FAQs

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a brownfield is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. In simple terms, a brownfield is property that is either contaminated or that people think might be contaminated. Common examples of brownfields include former gas stations, metal plating facilities, factories, and dry cleaners. Brownfields can be as small as a corner lot or can cover hundreds of acres and can exist almost anywhere - from commercial corridors to rural areas. Many sites now considered brownfields once provided economic vitality and jobs to local communities.

A Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) helps redevelop blighted, contaminated or functionally obsolete properties. Brownfield authorities can qualify for Brownfield site federal and state grants.