Resilient Brownfields Redevelopment

Understanding the Financial Risks of Our Changing Climate

Our once stable climate has become less
predictable. Changing climate conditions
and uncertainty about those changes
can pose significant risks to the safe,
long-term reuse of brownfield sites. Better
understanding these changing conditions
and building resiliency into brownfield
site reuse can help communities mitigate
those risks and alleviate physical, social
and financial hardships when dealing
with the aftermath of a climate disaster.

This fact sheet explains:

•	How changing climate conditions can
make brownfield sites less protective
over time.

•	The associated financial risks to
the community.

•	The costs of inaction and not
preparing for likely changes and
extreme weather.

BILLION
DOLLAR

DISASTERS IN

2022

In 2022,18 weather and climate disasters
caused losses greater than $1 billion each,
including droughts, wildfires, floods, severe storms
and tropical cyclones.1

The costliest 2022 events were Hurricane Ian ($112.9 billion) and
the Western and Central U.S. drought/heat wave ($22.1 billion).
Damages for the year totaled $165.1 billion.2

From 1980 to 2022, the United States sustained 341 weather and
climate disasters, each costing $1 billion or more. The cumulative
cost exceeds $2,475 trillion.

Climate Risks to Brownfield Sites and Community Safety

Changing climate conditions can pose significant risks to the safe, long-term reuse of brownfield sites. Building
resiliency into brownfield redevelopment can help communities mitigate those risks and alleviate some physical
and financial hardships when dealing with the aftermath of a climate disaster.

•	Brownfields are an economic opportunity, but delays in addressing current and future climate vulnerabilities

pose financial risks to communities because the site is likely to become costlier to finance, insure, maintain and sell.
<» Climate impacts can leave unaddressed brownfield sites susceptible to increased and repeated damage,
mobilized contamination, and potential exposures.

•	Climate impacts may also reduce the long-term protectiveness of the cleanup and redevelopment if resilience
measures are not considered during the site investigation, reuse planning, and remedy design and reuse.

Failing to act to both adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change across the United States is estimated to reach
$14.5 trillion by 2070. This is an increase from the $1.4 trillion in economic losses due to weather, climate and
water hazards the United States has experienced over the last 50 years.3

1	NOAA, National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), "U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters": 2023. doi:10.25921/stkw-7w73.

2	All cost estimates are adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index, 2022.

3	Deloitte, "The Turning Point: A New Economic Climate in the United States": January 2022.

EPA Publication Number: 560F22295
August 2023

&EPA

United States	Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization

Environment3' Protection	www.eDa.aov/brownfields


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How Extreme Weather and Climate Disasters Affect Brownfields

-Level Rise, Coastal Storms and
Saltwater Intrusion

• Sea-level rise and coastal storms pose environmental
and health risks to surrounding communities

because flood waters spread contaminants and
compromise structures. There is also a greater risk
of saltwater intrusion into groundwater supplies,
threatening drinking water availability and quality,
changing the soil chemistry, and potentially
affecting sites and landfills. Trees and salt-intolerant
plantings, agriculture and other landscaping may
be compromised. Revegetation with salt-tolerant
species, desalinization and additional ecological
restoration add costs and may be needed to stabilize
vulnerable areas.

•	Drought and low soil moisture can crack clay caps
or covers and weaken vegetative cover on capped
brownfields and cause higher erosion rates.

•	Brownfield cleanup using biodegradation or
phytoremediation may be impaired due to
increased heat and drought, reduced soil moisture,
and watering restrictions.

•	In Houston, Texas, Hurricane Harvey inundated
multiple brownfield sites in 2017, potentially
exposing residents to toxic pollution.

•	Severe flooding can also release underground
storage tanks and compromise above-ground
storage tanks, potentially exposing residents
to petroleum or other hazardous substances.

•	Wildfires at known or unrecognized brownfields
release toxins into the air and nearby watersheds,
threatening entire communities.

•	In Rogue Valley, Oregon, the Almeda wildfire
burned 2,537 homes and 171 commercial properties.
Multiple gas stations were destroyed, creating

new brownfields that now need to be cleaned up
and redeveloped.

Moving Toward Resilience

Helping communities build resilience to changing climate conditions is a priority for EPA and the nation.

There are many ways a community can increase its resilience when assessing, cleaning up and reusing brownfield
sites. See EPA's Climate Smart Brownfields Manual for guidance on best practices for climate change adaptation
and resilience at all stages of brownfields work. Additionally, see EPA's Consider Climate to Protect Public Health in
Brownfield Redevelopment webpage for visuals of how brownfield redevelopment planning can add to climate safety.

£%	United States	Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization	EPA Publication Number: 560F22295

^ tnr\igen2ymental Pr0teCti°n	www.eDa.aov/brownfields	August 2023

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Brownfield Site Case Studies

Completed stormwater park in Mini

Taking action by adding resilient features, as shown in these two case studies, can help a community
reduce risks and negative economic impacts of climate change and avoid future costs.

Protecting a Watershed With Green Infrastructure4

Stormwater Park and Learning Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Threat: Brownfield site near the Mississippi River extremely vulnerable to flooding

Solution: The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization transformed the site into a stormwater park and restored
a piece of riverbank to a natural and sustainable state. The park has 11 visible stormwater management features,
including a green roof and large rain gardens with native prairie vegetation. The park can absorb and clean up to 7 inches
of stormwater runoff in a single day, ultimately preventing stormwater from entering the river. This project also provides
a public access point to the river and a learning center for community education.

From School to Cool: Combating Urban Heat

Former Marshall School Reuse Plan, St. Louis, Missouri

Threat: Brownfield site in northern St. Louis
impacted by the urban heat island effect

Solution: St. Louis is severely impacted by
increasing temperature due to climate change,
and coupled with the amount of paved
surfaces, the Marshall School brownfield site
contributes to the urban heat island effect in
the community. The St. Louis Development
Corporation is interested in utilizing the
shuttered school as a future affordable
housing complex and incorporated robust
green infrastructure techniques into the plan
to reduce the experience of heat on the site.
The plan calls for a green roof on the proposed
new construction, a significant increase of
vegetation and tree canopy, especially around
the bus stop where residents may be waiting,
and solar parking canopies.

Proposed site reuse plan for the Marshall School in St. Louis, Missouri.

"Stormwater Report, "Stormwater Park Demonstrates Green Infrastructure": October 30, 2015.

&EPA Environmental Protection

United States	Office of Brownflelds and Land Revitalization	EPA Publication Number: 560F22295

Agency	WMW.epa.gov/brownfields	August 2023

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