530F08007
SUSTAINABLE REVITALIZATION:
Optimizing the environmental, social, and economic
benefits throughout the land revitalization process
Cleaning up contaminated properties and revitalizing
brownfields are central to creating a sustainable fu-
ture. Making sustainable or "green" practices part of the
cleanup or revitalization process will increase a project's
net benefits while minimizing unintended consequences.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
has made sustainable redevelopment a priority. Green
practices conserve resources and energy, limit negative
impacts on the environment and the community, and fur-
ther protect human health and the environment. This is
why EPA's 2006-2011 Strategic Plan sets a national goal
of "returning formerly contaminated sites to long-term,
sustainable, [emphasis added] and productive use."
At EPA, we realize that cleanup
and land reuse activities have their
own environmental impacts. As
environmental stewards, we are
doing more to incorporate greener
approaches to cleanup and reuse
across our brownfields and land
revitalization program.
- David Lloyd, Director
EPA s Office of Brownfields
and Land Revitalization
Whether you are conducting your
cleanup voluntarily or under one of
EPA's or a State s cleanup programs,
you should seek opportunities to
conserve and recover valuable ma-
terials, ensure long-term sustainable
use of the land, and preserve the
nation s resources. These goals lie
at the heart of the EPA's Resource
Conservation Challenge.
- Matt Hale, Director
EPA s Office of Solid Waste
Sustainable revitalization considers a broad array of
environmental factors and community impacts during all
phases of a land revital-
ization project in order
to optimize the envi-
ronmental, social, and
economic benefits asso-
ciated with the project.
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SUSTAINABLE REVITALIZATION: identify
EPA's 2006-2011 Strategic Plan: Goal 3: Land Preservation and Restoration
EPA's cleanup programs have set a national goal of returning formerly contaminated sites
long-term, sustainable, and productive use. EPA will continue to foster revitalization by develop-
ing policies and systems for the safe long-term use of remediated land, identifying and removing
unintended barriers to beneficial reuse of contaminated properties, working with the marketplace
to make formerly contaminated properties commercially attractive, and developing revitalization
measures and indicators for all EPA cleanup programs.
.
98 Percent Recycle/Reuse in Nashville, Tennessee
The dismantlement of a thermal waste-to-energy facil-
ity in Nashville, TN, resulted in 98.5 percent reuse
and recycling of equipment, demolition wastes, and
deconstruction materials. Over 100 Internet auction
events sold over 1,000 tons of equipment and materi-
als (diverting it from a landfill), and brought in over
$980,000 in revenue. Thousands of tons of crushed
aggregate were transferred off-site for use as backfill;
crushed asphalt was used off-site for a perimeter road.
Deconstruction,
Demolition, & Removal
Prior to redevelopment, existing structures on the
site often must be deconstructed, demolished, or
removed. To use green approaches during this
phase:
• Recycle deconstruction and demolition materials
to reduce waste going to a landfill.
• Reuse materials onsite whenever possible.
* Consider future site use upfront and reuse
existing infrastructure.
• Use cleaner fuels (such as clean diesel and
low-sulfur fuels) in equipment and noise
controls for power generation.
* Retain native vegetation and soils wherever
possible.
Protect water resources from runoff and
contamination.
••I
Cleanup, Kemediation,
& Waste Management
The cleanup remedy and its implementation can
have significant environmental effects. Using the
following strategies can reduce environmental im-
pacts and conserve resources:
• Power machinery and equipment using clean
fuels.
• Use renewable energy sources, such as solar,
wind and methane, to power remediation
activities.
• Design energy-efficient cleanup strategies.
• Select remediation approaches, where appropri-
ate, that reduce resource use and impacts on air,
water, adjacent lands and public health.
• Employ remediation practices that can restore
soil health and ecosystems and, in some cases,
sequester carbon through soil amendments and
vegetation.
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n opportunities in all phases of the land revitalization process.
Optimal Sustainable Revitalization
Economic
Environmental
Social
Design & Construction
for Reuse
Identify and plan for the site's reuse at the outset of
the project. Identify sustainable measures, including
the following, early in the process to ensure their
incorporation into the final project design:
• Use Energy Star, LEED, WaterSense, and
GreenScapes principles in both new and existing
structures.
• Reduce environmental impact by reusing existing
structures and recycling construction materials.
• Incorporate natural systems to manage storm-
water, such as green roofs, landscaped swales,
and wetlands.
• Incorporate Smart Growth principles that pro-
mote more balanced land uses, walkable neigh-
borhoods, and open space.
• Create ecological enhancements to promote
biodiversity and provide wildlife habitat and
recreation.
Green Community College Campus
Thanks to a revitalization project, the Ohlone
Community College Newark Center for Health
Sciences and Technology, a former brownfield
site, will soon become the first Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) cer-
tified green community campus in the country.
The campus incorporates resource-efficient fea-
tures such as photovoltaic solar panels, geother-
mal heating and cooling, high-efficiency light-
ing, low water consumption, and extensive use
of recycled materials. The project is expected to
generate 30 percent of its energy needs through
the solar-powered network. The center is being
developed to meet the LEED Gold certification
requirements. The property was entered into Cal-
ifornia's Voluntary Cleanup Program and used an
EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant.
Sustainable Use &
Long-Term Stewardship
Measures to reduce resource use and minimize
impacts can be implemented after the redevelop-
ment phase of a revitalization project. Some of these
measures, such as maintaining institutional controls,
are necessary to ensure the integrity of a constructed
remedy and the protection of human health and the
environment:
• Reduce the use of toxic materials in manufacturing,
and in maintenance and use of buildings and land.
• Minimize waste generation, manage waste prop-
erly, and recycle materials used and generated.
• Maintain engineering and institutional controls
onsite where waste is left in place.
• Limit water consumption by using water-efficient
systems and use native vegetation to reduce ir-
rigation needs.
• Maximize energy efficiency and increase use of
renewable energy.
• Take appropriate steps to prevent recontamination.
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Reducing Environmental
Impacts at Empire Canyon, Utah
A once-contaminated Empire Canyon mine site in
Park City, UT, is being revitalized into the Mon-
tage Resort and Spa, which will incorporate sev-
eral green design features. The pilot project is part
of EPA's Environmentally Responsible Redevel-
opment and Reuse program (ER3). The planned
environmental and resource-saving approaches
include a LEED Silver certified structure, a
2,800-acre open space easement, use of native
vegetation, a constructed wetland and groundwater
treatment system, easily accessible recycling col-
lection, the use of chlorine alternatives for resort
pools and spas, and several other features.
This brochure highlights only a few of the
sustainable approaches that can be incorpo-
rated into a land revitalization project. As
sustainable practices continue to gain popu-
larity, the universe of sustainable practices
will continue to grow. The key is to begin
planning for sustainability early in the pro-
cess. Be innovative and contribute to this
rapidly growing body of knowledge. Learn
from others and share what you have learned.
Make your next revitalization project a show-
case for sustainable revitalization.
ARTIST RENDERING OF THE MONTAGE RESORT AND SPA
Ecological Restoration and Outdoor
Classroom in Lima, Ohio
At its Lima, OH facility, BP created riparian zones,
a butterfly habitat and learning trails when revital-
izing a 23-acre property adjacent to the Ottawa
River. The area had an old landfill and two retain-
ing ponds that had received refinery wastes. Using
native prairie grasses, clusters of native trees and
shrubs, artificial nesting structures, and walking
paths, BP created valuable habitat, recreational
opportunities for the community, and an outdoor
living classroom for school children.
For More Information
• EPA's 2006-11 Strategic Plan, Goal 3: Land Preservation and Restoration,
http://www.epa.gov/cfo/plan/2006/goal_3.pdf
• EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson's Action Plan, http://www.epa.gov/adminweb/administrator/actionplan.pdf
• EPA's Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
• EPA's Sustainability program, http://www.epa.gov/sustainability/
• EPA's RCRA Reuse and Brownfields Prevention program, http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/ca/bfields.htm
• EPA's Resource Conservation Challenge program, http://www.epa.gov/rcc/
• EPA's ER3 program, http://epa.gov/compliance/cleanup/redevelop/er3/
• EPA's Superfund Redevelopment program, http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/index.htm
• The Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technology Support Center, http://www.brownfieldstsc.org/
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5303P)
EPA530-F-08-007
April 2008
www. epa. go v/correctiveaction
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