Environmental Benefits of Superfund Site Redevelopment

Getting Started

Find examples of Superfund sites in reuse in your area

Learn how SRP can help. EPA provides reuse planning and technical assistance to support the return of Superfund sites to beneficial use.

Supporting the restoration and beneficial reuse of Superfund sites is a vital part of EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment and provide access to clean air, land and water.

A photograph of restored wetlands and a saltwater marsh, with a rock pathway on the left.
Restored wetlands and the saltwater marsh at the Atlas Tack Corp. Superfund site in Massachusetts.

On this page: 

Ecological Revitalization and Ecosystem Services

Ecological reuse of Superfund sites allows communities to restore lost land, provides important habitat, creates green space, protects water resources, and helps remove the stigma associated with formerly contaminated lands.

Did You Know?

Superfund sites support a range of recreational and ecological uses.

A graphic showing an icon of a flower, a playground, and of hills.
A photograph of a stream with grass on either side and logs in the water.
Aquatic habitat and erosion control at the Bayou Verdine Superfund site in Louisiana.

StoryMap: Recreational and Ecological Use at Superfund Sites

This StoryMap series highlights recreational and ecological uses on Superfund sites.

A screenshot of the StoryMap showing a map of the United States, with sites represented as orange points.

Ecological revitalization is the process of returning a contaminated site to more natural conditions, similar to what existed before the property was disturbed. Industrial, commercial, mining and other uses of a property can contaminate soil, displace plants and animals, and disrupt the ways these organisms interact with each other and their environment. Revitalizing land into a meadow, forest or wetland can recreate habitats and other natural characteristics of the area. This process can give new life to a community through the creation of a new park, natural recreational area or nature preserve.

New and restored ecosystem services at Superfund sites can generate important economic benefits, supporting a range of services such as surface water purification and agricultural production.

The cover page of the Ecosystem Services at Superfund Sites report.

Ecosystem Services at Superfund Sites: Reuse and Benefit to the Community (pdf) (31.1 MB)

This report provides information about ecosystem services at Superfund sites and the positive impacts of these services at Superfund sites across the country.

Superfund Site Reuse Successes:

Flooding Mitigation and Stormwater Management

A picture of stormwater management signage in front of a body of water.
Signage about stormwater management at the Cascade Park Gasification Plant site in Florida.

Superfund site reuse can help mitigate impacts associated with flooding, sea level rise and erosion. Examples of these reuses include restored wetlands as well as reefs, berms and revetments that minimize coastal erosion.

Green infrastructure – rain gardens, green roofs, porous pavement – is also used on sites to manage stormwater naturally, reduce flood risk, and improve air and water quality. Green infrastructure practices use plants, soil, landscape design and engineered techniques to retain, absorb, filter and reduce polluted stormwater runoff. These features cut down on the need to send stormwater into overburdened, aging sewer systems, while enhancing water quality and conservation, flood-risk mitigation, habitat diversity and access to green space.

Superfund Site Reuse Successes:

Heat, Drought and Fires

A photo of a water treatment plant.
Water treatment plant at the San Fernando Valley (Area 1) Superfund site in California.

Site reuses can help address extreme heat, prolonged heat waves, increased frequency of wildfires and natural disasters by providing community emergency response centers, emergency shelters, cooling stations, public pools, splash pads and fire department facilities. Restored wetlands and constructed barriers help minimize coastal erosion and flooding.

The use of treated water can help mitigate drought, recharge aquifers, provide clean drinking water and provide water for irrigation. The need to preserve and recycle this valuable natural resource has never been greater.

Superfund Site Reuse Successes:

Built Environment

Reuse of Superfund sites delivers environmental benefits through the buildings we live in, the distribution systems that provide us with water and electricity, and the roads, bridges, and transportation systems we use to get from place to place. For example, mixed-use Superfund site redevelopment efforts can create walkable neighborhoods, provide access to public transportation, and strengthen quality of life for everyone. Examples of these reuses include transit stations and recreation trails, LEED-certified construction, water recycling and local energy production.

Buildings, boats and sidewalks at a waterfront.
Waterfront redevelopment at the Commencement Bay, Near Shore/Tidal Flats Superfund site in Washington.

Superfund Site Reuse Successes:

Superfund Redevelopment Program

Contact Us About the Superfund Redevelopment Program
Contact Us About the Superfund Redevelopment Program to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on February 10, 2026