Brownfield Development and Remediation Services

Understanding EPA’s Brownfield Initiative

EPA’s Brownfield initiative addresses properties whose development plans may be complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. Revitalization and redevelopment of brownfields helps eliminate environment stigma and support productive use of historically impacted properties that are often in economically distressed areas. Governments may also offer tax credits, grants or other incentives in return for developing a brownfield site.

State-lead land revitalization or voluntary cleanup programs (VCP) support the EPA Brownfields program, and offer certificates of completion that effectively immunize the property owner from future enforcement actions concerning historical site contamination. The goal of these programs is to assess, cleanup and sustainably reuse these properties. ECS guides clients through the VCP process from initial grant request writing, through site assessment and ultimately, to successful regulatory case closure.

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The Significance of Brownfield Redevelopment

Investing in the cleanup, restoration and reuse of brownfields is beneficial because it:

• Increases local tax bases
• Enables job growth
• Uses existing infrastructure in a sustainable manner
• Reduces the pressure to develop undeveloped areas and open land
• Improves and sustains the environment

The EPA estimates that brownfield sites could support employment and housing growth at a rate from 11% to 13% between 2013 and 2030. Brownfields are often located in central areas, so converting them into usable space can reduce time spent on the roads and lower carbon emissions — and the use of existing infrastructure lowers redevelopment costs.

Availability of Brownfield Grants

The EPA provides special grants and technical assistance to help assess, remediate and reuse contaminated properties:

• Assessment Grants: These grants allow communities to evaluate unknown environmental conditions of brownfields, create a cleanup plan and redevelop the property for reuse
• Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants: RLF programs provide loans, funding and subgrants to clean up brownfield sites
• Cleanup Grants: These grants are for applicants who own a brownfield site, and funds are allocated toward cleanup activities, including addressing potential contaminants, pollutants and hazardous substances
• Multipurpose (MP) Grants: MP Grants are available for communities that have discovered an area with one or more brownfield sites — the locations can include neighborhoods, neighboring towns, a district, a census tract, a shared planning area or a corridor, and the funds are appropriate for assessment and cleanup
• Job Training (JT) Grants: These grants allow organizations to recruit, train and assign underemployed residents impacted by brownfield sites in their communities
• Technical Assistance, Training and Research Grants: These grants fund organizations that research, provide training and offer technical assistance to communities to help resolve brownfield challenges
• State and Tribal Response Program Grants: Noncompetitive funds are allocated to establish State and Tribal response programs for brownfields