The Delaware County Redevelopment Authority will receive $1 million of $14 million in federal EPA funds to clean up abandoned, polluted sites known as brownfields, writes Kristin Hunt for Philly Voice.

Pennsylvania’s two U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman made the announcement.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act covered half the funding.

The funds can be used to clean up brownfield sites, install site security, analyze cleanup alternatives, and encourage community participation in the cleanup.

The funds are being distributed among 18 counties, townships, authorities and conservation groups who applied for the funding.

Developing a brownfield is more expensive because the abandoned or underused property has contaminants, pollutants, or other hazardous materials.

Brownfields are often industrial sites, like former steel mills or brickyards.

“The receipt of this grant will allow the Redevelopment Authority to offer an attractive financing source to further incentivize the remediation and productive reuse of brownfield sites in Delaware County,” said DCRDA Chair Matthew Sullivan. “The Redevelopment Authority is eager to put this funding to work to generate economic growth and improve public health.”

There are more than 450,000 brownfield sites in the United States, the EPA estimates.

Read more about the funds in the Philly Voice, or at delco.pa.gov.

Brownfields to Healthfields.