EPA Funds Greener Brownfields Projects

Aug. 6, 2008
EPA is providing more than $500,000 in technical assistance for 16 Brownfields Sustainability Pilots. Assistance will support sustainable activities such as the reuse and recycling of construction and demolition materials, green building and infrastructure design, energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy development and native landscaping.

“Brownfields redevelopment and sustainable reuse can go hand in hand,” said Susan Bodine, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “These pilots will demonstrate best practices that can be used by other communities across the country.”

EPA will work with communities to incorporate sustainable redevelopment into the planning, design and implementation of their brownfields projects. Each pilot project will receive between $20,000 and $50,000 in assistance. Pilot examples include:

  • Analysis of green roof systems for a brownfields project in Roxbury, Mass.
  • Feasibility analysis of reusing and recycling materials from closed textile mills in Valley, Ala.
  • Green building and green infrastructure design at a former smelter in San Juan County, Colo.
  • Assistance with applying green building principles and providing community training at a former gas station being converted into a community center in Portland, Ore.

Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. In January 2002, President George W. Bush signed the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, which increased funding, expanded authority and provided liability protection to help communities revitalize brownfields. EPA provides grants, technical assistance and training to support local brownfields efforts.

For more information on the Brownfields Sustainability Pilots, go to http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/index.htm.

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!