The EPA Brownfields Programs Produces
Widespread Environmental and Economic Benefits
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work
together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. Revitalizing
brownfield sites creates benefits throughout the community.
Through fiscal year 2014, on average, $17.79 was leveraged for each EPA Brownfields dollar
and 7.3 jobs leveraged per $100,000 of EPA Brownfields funds expended on Assessment,
Cleanup, and Revolving Loan Fund cooperative agreements.
Brownfields sites tend to have greater location efficiency than alternative development
scenarios. Results of five pilot studies show a 32 to 57 percent reduction in vehicle miles
traveled when development occurred at a brownfield site rather than a greenfield. Fewer
vehicle miles traveled means a reduction in pollution emissions including greenhouse gases.
These same site comparisons show an estimated 47 to 62 percent reduction of stormwater
runoff for brownfield site development.
Urban Oaks Organic Farm, New Britain, CT
Brownfields Program Accomplishments
as of June 2014 Including State and
Tribal Program:
•	Properties Assessed: 21,764
•	Acres Made Ready for Reuse: 44,822
•	Dollars Leveraged: $21.3B
•	Jobs Leveraged: 97500
Another EPA study found that residential property values increased by 5.1-12.8% percent
once a nearby brownfield was assessed or cleaned up.The study determined that brownfield
clean up can increase overall property values within a one-mile radius by $0.5 to $1.5 million.
Initial anecdotal surveys indicate a reduction in crime in recently revitalized brownfield areas.
Opportunity to expand the assessment program and leverage funds and jobs has
increased. Policy clarification allows the use of site assessment dollars for environmental
assessments in conjunction with efforts to promote area-wide planning around brownfield
sites.The use of funds for these purposes is particularly important in economically
distressed areas. In certain instances where assessments reveal immediate threats
to the environment or human health, EPA could implement a more programmatic
use of removal funds.
Accomplishment Report by State and
Tribal Response Program Using CERCLA
Section 128(a) Funding, Since FY 2006:
•	Enrolled over 40,400 properties annually
(on average)'
•	Completed more than 99,450 cleanups
•	Made over 900,000 acres ready for reuse
4%	United States
Environmental Protection
^^^1	Agency

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