What are Brownfields?
Brownfields are abandoned or underutilized properties where the reuse is complicated by actual or perceived environmental contamination. Brownfields properties  may include sites contaminated by hazardous substances, petroleum, or mine-scarred land, and must meet all three of the following criteria:
- It is an underutilized commercial or industrial site;
- It has redevelopment potential; and
- The site's redevelopment potential is complicated by known or perceived contamination from a hazardous substance as defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) or a pollutant.
What are some examples of historical uses associated with Brownfields sites?
Brownfields properties could be:
- Abandoned gas stations
- Old factories, mills and foundries
- Airports and landing strips
- Landfills and dump sites
- Mine-scarred lands
- Old dry cleaners
- Junk yards
- Old auto repair shops
Is a community Brownfield impacting your area?
ADEQ recognizes the impact an abandoned or underutilized property can have on a community, particularly when known or perceived environmental contamination may be complicating reuse of the property. Communities often struggle to find new uses for these Brownfields, whether as a neighborhood park or as a new commercial or retail use, unless and until the environmental issues are resolved.
These properties are often abandoned, with owners no longer maintaining the property or paying taxes. Abandoned properties can quickly become blights to the community, and may attract vandalism and illegal dumping. These properties degrade the environment, depress communities and potentially put health at risk.
What would be the advantage of a Brownfields Revitalization Project in your community?
Brownfields redevelopment benefits the community by reducing environmental hazards, creating new business opportunities, increasing tax revenue, and restoring blighted areas to productive use. Brownfields may be located near potential markets and labor, and their redevelopment may be less expensive than developing previously undeveloped land because roads and infrastructure are already in place.
Brownfields Assistance Program
Cities, towns, counties and non-profit organizations may apply to ADEQ for their sites to be part of the Brownfields Assistance Program. The program provides financial and technical assistance for Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments or cleanup activities. An environmental assessment will provide the applicant with a final report that:
- reveals whether a site is clean or contaminated
- determines the nature and extent of the contamination
- identifies potential cleanup options
- estimates cleanup costs (if any)
How does the Brownfields Grant application process work?
ADEQ receives grant money from EPA each year in order to assist government entities and non-profit organizations in Arizona to do Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments on potentially contaminated properties that the applicant owns or may purchase for future development. If the properties meet certain eligibility requirements, ADEQ will help complete the application packet, take care of hiring and overseeing the contractors, and provide you with the results of the assessment.
Site eligibility requirements include:
- Suspected or known contaminant must be a hazardous substance , petroleum product, pollutant, and/or mine-scarred land.
- The site cannot be located within a WQARF or Superfund area.
- Redevelopment plans must demonstrate an economic or community benefit; for example, the site may be developed into a park or other recreational green space for the community, it may provide improved access to services or support the creation of jobs.
Cities, towns and counties must complete a Smart Growth Scorecard to be eligible for the Brownfields Grant Program.
Easy Brownfields Grant Application Process:
Step 1: Call ADEQ to discuss your site and grant eligibility, and then submit a written request for funding and your application packet. (ADEQ will assist you through each step of the process).
Step 2: After receiving EPA project approval, ADEQ will prepare the Brownfields Governmental Service Contract to be signed by both ADEQ and applicant's official representative.
Step 3: When the funding has been awarded, ADEQ goes through the process of hiring a contractor to begin the assessment work which is conducted under EPA's All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) Rule and oversees Phase I and/or Phase II activities.
Please view our Brownfields Grant Sites List for a complete list of ADEQ funded sites.
Brownfields Success Stories
Success at a Brownfield site can mean different things. Sometimes success is defined by removing the stigma of actual or perceived environmental contamination. Often, the results of an environmental assessment reveal that the suspected Brownfield is not contaminated, thus clearing the way for redevelopment. Other times, a combination of risk evaluation, environmental covenants, and/or careful land use planning can pave the way for Brownfield redevelopment at sites where contamination does exist. Occasionally, some level of cleanup is required to make the Brownfield property safe for reuse and redevelopment. Learn more about specific examples of Brownfields Grant Success Stories in Arizona.
Additional Brownfields Resources
Contacts
Juli Boles, Sustainability Programs Unit Manager
(602) 771-4170
(800) 234-5677 Ext. 771-4170
Linda Mariner, Sustainability Programs Unit Brownfields Coordinator
(602) 771-4294
(800) 234-5677 Ext. 771-4294
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