Remarks for the Philadelphia Brownfields Event, As Prepared for Delivery
Michael Regan
Philadelphia, PA
Thank you, Maitreyi, for that kind introduction...and thank you for all the work you do to make nature and the outdoors more accessible for all Philadelphians.
It’s an honor to join you all today.
Congressman Evans and Congresswoman Scanlon—it’s great to see you here representing your communities. We’re grateful for your leadership and dedication to your constituents.
Mayor Parker, thank you for welcoming us to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, and for your ongoing commitment to environmental justice and equity.
I’d also like to thank Jodie Harris, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, the economic development corporation who manages the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, also known as PAID.
Thank you for hosting us today, and for your efforts to support the remediation and economic revitalization of communities across this city.
Folks, over the past few years, I’ve been on the road a lot...and I have to say, nothing is more impactful than being on the ground...listening and learning about the importance that our agency plays in the lives of real people and real communities.
And time and time again, I’ve seen how former industrial sites can leave a legacy of toxic pollution and destruction in our communities...harming our environment, affecting our health, and causing economic stagnation and instability for generations.
Also known as brownfields, hundreds of thousands of these potentially dangerous sites across the country sit idly by...jeopardizing the health and economic security of local communities — many of which are low-income communities or communities of color.
President Biden understands the power of investing in America, and cleaning up these toxic sites is a key part of his commitment to helping ALL Americans thrive.
And that’s where EPA’s Brownfields Program comes in.
Cleaning up and investing in these communities has the power to turn these once blighted areas into economic engines, supplying opportunities for job growth, and reducing harmful impacts on people’s health and on our environment.
Our agency’s brownfields grants are community builders...providing neighborhoods with a foundation to grow, thrive, and create a more just and sustainable future for all their residents.
That's the power that cleaning up brownfields can have, and I’m excited to announce that today...EPA is investing more than $300 million dollars to support the development and revitalization of over 200 brownfield sites across our nation.
This funding, made possible in part by President Biden's Investing in America Agenda, will expedite the assessment and cleanup of these hazardous areas, while advancing environmental justice and targeting communities that have been underserved for far too long.
And I’m thrilled to announce that EPA has selected PAID to receive $2 million dollars in funding as part of our grant program.
We’re standing here in the middle of Bartram’s Mile — a beautiful trail right next to the Schuylkill River… and one of the gems of Philadelphia.
Following decades of industrial development, decline, and neglect, the city has been working to reclaim the brownfield sites along Bartram’s Mile...turning it into a community hub where residents can access trails for hiking and biking...as well as areas for fishing, gardening, farming, and so much more.
For over 60 years, this site behind us was used as an oil terminal, filled with storage tanks full of petroleum and other semi-volatile organic compounds.
In 2006, the site shut down, leaving the area contaminated, defunct, and unusable to the local Kingsessing neighborhood — a majority Black community that has felt the impacts of environmental racism for generations.
Today, it still remains a blight on this beloved trail...but with this funding, PAID will be able to work with the local community to clean up this site, and reconnect the Kingsessing neighborhood to the riverfront.
When this site is fully remediated, the river will not only be more accessible...the city also plans to create a field station that will provide amenities and education to its visitors, and build a Biotech campus that will create good-paying jobs for local residents that have been historically disenfranchised.
Folks, today’s announcement is life-changing for so many. And it’s environmental justice in action.
This is what’s possible through EPA’s Brownfields Program — redevelopment, local job creation, restored economic vitality, healthier people and a healthier environment.
In overburdened and underserved communities, the arrival of the EPA's Brownfields Program can be a turning point.
Restored brownfields provide an opportunity to ensure our neighborhoods are not just safe enough for our children to play in, but also strong enough for our children to grow in and thrive in.
An opportunity to deliver lasting change that directly improves people’s lives...
An opportunity to strengthen our partnerships with governors and local leaders to ensure funding reaches the communities and people who need it most...
And an opportunity to provide solutions that aren’t developed from the top down, but from the bottom up...
All of our work at EPA is guided by the fundamental belief that all people — regardless of the color of their skin, the community they live in, or the money in their pocket —deserve clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and the opportunity to lead a healthy life.
And folks, thanks to President Biden’s investments in America, I can assure you that we are on the right path to a healthier and more equitable future for all.
Thank you.