Underground Storage Tanks

Petroleum brownfield sites are being cleaned up and reused for many different purposes across the U.S. Some old abandoned gas station sites are now the locations for new businesses and new affordable housing. This section provides numerous examples of how petroleum brownfields are being reused and offers ideas for petroleum brownfields reuse.

As much as possible, it is important to consider the reuse of a petroleum brownfield site when planning to clean it up. In several states, the potential reuse of a site can affect the needed cleanup. Petroleum-contaminated sites that are to be cleaned up and reused for residential housing, for example, may require more stringent remediation than for a parking lot where contamination may be encapsulated and paved over.

Reuse Success Stories Organized By Type Of Reuse

This section provides success stories for petroleum brownfields organized according to how a site is reused, such as for housing, commercial and business, public, or environmental and recreational reuse. Each success story includes a wealth of information on how the project was conducted, which can help others undertake and complete similar projects.

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Resources For The Reuse Of Petroleum Brownfields

The publications below provide numerous examples of how petroleum brownfield sites can be reused for housing, businesses, parks, and many other uses. These publications also include information on the redevelopment process and on resources for petroleum brownfields.

Opportunities For Petroleum Brownfields (PDF) (56 pp, 1.0MB, About PDF) (EPA 510-R-11-002). July 2011.

Petroleum Brownfields: Selecting A Reuse Option (PDF) (EPA 510-R-09-004). October 2009.

Recycling America's Gas Stations: The Value And Promise Of Revitalizing Petroleum Contaminated Properties
Northeast-Midwest Institute and the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals. 2002.

Brownfields State Of The States: An End-of-Session Review Of Initiatives And Program Impacts In The 50 States (PDF) (113 pp, 388K, About PDF)
Northeast-Midwest Institute. 2002. Fifth Edition.

A Primer For Petroleum Brownfields: What Can Your Community Do To Revitalize UST Sites? (PDF) (20 pp, 4.3MB, About PDF)
Northeast-Midwest Institute and National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals. 2003.

Guide for Identifying and Converting High-Potential Petroleum Brownfield Sites to Alternative Fuel Stations (PDF) (38 pp, 2.6MB, About PDF). Prepared by the U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in partnership with EPA for the RE-Powering America's Land Initiative: Siting Renewable Energy on Potentially Contaminated Land and Mine Sites. 2011.

The petroleum brownfield process varies by state. For petroleum brownfields, the state regulatory authority is often the first place to seek information and assistance, and most of them maintain websites with this information.

The EPA Brownfields Program awards grants for petroleum brownfields, and this website contains information on other resources for brownfield projects.

Financial Resources

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Housing Reuse

There are numerous examples of how petroleum-contaminated property has been cleaned up and reused for affordable housing, assisted living, public housing, and private residences.

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Commercial And Business Reuse

Petroleum-contaminated properties are being cleaned up and reused for all sorts of businesses large and small. Small businesses find old gas station sites a perfect fit for a new fast food restaurant, bank, or pharmacy. Larger developments have occurred on larger properties or where smaller properties have been combined.

Opportunities For Small Businesses

Larger Businesses

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Public Reuse

Local, state, and federal governments have been leaders in the cleanup and reuse of brownfield properties. Because old, abandoned gas stations are found in many communities, governments often find these sites to be excellent locations for new facilities, such as firehouses, police stations, education centers, government services offices, and parking lots.

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Environmental And Recreational Reuse

Petroleum-contaminated properties are being cleaned up and reused in ways that both enhance the environment and enrich community living. A cleaned up petroleum site can make a major contribution to cleaner water in rivers and harbors and provide recreational facilities for the local community, as these success stories describe.

To learn more about petroleum brownfields, see:
Success Stories, Lessons Learned, And Best Practices
Opportunities For Small Businesses
Financial Resources
Public/Private Partnerships

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