U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff today announced new resources through the bipartisan infrastructure law to protect Middle Georgia families from hazardous materials.

Today, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock announced they are delivering $2.5 million through the bipartisan infrastructure law to help expedite the cleanup of hazardous materials in Macon, Milledgeville, and Warner Robins.

“Above all this is about our communities’ health. No family in Middle Georgia should live in fear of contaminants in their communities,” Sen. Ossoff said. “That’s why Senator Warnock and I are delivering these historic public health and environmental cleanup efforts across Middle Georgia through the bipartisan infrastructure law.”

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Senator Ossoff and I championed, we are announcing historic investments that will clean up former industrial sites dealing with environmental contamination,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “As a voice for Georgia in the Senate I’m committed to environmental justice, and I’m so proud to see these funds flow to critical projects in our state that are going to promote better health, a cleaner environment, and better outcomes for hardworking Georgians.”

The City of Warner Robins will receive $1 million through the bipartisan infrastructure law to conduct environmental site assessments and prepare a revitalization plan. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), clean-up activities will focus on the 7.5-acre Commercial Circle Redevelopment area properties, which operated as various commercial and light industrial businesses from the mid-1960s until last year. The city will also use the funding to assess the area around 225 South Commercial Circle that was built in 1953.

The Middle Georgia Regional Commission, in partnership with the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority and Baldwin County, will receive $1.5 million through the bipartisan infrastructure law to conduct environmental site assessments and prepare revitalization plans in certain areas of Macon and Milledgeville, including the 8-acre Gray Highway Auto Repair Facilities site located at the Gray Highway/Emery Highway intersection; the vacant 2,000-acre Central State Hospital Campus; and more, according to the EPA grant.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency This is an external link(EPA), people living near “brownfield” sites may be exposed to hazardous substances by drinking groundwater impacted by the site, through exposure to contaminants in the air, or by walking on the site itself — leading to long-term environmental and public health risks.