The EPA awarded 14 communities in Massachusetts — most of them in Western Mass. — grants totaling $4.92 million for brownfield site revitalization and technical assistance. 4 grants have been approved for Berkshire County of $1.1 million:

• Berkshire Regional Planning Commission ($300,000 for site assessment);

• Great Barrington ($300,000 for site assessment);

• North Adams ($300,000 for site assessment);

• Williamstown ($200,000 for cleanup of the former Photech Imaging Systems site)

For clarification, a brownfield is a property where the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of the site is challenged by the potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

“EPA is committed to working with communities to redevelop brownfields sites which have plagued their neighborhoods. EPA’s assessment and cleanup grants target communities that are economically disadvantaged and include places where environmental cleanup and new jobs are most needed,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “These grants leverage considerable infrastructure and other investments, improving local economies and creating an environment where jobs can grow. I am very pleased the president’s budget recognizes the importance of these grants by providing continued funding for this important program.”