Site Mitigation & Restoration Program

We protect and maintain California’s land and places
by setting strict standards for land restoration and cleanup

Brownfields Funding

Last updated: October 25, 2023

ECRG Round 2 Receives Nearly 50 Applications!

Department of Toxic Substances Control’s Office of Brownfields is pleased to announce that the application period for Round 2 of the Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) is now closed. The applications submitted by tribes, nonprofits, local government agencies will be reviewed for eligibility. Applications that are found to be eligible will be scored, and will be presented to the selection committee for final decisions. We are planning to make announcements on funded projects in winter 2024. In the meantime, view the Round 2 application data based on applications received by October 13, 2023 at 11:59PM PT.

Check the ECRG main page for updates.

Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG)

In 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation referred to as the Cleanup In Vulnerable Communities Initiative (CVCI), allocating $500 million to expedite the cleanup and beneficial reuse of contaminated properties, with priority given to properties in historically vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. The Department of Toxic Substances Control’s Office of Brownfields Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) will provide more than $250 million in grants to incentivize cleanup and investment in disadvantaged areas of California.

The program gives California communities an unprecedented opportunity to address historic environmental injustices and set a new path for land use that will have immediate and lasting benefits, such as recreational uses (parks and other green spaces), commercial enterprises and housing. ECRG funding is available to help California public entities, nonprofit organizations and Tribes to conduct:

Community-wide Assessment Grant ($350k*): First steps or early stages to learn about environmental conditions of at least three sites in a defined area where reuse is being planned. Activities may include Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments or Preliminary Endangerment Assessments, and may also include community engagement for sites being assessed/investigated. In addition to assessment or investigation, activities may also include developing an inventory of brownfield sites, including GIS mapping, and other activities that will facilitate reuse planning.
- *Funding: Fixed amount of $350,000, which may include up to $50,000 for grantee project management and CWA-related activities conducted by grantee.
Site-specific Investigation Grant (up to $3M): and/or cleanup planning at a specific site that is slated for reuse. Work includes All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) or Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, Preliminary Endangerment Assessments (PEA), supplemental or other necessary site investigations, health and ecological risk assessments, work to evaluate different cleanup methods, pilot tests to assess a potential remedial technology, and preparation of a cleanup plan.
Site-specific Cleanup Grant (up to $7M): This includes planning, implementation and reporting costs for the cleanup, pilot tests and sampling/analysis to design the cleanup, public engagement and cleanup-related California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) activities. A regulatory-approved cleanup plan is highly recommended for a Site-specific Cleanup Application.

The first round of the ECRG closed April 2022 and awardees were announced June 2022. The second round of ECRG closed October 2023 and awardees will be announced winter 2024. To stay up to date on the latest ECRG news, sign up for the:

ECRG Newsletter

Please visit our website for more information.

Targeted Site Investigation Plus (TSI+) Program

CLOSED

Since 2004, the TSI Program has been part of DTSC’s CERCLA 128(a) State and Tribal Response Program Grant, funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). DTSC provided environmental services to local governments, school districts, and nonprofits to facilitate the return of brownfields to safe and productive uses. The program focused on properties with a clear need for redevelopment, strong redevelopment potential, real or perceived contamination, and municipal/community support for redevelopment. DTSC has provided assessment, investigation, and cleanup planning services to over 100 projects, in 68 cities, and 30 counties, throughout the State of California. Take a look at our short video, Using Loose Change for Big Changes for Brownfields in California for highlights of our TSI work.

DTSC is currently working to innovate and transform the TSI Program into the TSI+ Program.

How is the TSI+ Program Different?

Building on the success of the TSI Program, DTSC envisions an enhanced TSI+ Program to support local governments, school districts, tribes, and nonprofits as they return brownfields to safe and productive uses. Similar to the previous TSI Program, DTSC will provide assessment, investigation, or cleanup planning services at no cost to the applicant under the TSI+ Program. DTSC is looking for pilot projects to learn where to position our TSI+ Program as a link between federal/state/local brownfield funding to maximize benefit to project proponents that will ultimately result in successful redevelopment. Additionally, DTSC is focused on brownfield properties that meet the following criteria:

Located in communities that are disadvantaged, have environmental justice issues, or are disproportionately burdened by and vulnerable to multiple sources of pollution, such as those with high CalEnviroScreen scores.
Proposed redevelopment aligns with California’s priorities of “tackling our state’s affordability crisis, creating inclusive economic grown and opportunity for every child, and standing up for California values – from civil rights, to immigration, environmental protection, access to quality schools at all levels, and justice” (see Governor Newsom’s website).
Development planning is complete or in progress.
Cleanup/redevelopment funding has been secured or is in progress.

If you have a brownfield site to be considered for the TSI+ program, please forward your ideas to or request an application from the TSI+ Program Coordinator, Triss.Chesney@dtsc.ca.gov.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Grant Support

The U.S. EPA offers a variety of grant and loan programs and technical assistance to help communities assess and clean up brownfields and prepare them for redevelopment. Information on U.S. EPA brownfields grants is currently available at U.S. EPA’s Brownfields Grants page. The application deadline is November 22, 2022. In order to develop a complete proposal package, the U.S. EPA requires a letter of acknowledgement from a state agency. Learn how to obtain a Letter of Acknowledgement from DTSC.

DTSC helps U.S. EPA grant applicants and recipients access federal brownfields funding by determining eligibility of petroleum-contaminated brownfields sites, under CERCLA section 101(39)(D). This is not a regulatory determination. A petroleum eligibility determination by DTSC, under CERCLA section 101(39)(D), for the purpose of brownfields funding does not release any party from obligations under any federal or state law or regulation, or under common law, and does not impact or limit EPA or state enforcement authorities against any party. Refer to the following guidelines and application to request this grant support from DTSC.