The federal government is giving the state of Maine more than $2 million to clean up and redevelop contaminated sites.

The money will be used to clean up brownfield sites, which are former industrial areas that have become polluted. Brownfields clean-ups are intended to redevelop one-time industrial sites into something new and viable.

The grants are awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and total $2.35 million. They are going to the city of Portland, the Greater Portland Council of Governments, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council and the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission.

Maine independent Sen. Angus King and Republican Sen. Susan Collins say brownfields remediation projects are especially important for the health of former mill communities in the state.