News Releases from Headquarters›Land and Emergency Management (OLEM)

EPA to Co-host National Brownfields Training Conference in Pittsburgh

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) are co-sponsoring the National Brownfields Training Conference in Pittsburgh Dec. 4-7 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. It is the largest event in the nation focused on environmental revitalization and economic redevelopment, attracting more than 2,000 environmental and economic development officials, finance and insurance providers, planners, attorneys, and many others interested in community revitalization.

“Cleaning up Brownfields sites and returning them to reuse is a priority of this Administration,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “The Brownfields Conference provides an opportunity to support private and public investment in economic revitalization to help improve environmental outcomes across the country.”

Addressing the nation's brownfields - abandoned or underutilized properties stigmatized by past commercial or industrial uses - is an ongoing challenge for communities of every size. The EPA Brownfields program works collaboratively with federal, state, tribal, local and private partners to return these sites to productive use, advancing environmental and human health protection while stimulating economic development and job creation.  These revitalization projects protect people from exposure to contaminants, improve property values and provide much needed redevelopment opportunities.

The heart of Brownfields 2017 is a dynamic educational program of speakers, discussions, mobile workshops, films and other learning formats that provide attendees with case study examples, program updates, and useful strategies for meeting brownfields challenges.

Featuring dozens of educational sessions and mobile workshops including many showcasing the Pittsburgh City and the redevelopment in the surrounding region, the sessions offered by the conference have something for both beginners and seasoned professionals.

The conference is also a premier stop for the private sector as many events including a vibrant exhibit hall and other transactional activities are catered towards companies focused on the business of brownfields cleanup and redevelopment. The exhibit hall will feature upwards of 150 booths housing federal agencies, engineering firms, developers, environmental cleanup companies, legal and financial expertise, nonprofits, and other types of organizations.

For a detailed agenda and additional information, go to: https://www.brownfields2017.org/

For more information about the EPA Brownfields program, go to: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields.