The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Muscogee (Creek) Nation is set receive nearly $2 million in Brownfields grants for a target area that includes Seminole County.

The EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.9 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse.

“The Brownfields program exemplifies Administrator Lee Zeldin’s goal of Powering the Great American Comeback while cleaning up contamination and supporting local economies,” said Regional Administrator Scott Mason.

“For the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the receipt of this nearly $2 million EPA Brownfields Community- wide Assessment Grant is an investment in the betterment of our Nation. Through our Nation’s environmental efforts, we lead the assessment and revitalization of our own lands, guided by our objectives, values, and people. This grant provides the essential tools and resources needed to address potentially contaminated properties. The Muscogee Nation will work alongside our many partners and stakeholders to build a pathway for revitalization that benefits both our communities and the environment. Over the next five years, our Brownfields Program will continue to work with—and for—our communities to steward our lands, creating spaces that reflect our deep roots in, and knowledge of, this land. In recognition, we want to thank the Muscogee Creek Nation leadership and National Council for their continuing support,” a Muscogee Creek Nation official said.

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation will receive $1,986,408 to support cleanup and site reuse planning activities and host community engagement and educational events twice per year. The specific target area will include Okmulgee, Tulsa, Hughes, McIntosh, and Seminole Counties.

Federal grant recipients must satisfy legal and administrative requirements to receive funds from EPA. Brownfield Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants includes:

• $121.8 million for 148 selectees for Assessment Grants, which will provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community out(See

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The receipt of this nearly $2 million EPA Brownfields Community-wide Assessment Grant is an investment in the betterment of our Nation.”

Muscogee (Creek) Nation reach.

• $88.2 million for 51 selectees for Cleanup Grants, which will provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the recipient.

• $15 million for 15 selectees for Revolving Loan Fund grants that will provide funding for recipients to offer loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites.

Brownfields Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund Grants includes:

• $42 million for 34 high-performing recipients to help communities continue their work to carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects on contaminated brownfield properties. Supplemental funding for Revolving Loan Fund Grants is available to recipients that have depleted their funds and have viable cleanup projects ready for work.

To date, Brownfields investments have leveraged more than $42 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding was able to leverage, from both public and private sources, more than 220,500 jobs.