the leadership of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin, the EPA’s Brownfields Program continues to serve as a model for how environmental stewardship can go hand-in-hand with fiscal responsibility and economic revitalization.

Background

Since its inception in 1995, the EPA’s Brownfields Program has invested nearly $2.9 billion to assess and clean up contaminated sites across the country. These efforts have leveraged over $42 billion in redevelopment funding and supported more than 220,500 jobs. Today’s $267 million announcement includes grants for environmental assessments, site cleanups, and revolving loan funds for local and tribal governments, nonprofits, and other stakeholders.

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