Final Report: Former Chesapeake Supply Brownfield Revitalization: Rapid Health Impact Assessment
The City of Dover, Delaware, and Kent County are interested in redeveloping a vacant and formerly contaminated property, or brownfield, to stimulate economic revitalization and increase food access in the Downtown Dover area. As a part of this effort, local and state officials sought assistance from EPA with examining a cleaned brownfield site for food production with a focus on aquaponics, a type of farming that grows fish and plants together in an integrated system. A rapid Health Impact Assessment (HIA), an abbreviated form of HIA, was piloted in partnership with EPA Region 3; EPA Office of Research and Development; EPA Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization; City of Dover, Kent County, and Delaware State governments; and Delaware State University. EPA staff guided the HIA process and utilized a mixed methods approach, including qualitative and quantitative data, geographic information system (GIS), and scientific literature review, to evaluate the potential health impacts of a proposed food production project. The HIA report linked below documents the HIA analyses, findings, and recommendations for the City of Dover to consider health in decisions around its revitalization plans and outlines opportunities for further development and future assessments.