What are Brownfields?

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency defines a brownfield site as 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. As such, brownfields are sites with known or perceived contamination. This contamination poses an obstacle to developers, often preventing the redevelopment of Brownfields sites. The EPA’s Brownfields Program intends to remove this obstacle by providing funding for the assessment and cleanup of Brownfields sites, removing this hindrance to redevelopment.

MVPC and Brownfields Redevelopment

MVPC has been involved in the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields program for over 20 years, working to fund Assessment and Cleanup efforts in the region. These funds assist communities with revitalizing sites that may be compromised by contamination by providing grants and low-interest loans to support Phase I Assessments, which involve a site inspection and review of publicly available documents, Phase II Assessments involving additional soil and groundwater testing, as well as the cleanup of contamination from properties if required.

Most recently, MVPC’s Brownfields program has been reinvigorated with $1.5 Million dollars in both Assessment and Cleanup funds to aid member communities in the pursuit of Brownfields revitalization efforts. These funds are available to all MVPC communities, on a first-come first-serve basis, with the intention to prioritize impactful and regionally beneficial projects. To inquire about becoming involved in MVPC’s Brownfields program, please contact the Environmental Program Coordinator, Cecelia Gerstenbacher, at [email protected].