United States

Enviro n rnenta I Proteetio n

Brownfields	Area-Wid

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.

Our community needs to:

¦	inventory the brownfield sites within a project area, such as a neighborhood, corridor,
downtown district, waterfront, etc.

¦	Research and evaluate existing conditions within the brownfields area.

¦	Engage community members and other stakeholders on their priorities for the area and
build agreement around a shared revitalization vision.

¦	Use community input and research results to identify the catalyst, high-priority
brownfield site(s) which, once remediated and reused, have the strongest potential to
spur additional revitalization within the area.

¦	Prepare and share our plan and implementation strategies for reusing catalyst, high-
priority brownfield sites.

How brownfields area-wide planning can help: Brownfields area-wide planning
helps identify cleanup and reuse opportunities for key brownfield sites that can serve as
catalysts for revitalization of the surrounding area. The approach enables communities
to consider local priorities, existing plans, market conditions, infrastructure, and resource
availability alongside area environmental conditions. These planning activities help
communities make informed decisions about where to direct scarce resources to benefit
the existing community. Area-wide planning can also help implement locally-driven
initiatives, such as housing, parks, environmental improvement, community wealth
building, and equitable and environmentally-just economic development.

Influence on brownfields assessment, cleanup, and reuse: Helps to prioritize and
sequence sites within a project area that need to be assessed and cleaned up. Knowing the
potential site reuse(s) helps plan an efficient characterization and contaminant cleanup.

What is involved?

¦	Collect information and identify community priorities related to near- and long-term
revitalization.

¦	Evaluate environmental conditions local market potential, and infrastructure
improvements.

¦	Select one or more catalyst, high-priority brownfield sites; develop site cleanup and
reuse strategies.

¦	Identify resources or leveraging opportunities to implement the plans, including specific
strategies for public and private sector investments necessary to help with cleanup and
area revitalization.

What does it typically cost? Costs range from $50,000 - $200,000 based on the scale
of the project, number of brownfield sites, level of plan detail and amount of stakeholder
engagement.

Who can perform? Typically requires a diverse multi-disciplinary team including a
community engagement specialist, planner, landscape architect, market analyst, engineer
and environmental professional, among others.

Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (5105T) I EPA 560-F-22-2941 July 2022

When to conduct? Brownfields area-wide planning is helpful in early discussions of
brownfield site reuse, e.g., prior to or during site assessment decisions. Communities that
have already been working within a specific area to develop partnerships and identify
stakeholder priorities will especially benefit.

Planning activities
focused on brownfields
revitalization and as
described in this fact
sheet are eligible under
an EPA Brownfields
Assessment or Multipur-
pose Grant.


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