Brownfield
Sites
What are
Brownfield sites?
The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines Brownfield sites as:
“With
certain legal exclusions and additions, the term "brownfield site"
means real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be
complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance,
pollutant, or contaminant.”
Brownfield
sites could be contaminated old abandoned industrial sites: old mill buildings
in the North East, power plants, oil refineries, dry cleaners and other
industrial facilities. Some sites may not be contaminated, like abandoned
airstrip and warehouses. According to
the Environmental Law Institute, there could over 450,000 the Brownfield sites
in the USA (http://www.brownfieldscenter.org/big/faq.shtml ).
Remediation of Brownfield sites and Funding Opportunities
The remediation of Brownfield sites are usually joint venture
projects between the EPA, states and local communities, with the goal to reuse
the Brownfield sites and to revitalize the local economy. The EPA has set four
main goals for the Brownfield projects: protecting health and environment,
sustainability or reuse the properties, promoting partnership in the
communities and economic development in the community (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/grant_info/ ).
The EPA has many funding opportunities for the cleanup
process of these properties. State
agencies identify the Brownfield sites and allocate the resources.
There are
four types of grant available through the EPA:
1. Assessment
grants: Help to assess the sites,
planning and community outreach.
2. Loans: Revolving loans or other funding for the
project.
3. Cleanup
grant: Funding for cleanup activities.
4. Job training: Grants for environmental training to the
Brownfield local community.
More
information about how to apply for the EPA grants could be found at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/grant_info/assess/assessment_factsheet.pdf
Success stories of remediated
Brownfield sites:
Paul E. Tsongas Center, University of Massachusetts, Lowell (Formally Paul E. Tsongas Arena)
Paul E. Tsongas Center, University of Massachusetts, Lowell (Formally Paul E. Tsongas Arena)
Since 1800, this site was polluted with many contaminants like asbestos,
The City of Lowell used the EPA
grants to develop this Brownfield site into a sports arena and a site for major
concerts and public events. Now, this site
hosts Tsongas Center – a $30 million sports arena opened in January, 1998. It can seat 7,800 sport fans. The outdoor lawn can also hold 3,500 people
for outdoor festival and concerts.
In 2009, University of
Massachusetts, Lowell took the ownership of this arena from the City of Lowell. http://www.lowellma.gov/depts/dpd/services/econdev/brownfield
Lawrence Community Works, Massachusetts
Union Crossing 1 is
now a community of 60 affordable housing units.
However, before remediation, these housing communities were old mill
buildings with soil and ground water contaminated with petroleum. Beginning as
a foundry site, these buildings were converted in 1916, into a textile mill that
was operational until 1950.
Furthermore, this
Brownfield site is also an example of how the EPA works towards the Principles
of Livability: not only is this former mill used for housing, but it is also
walking distance to major public transit.
Funding for this
project came from both the private and public sectors. This project could create 125 – 175 temporary
construction jobs and over 200 permanent new jobs, once completed.
Union Crossing 1
The successful
remediation of Brownfield sites requires the cooperation between the EPA, state
and local governments and agencies, private organizations and the local
community. The remediation of Brownfield
site could also revitalize the local economy. Furthermore, there are many tax credits,
loans, revolving funds and other financial help available to encourage the
community and the private sector to get involved with the remediation of Brownfield sites.
Fully restored
entrance door of the Victorian mill building once used as warehouse and sales
office, Lawrence, Massachusetts
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