Laws and Regulations
Learn about the rules and regulations governing the way that communities may clean up and reuse contaminated properties.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, Congress provided major funding to support planning, construction and operation of various public infrastructure improvements. These laws include new and existing federal programs that could be relevant and valuable for brownfield and community revitalization projects. Read more about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
BUILD Act
The 2018 BUILD Act reauthorized EPA’s Brownfields Program and made amendments to the 2002 Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Authorized changes affect Brownfields Grants, ownership and liability provisions and State and Tribal Response Programs.
Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act
This 2002 act amended the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act by providing funds to assess and clean up brownfields, clarifying liability protections and providing funds to enhance State and Tribal Response Programs. Other related laws and regulations impact brownfields cleanup and reuse through financial incentives and regulatory requirements.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
Known informally as “Superfund,” this 1980 act created a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries and provided broad federal authority to respond directly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment.
Community Reinvestment Act
This 1977 act requires banks, thrifts and other lenders to make capital available in low- and moderate-income urban neighborhoods. Concern over potential environmental and financial liability for cleaning up these sites made lenders, developers and property owners reluctant to finance redevelopment of these properties. In 1995, EPA announced its original Brownfields Action Agenda to encourage cooperation among EPA, lenders and prospective purchasers to ease fears of financial liability and regulatory burdens.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
This 1976 act and subsequent amendments give EPA the authority to control certain hazardous and nonhazardous wastes, including environmental problems that could result from underground tanks storing petroleum and other hazardous substances. Learn about the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Davis-Bacon Act
Enacted in 1931, this act requires payment of prevailing wage rates for contractors and subcontractors performing work on federally funded or assisted construction, alteration and repair contracts in excess of $2,000. This applies to EPA-funded Brownfields Grants. Read more about Davis-Bacon.