With manufacturing declining in many of our nation’s cities, properties know as
“brownfields” are showing up more and more. A brownfield is an idle property that may be contaminated by chemicals and other waste that are part of many manufacturing processes. Typically found in poor urban communities, brownfields can often be put to good use once they are cleaned up and restored.
The EPA’s Brownfield Program began by providing start-up funds to local governments to help start the process of assessment, clean up, and re-use of such properties. The program also worked toward the prevention of future brownfields. Generally defined, brownfields are property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant (42 USC 9601(38)(A)).
The EPA has expanded this program thanks to the passage of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Brownfield grants are the backbone of the EPA program and they help fund environmental assessment, cleanup, and job training. The EPA is working to reduce the fear of liability under federal laws by modifying agreements with states that have their own voluntary clean up programs.
Help is on the way
Enviro.BLR.com provides detailed and practical Brownfield analysis. The web site features plain-English summaries of the differences between federal and state environmental laws and regulations, state and federal final and proposed regulations and notices, and "Ask the Experts" service.
There is also an extensive compliance "Tools" section that provides more than 7,000 guidance documents, sample plans, brownfield guidance documents, and checklists. The Enviro.BLR.com editorial staff keep the site and you up-to-date on all important EPA developments.
The EPA Library has more helpful environmental compliance resources like these:
Using the Triad Approach to Streamline Brownfields Site Assessment and Cleanup
GAO Brownfields Report
Brownfields Tax Incentive Fact Sheets
Sign up for a free 14 day trial and see for yourself how Enviro.BLR.com can help.