Successful brownfields
revitalization doesn't
just happen. It's
planned for.
Approach brownfield
revitalization through
creative, inclusive,
and efficient planning
activities.
¦	Early on in the site
selection process,
consider the range
of realistic site reuse
options.
¦	Create a brownfields
revitalization plan
based on the
community's vision,
site and surrounding
area conditions such
as environmental,
economic, real estate
market, assets,
challenges and
vulnerabilities. These
factors will directly
influence how the
site is assessed and
remediated.
Planning activities that
focus on brownfields
revitalization are
eligible under an EPA
Brownfields Assessment
or Multipurpose Grant.
Our community needs to:
¦	Understand specific public health challenges faced by residents within the brownfields
area and their underlying causes.
¦	Identify opportunities to reuse brownfields to strengthen existing community health assets
and prioritize community health improvement.
How a Community Health Assessment can help: Determines how community health
needs and issues can be addressed through brownfield site assessment, cleanup and
reuse by reviewing community public health information.
Influence on brownfields assessment, cleanup and reuse: Incorporates public health
data and indicators into site selection, assessment and cleanup decisions. Prioritizes
community input regarding safety, social and environmental concerns at the site. Shapes a
reuse approach that helps alleviate, not exacerbate, local public health challenges.
What Is involved?
¦	Analyzing existing community health information such as a community health improvement
plan or other health agency-led assessments.
¦	Engaging various community organizations such as youth groups, school teachers, churches
and nonprofit organizations to gain perspectives on community health, environmental
hazards, and social challenges affecting the brownfields area. Challenges may pertain to:
-	Safety: abandoned and derelict structures, open foundations, compromised infrastructure,
inadequate lighting or barriers, etc.
-	Health: high incidence of diabetes, heart disease, asthma, drug addiction, etc.
-	Social: blight, crime, vagrancy, reduced social capital, community connectedness.
-	Economic: reduced tax base and private property values may lead to reduced social
services.
-	Environmental: biological, physical and chemical effects resulting from site contamination,
groundwater impacts, surface runoff migration of contaminants, wastes dumped on
site, etc.
¦	Collecting or linking baseline health and environmental measures to inform redevelopment
planning options. For example, health monitoring or health impact assessment results that
show limited access to health care services or a lack of sidewalks, recreational opportunities
or food access for the brownfields community can encourage increased health care
services, green space, parks, trails and/or fresh grocers during site redevelopment planning
When to conduct? Implement early in the brownfields site selection and planning process
to ensure that community health challenges are addressed to the extent possible. The
community health assessment may take 3-12 months, depending on project scope and
availability of data.
What does it typically cost? Cost varies; can range from $10,000 - $40,000 depending
on scope, existing data and community characteristics.
Who Can Perform? A local government agency, nonprofit, university or multidisciplinary
brownfields reuse team. Must be designed and implemented in collaboration with local,
state or tribal health agencies.
Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (5105T) | EPA 560-F-18-188 | November 2018

-------