The Lenawee Economic Development Corporation, on behalf of Lenawee County, has grant funding available for environmental assessments (Phase 1, Phase 2 and BEA) on potentially contaminated sites. The LEDC is currently administering two Brownfield grants: 1.) Hazardous Substances Assessment (funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) and 2.) Petroleum Assessment.

If the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not offer grant funding for environmental assessments and clean up, former manufacturing plants, gas stations and other potentially contaminated sites would be abandoned. These sites would have little to no chance of being redeveloped, because of the high cost of remediation and liability of ownership.

Typically, banks require an environmental assessment be completed on a site, as part of a commercial loan application. The grant funding, if approved by the Lenawee Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Board, is then used to complete the assessment(s) and will provide a report on the contamination, if found, and provide a plan for remediation. Lenawee County has contracted with Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc. as the environmental contractor for both the Hazardous Substances Assessment Grant and the Petroleum Assessment Grant.

The Lenawee Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Board has approved three projects for the Hazardous Substances Assessment Grant, since receiving funding in Spring 2009. The Village of Blissfield received grant funding for the environmental assessments when the Village purchased the former cannery on the east side of the Village along US-223. The assessments provided liability protection for the Village, and a remediation plan needed to apply for additional grant funding to clean up the site and redevelop it.

The other two projects were in the City of Morenci. The first was for a Hazardous Substances Assessment for an old building being redeveloped into a fast food restaurant and other retail with apartments upstairs. The grant funding was used to test for asbestos and lead paint. The other project was for the City of Morenci for the environmental assessment of a property the City plans to purchase as part of a downtown redevelopment plan. The assessment will give the City of Morenci liability protection, and was required as part of the purchase agreement.

The Lenawee Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Board has also approved funding for two projects for the Petroleum Assessment Grant. This grant is specifically for petroleum-contaminated sites, usually gas stations or car repair shops.

If you are considering purchasing a property, or using your current property as collateral for a commercial loan and are required to get a Phase 1 Environmental Assessment, contact the LEDC at 517.265.5141 for an application for the available grant funding. Grant funding cannot be used to reimburse property owners who have already completed environmental assessments. At this time, the County does not have grant funding available for clean up of the sites, but we plan to apply for funding in the next year or two.