EPA Targeted Brownfields
Assessments—The Basics
What is EPA's Brownfields Program?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)
Brownfields Program is designed to empower
states, communities, and other stakeholders to work
together in a timely manner to prevent, assess,
safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields.
EPA provides technical and financial assistance for
brownfields activities through an approach based on
four main goals: protecting human health and the
environment, sustaining reuse, promoting partnerships,
and strengthening the marketplace. Brownfields
grants serve as the foundation of the Brownfields
Program and support revitalization efforts by funding
environmental assessment, cleanup, and job training
activities. Thousands of properties have been assessed
and cleaned up through the Brownfields Program,
clearing the way for their reuse.
What is a Targeted Brownfields Assessment?
EPA's Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TEA)
program is designed to help minimize the uncertainties
of contamination often associated with brownfields
- especially for those entities without EPA Brownfields
Assessment grants. The TEA program is not a grant
program, but a service provided through an EPA
contract in which EPA directs a contractor to conduct
environmental assessment activities to address the
requestor's needs. Unlike grants, EPA does not provide
funding directly to the entity requesting the services.
Under the Small Business Liability Relief and
Brownfields Revitalization Act, EPA's TEA assistance
is available through two sources: directly from EPA
through EPA Regional Brownfields offices, and from
state or tribal voluntary response programs using funds
provided by EPA (Section 128(a) funding). A TEA may
encompass one or more of the following activities:
An "all appropriate inquiry" assessment
(Phase I), including a historical investigation
and a preliminary site inspection;
A more in-depth environmental site assessment
(Phase II), including sampling activities to identify
the types and concentrations of contaminants and
the areas to be cleaned; and
Evaluation of cleanup options and/or cost
estimates based on future uses and
redevelopment plans.
A BROWNFIELD is defined as: real property, the
expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be
complicated by the presence or potential presence of
a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. The
2002 Brownfields Law further defines the term to include
a site that is: "contaminated by a controlled substance;
contaminated by petroleum or a petroleum product
excluded from the definition of 'hazardous substance';
or mine-scarred land."
Who is Eligible to Apply for a Targeted
Brownfields Assessment?
Eligible entities include: state, local, and tribal
governments; general purpose units of local
government, land clearance authorities, or other
quasi-governmental entities; regional council or
redevelopment agencies; states or legislatures; or
nonprofit organizations.
TEA funding may only be used at properties eligible
for EPA Brownfields funding. EPA generally will
not fund TBAs at properties where the owner is
responsible for the contamination unless there is a
clear means of recouping EPA expenditures. Further,
the TEA program does not provide resources to
conduct cleanup or building demolition activities.
Cleanup assistance is available under EPA's Cleanup or
Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grants. Information
on EPA's Brownfields Cleanup and RLF grants
can be found on the EPA Brownfields Web site at:
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
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What Properties are Typically Targeted for
TEA Funding?
The TEA selection process varies with each EPA
Region and by each state and tribal voluntary response
program. When administered directly by EPA Regional
offices, the Regions have discretion in selecting
areas to target for environmental site assessment
assistance and typically prefer to target properties
that are abandoned or publicly owned; have low to
moderate contamination; include environmental justice
issues; suffer from the stigma of liability; or have
a prospective purchaser willing to buy and pay for
the cleanup of the property, if needed. The selection
process is guided by Regional criteria. See the sidebar
for examples of Regional TEA criteria.
Examples of EPA Regional TEA Criteria:
Property control and ownership transfer is not an
impediment—preference will be given to sites
which are publicly owned, either directly by a
municipality or through a quasi-public entity such as
a community development corporation. If a property
is privately owned, there generally must be a clear
means of recouping EPA expenditures, if the party is
responsible for the contamination.
There is a strong municipal commitment—financially
or through other resources—and clear municipal
vision and support.
There is a clear public benefit and need for property
revitalization.
There are adequate leveraged funds available for
cleanup and redevelopment, and/or the property has
strong development potential (perhaps demonstrated
by past or present developer interest).
EPA assessment assistance is crucial to the property's
redevelopment; lack of an assessment has proven to
be an obstacle.
Existing information supports redevelopment—
the property will likely have low to moderate
contamination levels, and redevelopment will
provide tangible benefits for the community.
The project area has a clear need for revitalization
evidenced by significant deterioration and/or
significant environmental justice issues.
A direct health/environmental threat will be mitigated
or property revitalization will serve to spur further
beneficial activity in the surrounding area.
* Although these examples embody many common
elements, each Region has refined its own set
of criteria which may differ slightly than those
illustrated in the sidebar.
When administered by state and tribal voluntary
response programs the selection criteria and amount
of assistance available for TEA properties varies with
each state and tribe.
Examples of TEA Successes
Sacramento, CA - EPA provided $24,000 in
contractor-led TEA assistance to the Capitol Area
Development Authority (CADA) to assess a former
residential property that for over 30 years served
as a central gathering point for local residents as a
community garden. The assessment revealed the
soil was contaminated with polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), lead, and pesticides. By August
2006, CADA removed and disposed of 1,700 cubic
yards of contaminated soil and replaced it with clean
soil suitable for gardening using EPA Brownfields
Cleanup Grant funding and approximately $423,000
in leveraged cleanup and redevelopment funding.
A grand opening celebration for the Fremont
Community Garden was held in June 2007. The
garden includes 50 garden plots (including four
Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible plots),
compost bins, two orchards, public art, and bocce
ball courts.
Jekyll Island, GA - Using $80,000 in contractor-led
TEA funding along with $200,000 in Section 128(a)
funding to address lead and asbestos impacts, the
historic power plant located on Jekyll Island, Georgia
has been renovated to house the Georgia Sea Turtle
Center. EPA selected the project for site-specific
funding because it presented a combination of goals
(historic preservation, environmental education, and
assistance to endangered species). The Sea Turtle
Center opened on World Turtle Day, June 16, 2007,
with a renovated building and structures to house
educational exhibits and state-of-the-art surgical,
rehabilitation, and research areas.
How Can I Apply for TBA Assistance?
If you are interested in receiving TEA assistance,
please contact the EPA Brownfields staff in your
Region. You can find current contact information on
the EPA's Brownfields Web site at:
www.epa.gov/brownfields.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Targeted Brownfields Assessment
Fact Sheet
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5105T)
EPA-560-F-07-251
September 2007
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
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