United States
                        Environmental
                        Protection Agency
                        Washington, D.C. 20460
   Solid Waste
   and Emergency
   Response (5101)
EPA500-F-97-101
April 1997
  -SERA           EPA/HUD  Brownfields
                        Research  Project
  Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5101)
                   Quick Reference Fact Sheet
  EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is designed to empower States, communities, and other
  stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent,       safely clean up,
  and sustainably reuse brownfields,  A brownfield is a site, or portion thereof, that has actual or perceived
  contamination and an active potential for redevelopment or reuse, EPA's Brownfields Initiative strategies include
  funding pilot programs and other research efforts, clarifying liability issues, entering into partnerships, conducting
  outreach activities, developing job training programs, and addressing environmental justice concerns.
OVERVIEW

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and the Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment (HUD) have joined forces in an effort to better
understand the impact that environmental hazards
and the environmental regulatory process may have
on urban redevelopment. Both EPA and HUD recog-
nize that to  facilitate the assessment cleanup, reuse.
and redevelopment of brownfields, legal, financial, and
regulatory impediments and opportunities must be con-
sidered.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the EPA/HUD Brownfields Re-
search Project is to  obtain information on the factors
that impact urban  investment and redevelopment
decisions. The project is examining the extent and
ways in which environmental hazards and the envi-
ronmental regulator}^ process affect urban redevelop-
ment efforts. The study is also examining the role of
institutional and organizational structures, in both the
private and public sectors, in determining how risks
affect environmentally-sensitive investment deci-
sions.

ACTIVITIES

Twelve urban areas were selected for study. These
areas vary in size and location, prevalent industry,
type of contamination/environmental problems, and
applicable State and local environmental laws and
regulations. Comparisons will be made between the
development of brownfields and "'clean" sites. Re-
searchers will also explore brownfields  areas that
were not developed.

The project will include an extensive data gathering
effort. After specific urban areas have been identified,
interviews will be conducted with  developers,
businesses leaders, lenders and other investors, and
other key parties in the redevelopment process. The
interviews  will focus  on  the  extent  to which
environmental concerns influence location and
investment decisions.

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
has provided $275,000 in funding, and EPA's Office
of Solid Waste and Emergency Response has provided
$125,000. The  research is being performed by
individuals affiliated with The Urban Institute, the
University of Louisville, and the Northeast/Midwest
Institute. The research proj ect, which began in Fall of
1995, is near completion.

CONTACT

Ben Hamm
U.S. EPA
(202)260-1358
hamm.ben@epamail.epa.gov

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