Brownfields in New England

Targeted Brownfields Assessment

BACKGROUND
EPA New England has initiated a regional program aimed at helping municipalities and non-profits partnered with municipalities redevelop contaminated parcels in their communities. Under this program, EPA New England is conducting “Targeted Brownfields Assessments” (TBAs) at brownfields sites throughout the six New England states. A brownfields site is “Real property, the expansion, redevelopment,or reuse of which may be contaminated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.” The purpose of a TBA is to minimize the uncertainties surrounding the actual or perceived contamination associated with these sites. Through this fact sheet and attached application, EPA New England is soliciting interest in this program. This fact sheet describes who is eligible and the procedures for applying for assistance through this program.

WHAT IS A TARGETED BROWNFIELDS ASSESSMENT?
A TBA may encompass one or more of the following activities:

1. An ASTM Phase I, which includes a background and historical investigation and site inspection
2. A full site assessment, including sampling activities to identify types and concentrations of contaminants and the areas of contamination that must be cleaned up; and
3. The determination of how much more investigation is needed and/or the establishment of cleanup options and cost estimates based on future uses and redevelopment plans.

The TBA program works closely with your state environmental agency. Our goal is a “seamless” transition into state program, if necessary. TBA are considered a grant of services and our conducted by environmental consultants currently under contract with EPA. The cost of these assessments ranges between $50,000-$100,000. It is also important to note that this program does not provide assistance to conduct site cleanup or building demolition activities.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
EPA is offering assistance in the form of a TBA to public entities ( e.g., municipalities, regional planning commissions) or non-profits who partner with a public entity. It is important that the applicant currently have redevelopment plans for contaminated property. The applicant should apply on behalf of a specific site which it currently owns or can obtain ownership through some other means (e.g. tax foreclosure). If the site is currently not owned by the applicant, the site should be “abandoned”. An “abandoned” site for the purposes of this program is a site where the current owner has shown no interest in the property, has not paid taxes on the property, and does not have the resources to conduct the required site assessment work. Sites where the applicant could be considered a responsible party for the contamination on the site are not eligible for assistance under this program. Additionally, this program is not intended to assist private parties assess and cleanup their sites for redevelopment.

Application Guidelines

• To apply for an EPA-LEAD Targeted Brownfields Assessment: (3 pp., 328 KB, about PDF) SFF

Brownfields Targeted Site Assessment Program
U.S. EPA - Region 1
Mail Code: HIO
One Congress Street, Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114-2023

• To apply for a STATE-LEAD Targeted Brownfields Assessment, please request information from the state contact.

Contacts for more information.