Redevelopment at Federal Facilities
Federal facility Superfund sites are being cleaned up across the country, helping communities reclaim and reuse thousands of acres of formerly contaminated land. Many sites now host parks, businesses, renewable energy facilities, wildlife habitat, neighborhoods and farms. Sites in reuse include sites with continued use and/or active reuse. Continued use sites are being used in the same general manner as prior to becoming subject to the Superfund program. Sites in active reuse are being used in a different manner than prior to becoming subject to the Superfund program, or the property was unused and now supports a specific use. Reusing sites makes a visible difference in communities – enabling job opportunities, strengthening local economies and providing priority services.
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Reuse Inventory
From 2021 to 2023, EPA inventoried a subset of federal facility Superfund sites that are in reuse and/or continued use, to provide current, precise, reliable reuse-related information. The reuse inventory counted any example of reuse or continued use at a site as a reuse instance. For example, a site with four baseball fields built on it after cleanup has four instances of recreational reuse. A site can have more than one type of reuse category, and/or multiple reuse instances, associated with it. EPA’s inventory tallied instances of reuse and continued use and divided them into nine reuse categories. The table below lists the reuse categories and the total number of reuse instances at the 108 federal facility Superfund sites researched.
| Reuse Category | Number of Sites | Number of Reuse Instances |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | 97 | 2,373 |
| Recreational | 90 | 1,454 |
| Ecological | 97 | 887 |
| Industrial | 60 | 487 |
| Federal - Military | 80 | 426 |
| Public Services | 74 | 328 |
| Residential | 62 | 167 |
| Federal - Other | 55 | 139 |
| Agricultural | 18 | 26 |
Commercial and ecological use are the reuse categories present at the most federal facility Superfund sites; both commercial and ecological reuses are at 97 of the 108 sites evaluated. Recreational uses are the third most-common reuse found at the sites. Recreational uses are found at 90 sites. The reuse inventory’s findings suggest that federal facility Superfund sites are ideal locations for recreational, ecological and commercial uses. Many of these sites include large land areas that include ecological features such as creeks, rivers and streams as well as open space for recreation facilities and infrastructure for businesses. These businesses often support federal operations and provide services to surrounding communities.
Reuse Snapshots
Reuse snapshots provide brief summaries of the key characteristics, history and current uses of federal facility Superfund sites. They provide a quick, engaging look at the return of these formerly contaminated lands to beneficial use. Reuse snapshots are written for a subset of federal facility Superfund sites in reuse.
| Site Name | State | Reuse Keywords |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Proving Ground (Edgewood Area) | MD | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Aberdeen Proving Ground (Michaelsville Landfill) | MD | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Federal |
| Adak Naval Air Station | AK | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Alabama Army Ammunition Plant | AL | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Agricultural |
| Alameda Naval Air Station | CA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural, Federal |
| Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (USDOE) | WV | Ecological, Industrial, Federal |
| Andrews Air Force Base | MD | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Brookhaven National Laboratory (USDOE) | NY | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Agricultural, Federal |
| Brunswick Naval Air Station | ME | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural, Federal |
| Camp Lejeune Military Reservation | NC | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base | CA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural, Federal |
| Castle Air Force Base (6 Areas) | CA | Commercial, Recreational, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station | NC | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Federal |
| Concord Naval Weapons Station | CA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Agricultural, Federal |
| Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard | MD | Recreational, Federal |
| Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center | RI | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Federal |
| Defense General Supply Center (DLA) | VA | Commercial, Ecological, Industrial, Federal |
| Dover Air Force Base | DE | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Edwards Air Force Base | CA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| El Toro Marine Corps Air Station | CA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential |
| Ellsworth Air Force Base | SD | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Elmendorf Air Force Base | AK | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural, Federal |
| F.E. Warren Air Force Base | WY | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center (USDOT) | NJ | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Federal |
| Feed Materials Production Center (USDOE) | OH | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Federal |
| Fort Detrick Area B Ground Water | MD | Commercial, Ecological, Federal |
| Fort Devens | MA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Fort Devens-Sudbury Training Annex | MA | Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Fort Eustis (US Army) | VA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Fort George G. Meade | MD | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Fort Ord | CA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Fort Richardson (USARMY) | AK | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Fort Riley | KS | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Griffiss Air Force Base (11 Areas) | NY | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Hanscom Field/Hanscom Air Force Base | MA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Federal |
| Hill Air Force Base | UT | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Homestead Air Force Base | FL | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center | MD | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (Load-Assembly-Packing area) | IL | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural, Federal |
| Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (Manufacturing Area) | IL | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Federal |
| Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (Northwest Lagoon) | MO | Ecological, Industrial, Federal |
| Langley Air Force Base/NASA Langley Research Center | VA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Letterkenny Army Depot (PDO Area) | PA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural, Federal |
| Letterkenny Army Depot (SE Area) | PA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Agricultural, Federal |
| Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant | TX | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological |
| Loring Air Force Base | ME | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural, Federal |
| Marine Corps Combat Development Command | VA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Materials Technology Laboratory (USARMY) | MA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological |
| McClellan Air Force Base (Ground Water Contamination) | CA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Memphis Defense Depot (DLA) | TN | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial |
| Middlesex Sampling Plant | NJ | |
| Milan Army Ammunition Plant | TN | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Agricultural, Federal |
| Moffett Field Naval Air Station | CA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Mound Plant (USDOE) | OH | Commercial, Industrial, Federal |
| Naval Air Development Center (8 Waste Areas) | PA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek | VA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Naval Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant | MN | Commercial, Industrial, Federal |
| Naval Surface Warfare Center – Dahlgren | VA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Navy Ship Parts Control Center | PA | Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Nebraska Ordnance Plant (Former) | NE | Commercial, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural, Federal |
| New Brighton/Arden Hills/TCAAP (USARMY) | ME | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Norfolk Naval Shipyard | VA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Norton Air Force Base (Lndfll #2) | CA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial |
| NWS Yorktown – Cheatham Annex | VA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Federal |
| Oak Ridge Reservation (USDOE) | TN | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Ogden Defense Depot (DLA) | UT | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Federal |
| Old Navy Dump/Manchester Laboratory (USEPA/NOAA) | WA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Federal |
| Otis Air National Guard Base/Camp Edwards | MA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Pantex Plant (USDOE) | TX | Commercial, Ecological, Industrial, Agricultural, Federal |
| Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot | SC | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Patuxent River Naval Air Station | MD | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Pearl Harbor Naval Complex | HI | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Pease Air Force Base | NH | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Agricultural, Federal |
| Pensacola Naval Air Station | FL | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Picatinny Arsenal (USARMY) | NJ | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Plattsburgh Air Force Base | NY | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant | CA | Commercial, Industrial |
| Rocky Flats Plant (USDOE) | CO | Recreational, Ecological, Federal |
| Rocky Mountain Arsenal (USARMY) | CO | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Federal |
| Sacramento Army Depot | CA | Commercial, Recreational, Industrial, Federal |
| Savanna Army Depot Activity | IL | Commercial, Ecological, Industrial, Federal |
| Savannah River Site (USDOE) | SC | Commercial, Ecological, Industrial, Federal |
| Seneca Army Depot | NY | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Federal |
| St. Juliens Creek Annex (U.S. Navy) | VA | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Federal |
| St. Louis Airport/Hazelwood Interim Storage/Futura Coatings Co. | MO | Commercial, Ecological, Industrial, Agricultural |
| Standard Steel & Metal Salvage Yard (USDOT) | AK | Commercial, Industrial |
| Tobyhanna Army Depot | PA | Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Tooele Army Depot (North Area) | UT | Commercial, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| U.S. Army/NASA Redstone Arsenal | AL | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| USN Air Station Cecil Field | FL | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| USN Phila Naval Shipyard | PA | Commercial |
| Washington Navy Yard | DC | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Federal |
| Weldon Spring Former Army Ordnance Works | MO | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Weldon Spring Quarry/Plant/Pits (USDOE/Army) | MO | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological |
| Whiting Field Naval Air Station | FL | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Residential, Federal |
| Williams Air Force Base | AZ | Commercial, Recreational, Ecological, Industrial, Residential, Federal |
| Willow Grove Naval Air and Air Reserve Station | PA | Commercial, Recreational, Federal |
Redevelopment Economics at Federal Facilities
Many reuse outcomes can play a role in economically revitalizing a community. EPA measures the economic beneficial effects of reuse at federal facility Superfund sites by collecting the following types of information:
- Number of businesses located on site.
- Number of people employed at site businesses.
- Annual employment income from on-site jobs.
- Annual sales revenue generated by businesses on site.
EPA tracks these figures from year to year, to give a general overview of the national beneficial effects associated with federal facility Superfund redevelopment. Readily available internet and database sources are utilized to create estimates of economic site totals.
| Year | Sites in Reuse with Economic Data | Number of Businesses Identified | Reported Annual Sales (billions)* | Reported Jobs | Annual Employment Income (billions)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 11 | 628 | $7.2 | 39,777 | $3.9 |
| 2018 | 16 | 1,198 | $10.3 | 62,503 | $5.5 |
| 2019 | 22 | 1,422 | $11.6 | 115,097 | $8.6 |
| 2020 | 45 | 2,052 | $13.4 | 188,734 | $17.3 |
| 2021 | 50 | 2,227 | $20.1 | 223,384 | $21.7 |
| 2022 | 70 | 2,402 | $29.9 | 455,216 | $47.5 |
| 2023 | 91 | 2,742 | $29.7 | 602,019 | $61.0 |
| 2024 | 102 | 2,826 | $30.7 | 676,750 | $70.7 |
| Note: These are estimates of economic activity at federal facilities Superfund sites based on methodology developed by EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program. Data on businesses, jobs and annual sales were obtained from Hoovers/Dun & Bradstreet, Reference Solutions, Manta.com and other published reports identified online. These databases and reports include data reported by businesses. Accordingly, some reported values might be underestimates or overestimates. In general, economic information gathered for sites in reuse is conservative, as it is not always possible to identify all businesses on site. Wage data are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages and are used to estimate annual income based on the number of jobs identified at the business and the average weekly wage reported by BLS for each business’s primary NAICS code and location. Note that * indicates that the values were adjusted to 2024 USD using the Consumer Price Index (CUUR0000SA0, not seasonally adjusted, U.S. city annual average). | |||||
Specific Economic Highlights
The reuse of Superfund sites provides a wide range of benefits to local communities across the country. Some of these benefits are easy to quantify, while others are not. For example, commercial or industrial reuse of a site can bolster local economies by supporting jobs and generating sales revenues. However, not all sites in reuse involve an on-site business or other land use that would employ people. Therefore, economic information is not available for all sites in reuse. This could be attributed to several factors, including:
- There may be no revenue-generating businesses operating on site.
- There may be a business or businesses operating on site for which economic information is not available.
- EPA has only explored the businesses operating at Federal Facility Superfund Sites for a subset of sites in reuse.
Many sites without businesses have beneficial effects that are not easily quantified, such as properties providing ecological or recreational benefits (e.g., parks, wetlands, ecological habitat, open space). Also, not all sites in reuse are well-suited for revenue-generating reuse. If a site is not located in an area appropriate for commercial or industrial reuse, it may not be a realistic option to have it redeveloped into something that will support jobs. EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program quantifies many types of beneficial effects of reuse at Superfund sites including the number of on-site jobs, estimated annual employment income and sales revenue generated by on-site businesses.
EPA obtains economic data for sites in reuse from reputable sources. Information on the number of employees and sales volume for on-site businesses typically comes from the Hoovers/Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) database. When Hoovers/D&B database research is not able to identify employment and sales information for on-site businesses, EPA uses the Reference Solutions and Manta databases. These databases include data reported by businesses. Accordingly, some reported values might be underestimates or overestimates. In some instances, business and employment information come from local newspaper stories/articles and discussions with local officials and business representatives. In general, economic information gathered for sites in reuse is conservative, based on available resources. In some cases, especially for exceptionally large sites, the economic information presented may not be comprehensive of the entire site, presenting a conservative estimate of the economic benefits of reuse at the given site.