The Shinnecock Indian Nation received over $950,000 from the EPA's Brownfields Assessment Grant Program to fund environmental assessments, cleanup planning, and community engagement across Shinnecock Territory and nearby Southampton and Hampton Bays areas. The funding targets potential brownfields such as abandoned homes, beachfront properties, historic dump sites, and wetlands. The Council credited Environmental Director Shavonne Smith for her sustained advocacy and acknowledged Congressman Nick LaLota's support. Leaders say the grant will help protect community health, preserve ancestral lands, and advance environmental resilience.
Shinnecock Nation Secures Nearly $1M EPA Brownfields Grant to Protect and Redevelop Tribal Lands
The Shinnecock Indian Nation is located alongside Shinnecock Bay.
The Shinnecock Indian Nation has been awarded more than $950,000 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Brownfields Assessment Grant Program. The grant will fund environmental assessments, cleanup planning, and community engagement across Shinnecock Territory and neighboring communities in Southampton and Hampton Bays.
What the Grant Will Fund
The funding will allow the Nation to identify and evaluate potential brownfield sites—including abandoned residences, beachfront properties, historic dump sites, and wetlands—and develop plans for cleanup and future reuse. Funds will also support community outreach to ensure residents and tribal members are involved in prioritizing sites and shaping redevelopment consistent with cultural and environmental priorities.
Local Leadership and Acknowledgements
The Nation's Council of Trustees credited Environmental Director Shavonne Smith and her department for years of advocacy that helped secure the award. In a statement, the Council praised the team's persistence and strategic planning.
"We are incredibly proud of Shavonne Smith and her team for their dedication and perseverance. This award reflects years of hard work, strategic planning and steadfast advocacy on behalf of our Nation. Their commitment to protecting our homeland and advancing environmental stewardship continues to create meaningful opportunities for our community."
The Council also acknowledged the assistance of Congressman Nick LaLota for his engagement on shared regional priorities.
Goals and Next Steps
Leaders said the grant is more than financial support: it recognizes long-term stewardship of Shinnecock lands and waters and advances goals to protect community health, preserve ancestral lands, and build environmental resilience. In coming months the Nation will begin site assessments, expand community engagement efforts, and develop cleanup and redevelopment plans that reflect environmental and cultural values.
About Brownfields Grants: The EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant Program helps communities inventory, assess, and plan the cleanup of contaminated or potentially contaminated sites so they can be reused safely and sustainably.
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