LaLota Announces Federal Funding for Shinnecock Nation

SOUTHAMPTON, NY - Today, New York First Congressional District Representative Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) announced a federal grant totaling $275,788 has been awarded to the Shinnecock Nation. This grant is part of the State and Tribal Response Program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021.

“Investing in Long Island’s infrastructure is incredibly important and will be a benefit to every resident,” said LaLota. “Strengthening our roads and bridges, expanding broadband access, and cleaning up contamination are important for our communities’ growth and success. I will fight at every opportunity to make sure that Suffolk County gets the federal funding it needs to continue to be the best place to work, live, and raise a family.”

Background:

Under the grant, the Shinnecock Nation will perform a timely survey and inventory of brownfield sites, which are properties whose expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence of hazardous substances. It also includes oversight and enforcement authorities to ensure that response actions protect human health and the environment; resources to provide meaningful public involvement; mechanisms for approval of cleanup plans, and verification of complete responses.

The objective of this project is to assist in remediating and reusing brownfield sites throughout the nation. Site investigations will be performed to remediate several properties with abandoned houses so this land can be reclaimed for tribal use.

The objective outcome of the grant is for the Shinnecock Nation to expand public education and outreach of the Shinnecock Voluntary Cleanup Program to underserved communities, assess thirteen sites throughout the nation, conduct Phase I/Phase II site investigations as needed per site, draft two cleanup plans and hold quarterly community outreach meetings.

###