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1. What is a brownfield?

Brownfields are vacant and underutilized properties previously used for industrial or commercial activities that may have resulted in contamination from petroleum or hazardous substances but can be cleaned up and reused.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines brownfields 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.”

2. What are the benefits of brownfield redevelopment?

Property owners, businesses, and developers who clean up and reuse brownfields provide benefits to themselves and their communities, including:

• Removing unknowns regarding site conditions that might hold up a sale or redevelopment
• Increasing return from the property by making it more valuable and marketable
• Contributing to economic prosperity and environmental restoration in the community
• Making neighborhoods safer and healthier
• Avoiding actions by regulatory agencies that may impose penalties and costly cleanups
• Reducing the potential that adjacent properties could impact their property (and vice versa)

3. What will grant funds be used for?

Grant funding can be used to inventory, assess, and conduct cleanup/reuse planning for priority sites at no cost to the property owner. Additional information is included in the following documents:

• Fact Sheet for Community Members (PDF)
• Fact Sheet for Property Owners (PDF)
• Process Guide for Property Owners and Stakeholders (PDF)

4. What sites are eligible for grant funds?

Sites eligible for grant-funded activities include private- or public-owned properties with known or suspected contamination and properties where sale, reuse, or redevelopment is planned. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis. Eligible sites may include (but are not limited to):

• Former dry cleaners
• Former gas stations and auto repair shops
• Former manufacturing and industrial sites (e.g. wineries, food processing facilities)
• Former rail yards and truck depots
• Old buildings with asbestos or lead-based paint
• Salvage yards, dumps, and landfills
• Underutilized warehouses and commercial facilities

Eligible sites may not be included on the Environmental Protect Agency National Priority “Superfund” List or targeted for any federal or state enforcement action. The property owner must provide site access for assessment.

5. What are the program requirements and timeline?

Participation is voluntary and no grant match is required. Sites that are nominated for grant funds will be prioritized based on factors such as redevelopment potential. Prioritized sites must meet certain eligibility requirements.

The City will submit an eligibility request to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting use of grant funding on the owner’s behalf. If approved, the property owner will work with the City’s environmental consultant (Stantec) to coordinate the environmental site assessment (ESA) and/or related activities. The owner will receive a report with findings and recommendations.

The program and funding are committed through September of 2018. Additional information is included in the following:

• Fact Sheet for Community Members (PDF)
• Fact Sheet for Property Owners (PDF)
• Process Guide for Property Owners and Stakeholders (PDF)

6. How do I nominate/identify sites for use of grant funding?

Is there a site in your neighborhood or one that you own that you think would benefit from the Environmental Protection Agency funding assistance? Property owners and community members are encouraged to nominate sites for use of grant funds by submitting a Site Nomination Application (PDF) to the City.