TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 1 

SECTION I: Site Inventory As A Program Tool.................................................................................... 2 

Definition Of A Petroleum Brownfields Site Inventory ........................................................................ 2 

Benefits Of Developing A Petroleum Brownfields Site Inventory........................................................ 2 

Key Considerations For Building An Inventory .................................................................................... 3 

Functions And Capabilities Of Petroleum Brownfields Site Inventories............................................... 4 

SECTION II: Planning And Building An Inventory............................................................................... 6 

Stage 1 – Planning The Inventory.......................................................................................................... 6 

Stage 2 – Developing The Inventory ................................................................................................... 14 

SECTION III: Petroleum Brownfields Inventory Best Practices ....................................................... 17 

Examples Of Brownfields Inventories................................................................................................. 17 

Descriptions Of Petroleum Brownfields Inventories ........................................................................... 18 

APPENDIX I: EPA Brownfields Grant Opportunities...................................................................... A-1 

Section 104(k) Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund (RLF), And Cleanup Grants......... A-1 

Section 128(a) State And Tribal Grants............................................................................................. A-1 

Exchange Network Grants ................................................................................................................. A-1 

APPENDIX II: Resources..................................................................................................................... A-3 

Contacts And Technical Assistance................................................................................................... A-3 

Web Sites And Resource Documents ................................................................................................ A-4 

APPENDIX III: EPA Property Profile Form ..................................................................................... A-5 

APPENDIX IV: Publicly Available Inventories ............................................................................... A-10
INTRODUCTION 

Petroleum Brownfields: Developing Inventories, a publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA), is intended as a tool to help states, tribes, EPA Brownfields Assessment grant recipients, and others 

develop an inventory of relatively low-risk, petroleum-contaminated brownfield properties. The publication 

has three sections. Section I identifies petroleum brownfields inventories as a tool for building and 

promoting a brownfields program. Section II outlines considerations for building an inventory, and Section 

III discusses best practices from stakeholders that have implemented a petroleum brownfields inventory. 

The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields 

Revitalization Act (“Brownfields Law”) defines a 

brownfield site as “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.” The law further 

defines the term “brownfield site” to include a site that 

“is contaminated by a controlled substance...; is 

contaminated by petroleum or a petroleum product 

excluded from the definition of ‘hazardous 

substance’...; is mine-scarred land.” 

There are continuing challenges for the future success of 

the revitalization of petroleum sites, including the 

relatively small size of petroleum sites, which may 

impact the sites’ marketability; liability concerns 

associated with site redevelopment; and the unique 

assessment and cleanup approaches for petroleum 

contamination. This publication intends to enhance 

communication among stakeholders and facilitate 

opportunities for the redevelopment of petroleum 

brownfield sites to help overcome these challenges. 

Abandoned gas station along commercial strip 
2 

SECTION I: SITE INVENTORY AS A PROGRAM TOOL

In order to understand the benefits and challenges of petroleum brownfields inventories, EPA contacted 25 

brownfields stakeholders from across the country with existing petroleum site inventories to discuss their 

experiences and best practices. These stakeholders included representatives from state agencies, non-profit 

organizations, regional planning councils, and local governments, all of which had a role in building or 

promoting their respective brownfields programs. 

Although this publication is specifically intended to assist in developing inventories of petroleumcontaminated brownfields, many of the techniques, examples, and resources may also apply to other types of 

brownfields inventories. Many stakeholders indicated that they did not build their petroleum brownfields 

inventory independent of other types of brownfields. For instance, the North Side Development Company in 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, used the same process to identify and inventory all brownfields in their target area 

but developed a system to categorize the petroleum versus non-petroleum sites differently to help manage 

funding opportunities by contaminant type. 

DEFINITION OF A PETROLEUM BROWNFIELDS 

SITE INVENTORY BENEFITS OF INVENTORIES

Site data inventories provide many benefits to 

brownfields stakeholders. Inventories allow 

states, tribes, and municipal governments to 

focus available resources on site prioritization 

and more clearly target their cleanup and reuse 

efforts. Other benefits include: 

• Identifying properties and areas eligible for 

special financing programs; 

• Tracking property activities; 

• Helping measure and meet state and local 

environmental goals; 

• Collecting information to help meet EPA 

grantee reporting requirements; 

• Increasing awareness and encouraging 

dialogue on brownfields; 

• Promoting infill redevelopment to potential 

developers; and 

A petroleum brownfields site inventory is a collection 

of site-specific information for properties that are 

potentially contaminated with petroleum-related 

products and other hazardous substances. The design 

and utility of these inventories exist in various forms 

with varying levels of complexity, ranging from 

manual lists to electronic spreadsheets to Web-based 

databases linked with geographic information system 

(GIS) mapping tools. These inventories have a variety 

of purposes, including management and tracking, 

reporting, prioritizing, and marketing, and should be 

designed consistent with the needs of the particular 

brownfield program it serves. Specific examples of 

various types of inventories are provided in Section 

III: Petroleum Brownfields Inventory Best Practices. 

BENEFITS OF DEVELOPING A PETROLEUM 

BROWNFIELDS SITE INVENTORY

• Marketing available properties to private 

There are many benefits associated with petroleum interests. 

brownfields site inventories. Site inventories can help 

establish a brownfields program by identifying 

targeted properties for assessment, cleanup, and 

redevelopment. Site inventories also help established brownfields programs track and measure success, 

manage financial resources, and respond to potential inquiries related to redevelopment. In addition, site 

inventories can also help promote redevelopment opportunities. 

A recognized concern when considering a site inventory is the resources required for development and 

maintenance. While a site inventory can be resource intensive, it does not always have to be a significant 
3 

investment. Inventories can be started with minimum resources or time, depending on the information 

requirements. Stakeholders should not base the decision of developing a site inventory solely on the 

limitation of resources. If it is believed a brownfields program can benefit from a site inventory, there are 

many initial steps that can be taken to develop a useful preliminary inventory that can evolve in scope and 

size with the program. 

KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR BUILDING AN INVENTORY 

Many states, tribes, municipal governments, and non-profit organizations have embraced the brownfields 

inventory as an effective tool for resource prioritization, community outreach, and marketing to attract 

private investment in cleanup and redevelopment. Others, however, are concerned about the potential stigma 

of the “brownfields” designation from a site’s listing in an inventory, as well as the resources required to 

build, manage, and keep the inventory up to date. Additionally, concerns have been raised about confidential 

or sensitive information being included in inventories that may or may not be publicly available. 

Stigma 

The Northern Lakes Economic 

Alliance in Cheboygan County, 

Michigan, developed a site 

inventory that included brownfields 

with petroleum contamination and 

those with other hazardous 

substances, which helped conserve 

financial resources. The brownfields 

program officer stated that 

development of the inventory has 

been a valuable tool and allows an 

opportunity for community 

members to discuss concerns and 

opportunities in a public forum by 

seeking their input throughout the 

inventory development stage. 

SITE INVENTORY USED TO 

PRIORITIZE NEEDS To help alleviate concerns regarding sites being designated as 

brownfields within inventories, some communities make data from 

their inventories available only through requests for specific site 

criteria. If the inventory is to be shared outside the immediate 

organization, concerns about releasing information regarding 

private properties should be fully understood so that an informed 

decision can be made. Some communities only include a private 

property on inventories if the owner gives permission, or if the site 

is located in an area that has been designated as in need of 

redevelopment. In sensitive situations, careful consideration should 

be given to the inventory’s data fields so that they contain only 

information appropriate for public release. 

Stakeholders take varying approaches to making data publicly 

available and addressing stigma that might be associated with the 

information. However, in designing an inventory tool and 

determining accessibility, community-right-to-know requirements 

and/or Freedom of Information Act requirements need to be a 

consideration. 

Some stakeholders address the concern of designating properties as “brownfields” by using the inventory 

only as an internal tool to prioritize resources, with none of its information publicly available. Other 

jurisdictions make some data publicly available while keeping other data private; for instance, offering 

publicly-accessible information only for publicly-owned properties. As long as the actual or potential 

contamination on these properties is not misrepresented, some stakeholders do not use “brownfield” or 

“contaminated land” labels within their inventories, preferring broader descriptions such as land and 

buildings available for redevelopment. 

Most stakeholders seek some sort of release from property owners to list their site’s information. As part of 

this process, it is explained to property owners that such releases do not act as an admission or recognition of 

any site contamination. Frequently, listing may help a property owner realize the potential of the property by 

attracting developers who offer to clean up any contamination. As part of the effort to de-stigmatize 
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properties on brownfields inventories, many states work with landowners to emphasize that the definition of 

brownfield includes properties with the potential presence of contamination and that listing a property in an 

inventory does not change any actual condition of the land. 

Inventory Ownership 

Another legal/regulatory consideration when 

developing a property inventory is identifying 

and agreeing upon who “owns” the inventory. 

Many different offices or departments within 

an organization are typically involved in 

creating and using the inventory—the 

environmental or health department, the tax 

office, the economic/community development 

office, etc. Identifying the roles and 

responsibilities of each department in the 

planning stage will help overcome some of the 

inherent challenges in working on this type of 

inter-departmental effort. New shopping center on former petroleum site 

 in Hartford, Connecticut 

Resources 

To help address concerns regarding limited resources, each stakeholder needs to consider the intended use of 

the inventory and what information needs to be collected to meet overall goals. The inventory does not need 

to be a complex, comprehensive tool if the stakeholder has limited funds or staff resources. For instance, 

while a GIS Web-based inventory might be helpful or even necessary in some communities, this level of 

complexity would not be needed for others. 

Inventory Maintenance 

Another consideration is how, once developed, the inventory will be updated and managed. This 

consideration will determine the inventory’s level of complexity (i.e., how many different types of data will 

be included). Site information can change, and data will need to be updated and tracked. Once a site 

inventory has been planned and built, its manager must ensure that it is used to meet its stated purposes: 

inventories often go underutilized. An inventory manager and the inventory’s key stakeholders should 

occasionally reevaluate the inventory’s purpose, design, and content to ensure it continues to meet program 

needs, and they should consider upgrades if needed. 

FUNCTIONS AND CAPABILITIES OF PETROLEUM BROWNFIELDS SITE INVENTORIES

Petroleum brownfields site inventories have different functions and capabilities, ranging from tracking basic 

information to complex tasks such as aiding in site prioritization. Typical functions include site monitoring 

and tracking; data retrieval, exchange, and reporting; site planning and prioritizing; and marketing and public 

outreach. Following are descriptions of inventory functions. Understanding an inventory’s potential functions 

and capabilities can help determine whether your program should develop a site inventory. 
5 

• Site Monitoring And Tracking – organizing and maintaining brownfields property-related information 

• Data Retrieval, Exchange, And Reporting – obtaining information through inventory outputs, data 

queries, and user-system interfaces and/or sharing data between stakeholders (including fulfilling EPA 

grant reporting requirements) 

• Prioritization And Planning – arranging brownfields properties based on criteria and associated 

thresholds and/or preferences; ranking properties based on user-defined criteria to help identify priority 

sites for investigation, cleanup, and redevelopment 

• Marketing And Public Outreach – advertising brownfields properties available for cleanup and 

redevelopment and/or sharing property information with the general public or selected developers 

• Streamlining The Redevelopment Process – organizing site information and characteristics can help 

streamline steps that are taken during the redevelopment process 

Further detail on each of these purposes and examples is described in the next section, Section II: Planning 

And Building An Inventory. 
6 

SECTION II: PLANNING AND BUILDING AN INVENTORY

Information presented in this Section includes questions to consider in creating and planning a petroleum 

brownfields site inventory, useful data to include, types of inventory designs, and methods to collect the data 

that will populate the inventory. 

Prior to initiating development of a petroleum brownfields site inventory, the entity pursuing the 

development should meet with potential partners to discuss the approach. Asking key questions during the 

planning phase will save time and resources and ensure that the inventory is a useful tool. Discussions should 

include identifying the purpose of the inventory: who will be using the inventory, and what will they be using 

it for? Will this be an internal tool for prioritizing brownfields efforts? Will stakeholders use it to market 

economic development projects? Will the information be shared with community-based partners or other 

governmental/quasi-governmental partners? Will it be generally available to the public for marketing or other 

purposes? These decisions will drive the type of information collected and shape the format in which the 

information is stored. 

INVENTORY DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURE

Key components for planning an inventory can be considered in two stages; however, these components can 

be revisited before, during, or even after the inventory has been created. 

Stage 1 – Planning The Inventory 

• Determine the purpose and audience of the inventory, including whether all or part of the inventory 

will be public. 

• Assess key stakeholder needs, available resources, the estimated number of properties for inclusion, 

and mechanisms for updating the information. 

• Determine the inventory design and content. 

Stage 2 – Developing The Inventory 

• Collect data. 

• Build and populate the inventory. 

• Reassess the inventory and update data. 

Stage 1 components should be completed jointly before moving on to Stage 2, which consists of more linear 

components. The components and steps are described in detail below. 

STAGE 1 – PLANNING THE INVENTORY

Determine The Purpose Of The Brownfields Inventory 

Stakeholders indicated that one of the most limiting factors in the development of a site inventory is the 

availability of staff and financial resources; however, many indicated that pre-planning the inventory and 

collecting only the data necessary to meet project goals can reduce project costs. Determining the purpose 

and use of the brownfields inventory up front in the inventory development stage will help manage resources 

and expectations for the project. Thinking through the use of the inventory will help identify the required 
7 

PLANNING AN INVENTORY data, answer future questions as to what will be the 

design and content of the inventory, and manage 

expectations for the data collection effort. 

CHECKLIST OF QUESTIONS

Stakeholders reported that without proper planning, it 

is easy to become overwhelmed in the development of 

an inventory that is more complex and larger than their 

programmatic needs. A lesson learned to help ensure 

that the inventory does not exceed resources or 

programmatic needs is to outline the inventory goals 

and needs up front in the planning process. Creating an 

inventory that is larger than needed not only strains 

budgets, it becomes more burdensome to update and 

manage. Purpose(s) of the inventory may include: 

• Site Monitoring And Tracking – Even the most 

basic inventory should monitor and track propertyrelated information. This inventory function allows 

the managing entity to track data elements such as 

property location, owner, and size. More complex 

inventories may contain additional information 

such as environmental status or other site 

attributes. The inventory can be updated to reflect 

changes in site status, including ownership, 

activities undertaken (assessment, cleanup, reuse), 

or other important site characteristics. This 

function provides information on the number and 

size of petroleum brownfield sites within the 

targeted inventory area and allows quick 

identification of potential or confirmed 

environmental concerns. For example, in New Jersey, the City of Trenton’s petroleum brownfields 

inventory provides a quick snapshot of the number of former service stations in the city, their locations 

and ownership status, and whether or not environmental work has been performed at a site. 

Below is a simple checklist of questions that you 

should consider before launching an inventory 

effort. Consider outlining answers to each 

question to help guide you during the inventory 

development stage. 

• What is the purpose of this inventory? 

• Who is the intended audience? 

• What information is required to meet the 

purpose of the inventory and the needs of the 

audience? 

• How many resources do I have to devote to 

this effort? 

• What is the geographic area to be covered? 

• What funding sources are available to assist 

in this effort? 

• What platform (e.g., hard copy, electronic) is 

most appropriate for meeting the needs of 

the audience? 

• Are there critical project 

partners/stakeholders that need to be 

engaged up front in the inventory 

development process? 

• What sources will be used to collect data to 

populate the inventory? 

• How will this inventory be updated? 

• Data Retrieval/Exchange/Reporting – Another basic function of an inventory is the retrieval and 

output of information. Data can be retrieved in ways that include reports, graphic representations, and 

data queries. 

Inventories may also allow for data to be exchanged between stakeholders, particularly if the entities use 

the same inventory platform. Often, information from an inventory that is managed by a municipality or 

county is transferred to regional, state, or federal governments. For example, two of the three county 

inventories overseen by the South Florida Regional Planning Council directly transfer their data to the 

Florida Department of Environmental Protection as all three entities use the same Microsoft Access 

database platform. In this example, data transfer occurs when regulatory actions take place. 

EPA Brownfields State and Tribal (Section 128(a)) grant recipients are required to take reasonable steps 

to develop and/or maintain a system or process that can provide a reasonable estimate of the number of 

brownfields in their target areas. Brownfields Assessment grant recipients may use grant funding to 

create and/or maintain a site inventory. If grant funding is used on a property, recipients are also required 

to report on these property activities to EPA through the Assessment, Cleanup, and Redevelopment 
8 

Exchange System (ACRES) data system or in a Property Profile Form. To help meet EPA requirements, 

reports can be designed to pull relevant data directly from an inventory system. For example, the 

brownfields inventory created by Fort Edward, New York, can output reports in the same format as 

EPA’s Property Profile Form (see Appendix III). 

• Planning Purposes – Inventories can be a powerful tool 

for planners, providing important information for 

consideration during the development of land use plans, 

zoning ordinances, or economic development plans. When 

inventories are linked to mapping systems and information 

such as the condition of buildings is included in the data 

collection, an inventory can indicate which areas are most 

in need of assistance, which are ripe for redevelopment, 

and which zoning distinctions are most appropriate. For 

example, in New Jersey, the City of Camden’s Industrial 

Sites Inventory included brownfields in a comprehensive 

database of all industrial properties in the city and was 

used to identify areas where industrial uses could be 

expanded as well as where properties were underutilized 

and ripe for industrial redevelopment. 

• Prioritizing – Inventories can allow users to prioritize 

sites, which can be weighted and ranked based on userdefined criteria. An inventory can help to categorize 

properties based on criteria such as ownership status, 

zoning, or readiness for assessment, cleanup, or 

redevelopment—all of which can help in decision-making 

and managing resources. 

Using an inventory to prioritize properties also assists in making funding eligibility determinations for 

sites contaminated with petroleum or other hazardous contaminants. Due to many property-specific 

factors (i.e., the presence of underground storage tanks (USTs), when the USTs operated, whether the 

USTs were insured, when the property changed hands, etc.), there is no individual, simple method to 

make petroleum eligibility determinations. However, with the aid of site inventories, petroleum 

eligibility determinations may be made easier by creating tools such as a “decision tree” to assess 

specific data. For example, software can be created that assembles information needed to make 

petroleum eligibility determinations from inventories. 

EPA BROWNFIELDS GRANTEE 

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Section 128(a) State and Tribal grant 

recipients are required to take 

reasonable steps to develop and/or 

maintain a system or process that can 

provide a reasonable estimate of 

brownfields sites. EPA Brownfields 

Assessment grant recipients may use 

grant funding to create and maintain 

an inventory. 

All EPA Brownfields grant 

recipients—Assessment, Cleanup, and 

Revolving Loan Fund grantees—are 

required to capture specific data 

elements and accomplishments on a 

regular basis through the EPA ACRES 

data system. 

• Marketing And Public Outreach – Site inventories allow inventory managers to market properties 

available for redevelopment. For example, inventories have been established by government entities for 

the purpose of identifying available properties. Pennsylvania Site Search (PASiteSearch) is an example 

of an inventory that allows property owners to market sites by indicating whether properties are available 

for sale, lease, or other cooperative arrangement. The inventory is maintained by the Pennsylvania 

Department of Environmental Protection’s Land Recycling Program, and property owners may provide 

as much or as little information as they like for their own property. Information can include property 

location, size, and contact information. Sites are added frequently, and information is updated regularly 

through maintenance of the inventory. 

• Streamlining The Redevelopment Process – An inventory can help communities streamline the 

redevelopment process by clearly identifying elements that typically occur during the process. By 
9 

promoting the opportunity for site redevelopment, the redevelopment process can be streamlined by 

engaging interested developers. The redevelopment process can be made smoother by having many 

redevelopment elements already organized and presented to help quickly educate and engage potential 

investors, developers, and site users. 

Assess Key Stakeholder Needs, Available Resources, Number Of Properties, 

And Mechanisms For Updating The Information 

The following interdependent aspects should be considered in the planning of an inventory: 

• Partnerships – Involve key stakeholders, such as real 

estate brokers, developers, lenders, adjacent property 

owners, community members, public officials, etc. In 

addition, determine if, how, and to what extent they 

should have access to the inventory’s information. Developing partnerships with 

stakeholders will assist in determining 

the purpose, scope, and function of an 

inventory. It is important to engage all 

relevant stakeholders at the beginning of 

the development process to ensure that 

the inventory is as comprehensive and as 

useful as resources allow. Stakeholder 

input helps to determine which data 

elements to include and how information 

should be disseminated. Talking with 

stakeholders also helps them understand 

resource and other constraints that affect 

whether and how an inventory will be 

built and maintained. Partnerships may 

include economic and/or community 

development organizations, health 

departments, tax assessors, 

environmental departments, and/or city 

planning departments. 

PARTNERSHIPS

• Number Of Properties – The number of properties 

included in the targeted inventory area may alter the 

purpose and type of the inventory and affect the number 

of data elements in it, based on the inventory’s use and 

the program’s available resources. 

• Inventory Update And Maintenance – Updating site 

inventory information requires adequate time and staff 

availability as well as a manageable number of properties 

and pieces of data. Inventories that are used frequently 

require an update and maintenance schedule. External 

databases that can be used to automatically update the 

inventory should be considered during the design phase. 

If the tax assessor’s database can be used to update 

information such as property improvements, ownership 

status, and other data, the inventory should be designed 

with this in mind. Other partner databases that can 

potentially provide updates to your inventory include 

real estate databases, city-owned or vacant property 

databases, building inspector databases, or databases that 

contain information on deed restrictions. 

Determine Type Of Inventory Design And Content 

After determining the purpose of the inventory and assessing project resources and needs, the next step 

should be to design and determine the inventory’s content. There are many different types of inventory 

designs, including hard copy files, electronic spreadsheets, electronic databases, and Web-based databases. It 

is important to realize that no one type of inventory is better than another, and each should be tailored to 

meet the current and future needs of stakeholders. If an electronic format is selected for the inventory, it is 

important to include the organization’s information technology (IT) office in the inventory development 

stage to ensure that the system’s software and other elements comply with the organization’s IT resources 

and rules. 
10 

There is also a wide range of data for possible inclusion in an inventory, including, but not limited to: 

address, lot and block, zoning, acreage, prior uses of the property, environmental conditions, environmental 

report information, cleanup activity, redevelopment plans, neighboring uses, building conditions, ownership, 

access to utilities or transportation infrastructure, and socioeconomic measures. 

Consideration of what types of information community groups may be interested in can influence the 

inventory’s data fields. For example, the presence of sensitive populations in the vicinity (nursing homes, 

schools, day care centers, hospitals, etc.) may be of interest. An understanding of state requirements would 

be important in considering which data fields should be included. For example, New Jersey requires the 

identification of sensitive populations within 200 feet of a site prior to the start of remediation. For 

communities with mechanisms in place to update the inventory regularly, these fields would be particularly 

helpful. 

Ideally, all of these data should be inventoried; however, there 

are key data elements that, if included, allow for a sufficient 

understanding of a property’s status. These key elements 

include: 

SHARING INVENTORY DATA

When designing an inventory, it is also 

important to consider how data will be 

shared with stakeholders. If the goal of 

the inventory is property 

redevelopment, it may be useful to 

have the inventory available to many 

stakeholders, such as environmental 

contractors, developers, lenders, etc. 

Some methods of data distribution, 

such as hard copy outputs and Webbased systems, can require users to 

request information from the 

inventory’s manager. Also, allowing 

users direct access to an inventory will 

likely require permission from the 

manager. 

• Property identification number – if tied to the tax 

assessor’s database, this can allow for easy reference to 

tax information or past ownership; 

• Size – allows for discussion on reuse opportunities, as 

well as cleanup cost estimates; 

• Location – not only address but tax block and lot, and, 

if available, latitude and longitude; 

• Project ownership/contact information – provided in 

case of reuse interest or to assist in determining 

eligibility for funding sources; and 

• Environmental and contaminant information – 

identification of contaminants of concern; presence of 

known tanks, piping, hydraulic lifts, or other areas of 

concern; environmental project or case numbers if 

applicable; and environmental site assessment dates 

and findings. 

If there is a chance that EPA Brownfields funding will be used on any of the sites, it is helpful to plan ahead 

during the inventory design process for the collection of required data elements. EPA Brownfields grant 

recipients are required to collect information on specific data elements and either complete data entry into the 

EPA ACRES data system or file Property Profile Forms for sites. (See Appendix III: EPA Property Profile 

Form for more information about specific data requirements.) In addition, the inventory can meet other 

reporting requirements from additional local, state, or federal funding programs. 

Petroleum Brownfields Inventory Data Types 

Categories of tracked data elements include property background, environmental conditions, and institutional 

controls, as well as cleanup, redevelopment, and socioeconomic information. The data elements tracked in an 

inventory depend upon the scope of both the inventory’s managing entity and the goals of the program. The 

information provided below is an expansion of examples provided above. 
11 

Property Background 

Inventories typically track some form of property background information. One data element often 

included is a tax identification or parcel identification number designated by the overseeing entity. 

Applying these municipally-designated numbers to each property allows inventory managers to easily 

keep track of properties and link to other databases for information exchange. Other common data 

elements include the property’s location (e.g., address, town, and state), tax block and lot numbers, 

latitude and longitude (used for mapping), past and present ownership information, property size, zoning 

classification and vacancy status, and property tax status (e.g., foreclosure, liens, delinquency). 

Another consideration for incorporation of the property background information is the inclusion of 

surrounding property/neighborhood characteristics. Capturing information about the surrounding 

property uses or availability of developable land may help increase the success of marketing by enticing 

developers with current land uses or the availability of additional property for development. 

Environmental Conditions 

Information typically found in a site inventory 

speaks to the known past and present 

environmental conditions of a property. This 

may include information regarding the presence 

of USTs and related leaks. Other typically 

tracked information includes: environmental 

case or project numbers, the beginning and 

completion of environmental site assessments, 

funding used to complete site assessments, 

types and levels of contamination found 

through assessments, and the environmental 

conditions of surrounding properties (e.g., 

nearby gas stations and dry cleaners). 

Site assessment on Hopi Indian Reservation 

Cleanup Activity Information 

Inventories also track cleanup information, such as start dates, which may be determined by the 

beginning of demolition or remediation; contamination levels prior to and following cleanup; and 

funding used to complete cleanup. Cleanup completion is another element typically included in 

inventories; this can be signified by a No Further Action (NFA) letter or Certificate of Completion 

(COC) issued by the state or tribe under its voluntary cleanup program. 

Institutional controls (ICs) may be tracked with cleanup information. Some inventories maintain 

information regarding these administrative or legal measures, which helps minimize the potential for 

human exposure to contamination or protect the integrity of a cleanup remedy. Generally, there are four 

categories of ICs usually related to restrictions on the future uses of the property, including: (1) 

proprietary controls in the form of easements or covenants; (2) governmental controls (e.g., zoning, 

building codes); (3) enforcement/permit tools such as orders and consent decrees; and (4) informational 

devices (e.g., state registries, deed notices). 

Redevelopment Information 

Inventories also maintain redevelopment information. This includes the date(s) upon which 

redevelopment activities began at the property, such as a groundbreaking ceremony; redevelopment 

completion dates; funding used to complete redevelopment; and future property use(s). 
12 

Socioeconomic Impacts 

Some inventories also track the socioeconomic impacts of property cleanup and redevelopment. Such 

information may include short- and long-term jobs leveraged due to cleanup and redevelopment and 

local census information. Tracking jobs leveraged by acknowledging the number of construction jobs on 

the site during assessment and cleanup, as well as jobs at the new use of the site, helps tell the story of 

the benefits associated with redevelopment. As an example, the Colorado Historic Byways Initiative 

collected information on jobs leveraged to help demonstrate the economic benefits achieved through 

several redevelopment projects (see www.coloradobrownfieldsfoundation.org/casestudies.html). 

Collected socioeconomic information may be used to calculate future tax revenues based on job creation, 

local and/or state property taxes, and state business and occupation taxes. Certain inventories may not 

maintain socioeconomic information, particularly when socioeconomic impacts are not within the 

purview of the overseeing entity. For example, this may be the case when environmental quality is the 

focus of the inventory’s managing entity rather than community development. Nonetheless, recipients of 

EPA Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup, and Revolving Loan Fund grants are required to maintain 

information on certain socioeconomic impacts of their grants, including the number of cleanup and 

redevelopment jobs leveraged. 

The following chart (see next page) identifies possible data for inclusion in petroleum brownfields 

inventories. Once again, inventory managers should consider upfront which data elements are important for 

their purposes—the more data fields included in an inventory, the more resources required for creating and 

updating it. 

Once the inventory’s design and content are agreed to, the planning phase (Stage 1) is complete. Stage 2 

includes the physical creation of the inventory. 
13 

PETROLEUM BROWNFIELDS INVENTORY DATA OPTIONS

PROPERTY BACKGROUND

 Tax identification number and/or parcel identification 

number 

 Property location (address, town, state) 

 Tax block and lot numbers 

 Latitude/longitude 

 Past owner(s) name and contact information 

 Present owner name and contact information 

 Property size 

 Former use(s) 

 Current use(s) 

 Number, size, condition, and age of existing 

structure(s) 

 Presence of historic structures 

 Zoning classification 

 Vacancy status 

 Tax status 

 Assessed land value 

 Nuisance complaints 

 Utility availability 

 Rail and road access 

 Waterfront access, footage 

 Enrollment in state voluntary cleanup program 

 Availability of photographs and/or video 

 Property narrative/highlights 

 Adjacent property information 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

 Petroleum contamination information 

 Presence, history of underground storage tanks 

(USTs) or aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) 

 Product(s) released from USTs/ASTs 

 Type of response/closure methods 

 Start and completion date(s) of Phase I, II, and/or III 

environmental site assessments 

 Funding used to complete site assessments (federal, 

state, local) 

 Types and levels of contamination 

 Media affected 

 Cleanup required (Y/N) 

 Environmental conditions of surrounding properties 

 Nearby sensitive populations 

 Nearby sensitive ecosystems 

 Proposed cleanup plans 

 Estimated cleanup costs

CLEANUP ACTIVITY INFORMATION

 Cleanup start and completion dates 

 Acres cleaned up 

 Contaminants removed 

 Media addressed 

 Contamination levels prior to and following cleanup 

 Funding used to complete cleanup (federal, state, 

local) 

 Types of institutional controls implemented 

REDEVELOPMENT INFORMATION

 Property owner, contact information, date of sale 

 Redevelopment start and completion date(s) 

 Funding used to complete redevelopment (federal, 

state, local) 

 Desired future use(s) of the property 

 Acres and types of greenspace created 

 Developer name and contact information 

SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS

 Short- and long-term jobs leveraged 

 Population of surrounding area 

 Low- and moderate-income zones 

 Census tract 

FINANCIAL INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITIES 

 Federal, state, and local Empowerment/ Enterprise 

Zones, Renewal Communities designations and 

incentives 

 Remediation tax incentives 

 Leverage federal/state/local grants or loans 

 Redevelopment tax incentives 

 Cultural/historic preservation tax incentives 
14 

STAGE 2 – DEVELOPING THE INVENTORY

Collect Data 

After determining the inventory’s design and content, the process for data collection should be developed. 

There are many methods to obtain property-specific data, including but not limited to: collecting data from 

state and local tax, environmental, and health offices; area surveys and site visits; public input; property files 

managed by a state government; fire insurance maps from private companies and/or local fire departments; 

census reports; historic documents such as city directories, crisscross directories (reverse directories searched 

by multiple data points such as phone number, address, and name to retrieve all site information available), 

and historic phone books; and building inspection reports. In most cases, inventory managers use more than 

one method of data collection. Once the methods are determined, the process of data collection can begin. 

Examples of data collection methods are briefly described below: 

Partner Queries 

One of the most basic methods of developing an inventory is to 

ask stakeholders to self-select sites and provide relevant data. 

This could include internal stakeholders, such as members of the 

planning, real estate, and economic development divisions of a 

municipality, or external stakeholders, such as real estate brokers 

or the business community. Bucks County, Pennsylvania, asked 

its municipalities to nominate sites for inclusion in its petroleum 

site inventory. 

RECORD SEARCHING

In New Jersey, the City of Plainfield 

used historical document searches to 

update its existing database of 

petroleum and hazardous substance 

brownfield sites and found nearly 

200 additional former gas station 

sites to add to its inventory. 

Likewise, the City of Trenton used 

historic records and discovered 

approximately 130 petroleum 

brownfields that had not previously 

been included in its brownfields 

inventory. 

Surveys And Public Input 

Site information also comes from direct surveys of 

knowledgeable parties as well as general public input. Surveys 

and interviews may be conducted of residents who have lived in 

the area for many years as well as current and past property 

owners. Also, complaints from the general public and nearby 

property owners can provide information on property that could 

be considered a brownfield. Public or community meetings can 

be held to elicit information about potential sites. Public input is 

particularly helpful in determining property history. 

Site Visits 

Some inventory managers conduct site visits in order to gather property information. Generally, site visits 

can provide insight on the condition of structures and the condition and usage of adjacent properties. 

Sometimes, if site access is granted, the presence of underground storage tanks can also be ascertained. If 

access has not yet been granted, viewing the site without trespassing allows the inventory manager to 

determine if it is worth approaching a property owner about inventorying (and possibly assessing, cleaning 

up, and redeveloping) a brownfield. If site visits and field surveys are to be used, it is often useful to engage 

community groups or college students for a low-cost way to survey large areas. If this method is to be used, 

training is essential to ensure consistent reporting. 
15 

Reports And Other Documentation 

Property-specific information may also be obtained through a variety of existing documents. These include 

property files managed by a state government, fire insurance maps from private companies and/or local fire 

departments, census reports, and inspection reports of potentially-contaminated properties. Building 

inspections also provide pertinent information, such as a property’s background and environmental 

conditions. Particularly valuable for uncovering former gas station sites is research in past city directories, 

crisscross directories, and historic phone books. In this way, historic gas stations that closed prior to the 

instituted reporting requirements can be discovered and addressed. 

Build And Populate The Inventory 

Building the inventory will be a unique process for each 

community. After the data has been collected, it should be entered 

into the chosen inventory type (e.g., hard copy files, electronic, 

Web-based). In some instances, this will require the inventory’s 

manager to use internal or external staff resources to build the 

inventory and/or populate the inventory with the data. 

For those developing any type of electronic inventory, 

standardizing the data will help ensure better data quality, 

reporting, and transferability. For example, creating uniform 

formats for street addresses (e.g., Street, ST., ST, NE, N.E.) and 

phone numbers (e.g., (123) 456-7890, 123-456-7890) may seem 

like a small nuance but will lead to better data quality and 

reporting. Providing researchers or field survey teams with handheld devices to directly enter data into the 

inventory database will help to eliminate errors in transcribing field notes. However, be sure that people are 

comfortable using such equipment and that the systems are backed up regularly to avoid losing data. 

To maintain accurate and 

reliable data, an inventory 

should undergo quality 

assurance (QA) procedures 

during the population and 

updating of data. The QA 

process will verify and 

determine if the data meets the 

needs and purpose of the 

inventory. 

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Site inventories come in a range of designs, which are often dictated by the managing entity’s jurisdiction 

and available resources. For electronic tools, the entity may have preferred computer applications and/or 

information technology (IT) program requirements that need to be considered. Some typical inventory 

designs are described below. 

Hard Copy Files 

A basic inventory format is the use of hard copy files. Although hard copies may include similar information 

as electronic versions, hard copy inventories are becoming less widely used with time. However, in instances 

when a managing entity has a small jurisdiction to oversee, hard copy files can be just as useful as an 

electronic inventory. 

Electronic Spreadsheets 

Another inventory platform is the electronic spreadsheet, which can more easily track large numbers of 

properties and data elements. Spreadsheets are also useful in that they allow users to sort and prioritize 

properties based on criteria and associated thresholds. For example, the site inventory managed by the 

Niagara County Department of Economic Development in western New York permits users to sort 

information for more than 43 different properties. By using a spreadsheet platform, county officials are easily 

able to sort properties by location and size when parties inquire about a specific type of property. 
16 

Electronic Databases 

Databases allow for a systematic format of data entry as well as easily readable outputs (e.g., property 

profiles, reports) and greater ability to categorize data and apply prioritization criteria. With appropriate use 

interfaces (for data entry and updating), databases can be more welcoming than other platforms to users who 

are less computer savvy. However, although electronic databases are becoming more common, sufficient 

resources, such as funding to purchase software and to train staff, are needed to maintain them. 

Web-Based Databases 

Communities across the country use the Internet to 

maintain site inventories. Some communities only 

make their inventories available on their internal 

intranet, thereby ensuring access strictly for 

designated users. While having a site inventory 

available online can make it easily available to 

anyone who can access the Internet, this platform 

may require alternative output methods and other 

tools for users lacking Internet access. 

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 

Some advanced site inventories use GIS to capture, 

store, analyze, and display property-specific spatial 

data. Because GIS can connect graphic features on a 

map to site inventory information, inventory 

managers may determine which data elements may be included (e.g., property latitude and longitude, cleanup 

activity information, presence of USTs, economic incentives). Although GIS can provide a highly-detailed, 

visual representation of property information, establishing and maintaining this type of system requires 

sufficient resources. Several state and federal agencies already have GIS standard requirements that can be 

referenced during development to help facilitate data sharing in the future. As an example, review the U.S. 

EPA Geospatial Data Requirements document at www.epa.gov/geospatial/policies.html. 

 Trenton, New Jersey, firehouse on old gas station site

Reassess Inventory And Update Data 

After an inventory has been in use for some time, the manager should reassess its usefulness. In some 

instances, the inventory may need to be upgraded to a new design, such as moving from hard copy files to 

electronic spreadsheets. Perhaps changing the electronic platform will allow for better communication with 

other databases and thus enhanced utility, or it may be discovered through use that additional fields are 

needed. Whether the inventory design is upgraded or not, the data should be regularly reviewed and updated. 

Updating inventory data can be challenging for both small and large communities. The update of data fields 

will vary by community depending on several possible changes to relevant data that might include 

demographics, site conditions, and ownership information. Small communities often lack the financial 

resources and staff needed to maintain up-to-date property information. On the other hand, large 

communities often have so many properties to oversee that updating information can become overwhelming. 

Updating an inventory requires planning resources accordingly, including maintaining a manageable number 

of properties and pieces of data and setting a schedule. Updating the inventory should be considered during 

initial development planning to ensure that the project is not too large for future efforts. 
17 

SECTION III: PETROLEUM BROWNFIELDS INVENTORY BEST PRACTICES

There is no one ideal inventory because what works for one community may not work for another. However, 

discussions with petroleum brownfields stakeholders illustrate that there are many inventories that exemplify 

best practices. The following best practices are designed to demonstrate that regardless of the size, 

complexity, or resources devoted, inventories are a useful tool for many types of organizations. Many of the 

best practices captured during the conversations with petroleum brownfields stakeholders were used to 

develop the steps identified in Section II: Planning And Building An Inventory. Best practices include 

planning out the inventory in advance of data collection, engaging community members and project partners 

to identify sites, and organizing data to meet specific organizational needs. 

EXAMPLES OF BROWNFIELDS INVENTORIES 

Generally, findings from discussions with stakeholders indicate that inventories fall into three levels of 

complexity, which are described in the table below. These levels do not necessarily apply to every inventory; 

rather, they describe common categories used by practitioners. 

SITE INVENTORY GENERAL LEVELS OF COMPLEXITY

Basic Moderate Advanced 

Resources Limited resources, uses 

in-house staff, may be 

developed over time as 

sites emerge 

Moderate commitment of 

resources, may involve 

dedicated interns or 

outsourced work 

Project budget in the $100,000 to 

$200,000 range to cover software 

development, document research, 

and field surveys 

Inventory 

purpose 

Used for site monitoring, 

tracking, and/or public 

outreach 

Used for site monitoring, 

tracking, public outreach, 

reporting, planning 

purposes, prioritizing, and 

marketing to private sector 

Used for site monitoring, tracking, 

public outreach, reporting, in-depth 

planning purposes, prioritizing, 

enhanced marketing to private 

sector, community outreach tool, 

and/or data exchange 

Inventory 

design 

Hard copy files, basic 

spreadsheet 

Electronic files (e.g., 

searchable spreadsheets, 

database) 

Interactive Web-based database 

linked to a geographic mapping 

system 

Amount of 

data 

Few data elements per 

property, covering 

mainly locational 

information 

Moderate number of data 

elements per property, 

covering locational and 

environmental information 

Many data elements per property, 

covering locational, environmental, 

and site quality information suitable 

for marketing purposes 

Number of 

properties 

Limited number of 

properties, may focus on 

a particular geographic 

sub-area (such as a 

commercial strip), site 

selection methods 

limited 

Limited or moderate 

number of properties, may 

or may not focus on a 

geographic sub-area, 

multiple site selection 

methods may be employed 

Typically consists of many 

properties, may be city or 

community wide, various site 

selection methods employed 
18 

DESCRIPTIONS OF PETROLEUM BROWNFIELDS INVENTORIES

Following are examples of stakeholders that have had success in the planning, development, and use of a 

petroleum brownfields site inventory. Information shared in these examples is aimed to help identify 

practices, uses, or end results that could be useful to other petroleum brownfields stakeholders. The examples 

are arranged alphabetically by state. 

Los Angeles Environmental Affairs Department, California 

The Los Angeles Department of Environmental Affairs’ initial brownfields inventory included 

approximately 150 properties from all over the 466-square mile city. This inventory required the use of a 

contractor and was created in an electronic spreadsheet format to track former gasoline station properties. 

The inventory was developed using fire department files (where storage tank compliance violations were 

filed); records of underground storage tank permits; and state and county databases. City officials also 

conducted site visits to identify underutilized sites. 

Through an EPA Brownfields Assessment grant, the city expanded this inventory to include other types of 

sites and updated it from an electronic spreadsheet to an advanced yet user-friendly Web-based database. 

This internal management and marketing inventory is easily shared and accessible across seven city 

departments. The inventory is not shared with the public due to property owner concerns regarding the 

stigma of the brownfields label. However, the inventory’s properties can be marketed to community 

redevelopment agencies and neighborhood associations through inventory-generated publications, including 

one-page property profiles. Information on the Los Angeles brownfields program can be found at 

www.lacity.org/ead/labf/. 

Best Practice: Site inventories evolve over time, with increases in the number of tracked properties, 

leveraged resources, and technology advancements. Inventory platforms can change as needed. 

Contact Information: Nuna Tersibashian • Nuna.Tersibashian@lacity.org • (213) 978-0872 

Colorado Historic Byways Revitalization Initiative 

The Colorado Historic Byways Revitalization Initiative is a partnership between state agencies and a nonprofit 

organization and aims to further local economic development projects by providing environmental assessment 

and cleanup services. The Initiative targets communities along scenic byways, historic districts, and other 

economic development corridors. Initial community visits result in a list of potential sites. To collect 

information on sites for inclusion in the inventory, the Initiative conducts outreach with local officials and 

stakeholders, ranging from small meetings to community events. The intended purpose of the inventory is to 

help local officials recognize their opportunities; to prioritize sites needing assessment, cleanup, and reuse 

planning; to provide information to prospective developers; and to measure progress toward redevelopment 

goals. 

The inventorying process is kept simple, with all data maintained in an Excel spreadsheet that can be sorted and 

updated with relative ease. The inventory collects basic site information, such as address, owner, site and 

environmental conditions, as well as photographs. Currently, the inventory is used as an internal management 

tool, but interest continues to grow in its use for local site marketing efforts. The inventory continues to be 

evaluated and will likely evolve along with user needs. 

Best Practice: Consider your organization’s specific needs and design the inventory accordingly. A simple 

design might prove more than adequate and provides a foundation to build on as needs develop. 

Contact Information: Jesse Silverstein • jesse@ColoradoBrownfieldsFoundation.org • (303) 962-0940 
19 

South Florida Regional Planning Council 

The South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC) assisted in the development of brownfields site 

inventories for Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. The purpose of these three inventories is to 

track contaminated properties and designated areas as well as identify where resources need to be focused. The 

approximately 2,000 properties within these inventories were identified through code enforcement violations, 

inspections, complaints from the public, and private property owners. Although the data varies by county, 

information found in all three databases includes property identification numbers, addresses, zoning 

designations, current uses, owners, code violations, and environmental assessment records. This information is 

tracked in both electronic and GIS formats and updated approximately every six months by each county. The 

Broward and Miami-Dade county inventories are accessible on the Internet and shared directly with the Florida 

Department of Environmental Protection, which uses the same electronic database design for its own inventory. 

Best Practice: The sharing of data across multiple brownfields site inventories provides benefits to multiple 

stakeholders. 

Contact Information: Cheryl Cook • cherylc@sfrpc.com • (954) 985-4416 

Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, Cheboygan County, Michigan 

The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance planned a county-wide brownfields inventory, collecting information 

on both hazardous waste and petroleum sites to combine into one inventory effort. The Alliance planned for a 

GIS Web-based application inventory and designed the inventory to correlate with county GIS overlays such as 

zoning, water, soils, etc. The Alliance conducted a broad search of all properties, identifying as many as 

possible through multiple efforts. The Alliance held two public meetings to seek input on sites to consider 

including in the inventory and conducted windshield surveys (site drivebys) to ensure proposed sites met 

general criteria for inclusion. Once a list of sites was developed, the Alliance prioritized sites based on predetermined criteria as well as a visual inspection. 

While the Alliance first developed the inventory as an internal tool, they believed it could achieve additional 

successes by making it available to the public. The Alliance contacted property owners to inquire about 

willingness to participate in Phase I environmental assessments and presented site information to prospective 

developers and investors. The Alliance has eight sites with property owner participation and active marketing 

efforts to encourage reuse. These owner participation sites and their environmental conditions are posted on the 

Web site. 

Best Practice: Modifying an inventory and associated data elements for public access. 

Contact Information: Lisa Fought • lisa@northernlakes.net • (231) 582-6482

Department Of City Planning And Development, Kansas City, Missouri 

Using EPA USTfield Pilot funds, the State of Missouri assisted the Department of City Planning and 

Development for the City of Kansas City, Missouri, by hiring a contractor to perform two “feasibility studies” 

that identified 47 underground storage tank (UST) properties along the Prospect Avenue Corridor and 203 

properties along the Troost Avenue Corridor in the Kansas City urban core. The initial focus on these sites was 

a result of the use of LUST Trust Funds. The contractor reviewed relevant city department databases, city 

records and permits, and fire insurance maps. The contractor also performed site visits on each block in the 

targeted area in order to determine if an UST existed or was previously located on the property. 

The feasibility studies identified properties that might be impacted with petroleum contaminants, including sites 

where the presence of an UST could not be confirmed. The data was put into an electronic database, which 

included information regarding historical site occupancy; location and ownership; current land use; UST status; 

site inspection information such as property and building square footage and structural condition; and potential 

eligibility for the state tank insurance fund. This information was used for internal management decisions and 
20 

has been provided on a timely basis to prospective developers, both public and private, interested in properties 

in the study areas. 

As a result, six key urban redevelopment projects involving some of the studied petroleum sites have already 

been assisted: ALDI Store project at 39th & Prospect Ave.; Satchel Paige Park project at 28th & Prospect Ave.; 

Citadel Plaza project at 63rd & Prospect; Wabash Village affordable housing project at 51st & Prospect Ave.; 

DeLaSalle Education Center expansion project at 37th & Troost Ave.; and Ashton Villas affordable housing 

project at 57th Troost Ave. The ALDI, Satchel Paige, and DeLaSalle projects are actively in the process of 

assessing, cleaning up and redeveloping UST sites in the study areas. 

The studies have given the city another important tool to focus redevelopment efforts on key properties in the 

Prospect Avenue and Troost Avenue corridors. Information regarding Kansas City’s Brownfields Program can 

be found on the Internet at www.kcmo.org/planning.nsf/busast/. 

Best Practice: Feasibility studies that compile key environmental and real estate site information of UST 

sites in large areas can help cities focus redevelopment efforts on key properties and respond to development 

interest in a timely manner. 

Contact Information: Andrew Bracker • andrew_bracker@kcmo.org • (816) 513-3002 

City Of Trenton, New Jersey 

The City of Trenton’s Brownfields Coordinator, with assistance provided by interns from local universities, 

completed a city-wide inventory of current and former gas stations using ownership and operational history 

records, such as a chain of title, city directories (available from 1938 to 1971), crisscross directories (available 

from 1971 to the present), Sanborn fire insurance maps (available from 1890-1990), phone directories, and state 

environmental files and databases. Through these methods, a total of 159 sites were identified. Of these, only 

13 are currently operating in the city. 

Information collected included address, lot and block, owner name and contact information, current land use, 

zoning, known compliance history, and source of information. This information was linked to the city GIS 

system to allow for the mapping of the sites as well as the ability to pull up census tract demographic 

information and tax information on each site. Eight city-owned sites were initially selected to perform Phase I 

investigations using EPA Brownfields Assessment grant funds. Additional phases of investigation are 

underway at several of these sites. 

Best Practice: Inventories can be linked to other data sources to expand the amount of information available. 

Use of interns is a cost effective way to build an inventory. 

Contact Information: J.R. Capasso • jcapasso@trentonnj.org • (609) 989-3501 

Niagara County Department Of Economic Development, New York 

The brownfields site inventory managed by the Niagara County Department of Economic Development in 

western New York State was first developed for hazardous waste sites through input from the county’s 

Brownfields Working Group—which included representatives from every municipality in the county, 

developers, and the county health department. Utilizing the same inclusive process, Niagara County created 

an inventory of petroleum-specific brownfield sites. Initially, the petroleum inventory included over 1,500 

sites throughout the county. With assistance from the Working Group, the inventory was narrowed down to 

143 priority sites. The inventory includes both electronic spreadsheets and GIS components. The inventory 

contains 43 different data fields ranging from basic site data to owner and environmental information. By 

using a spreadsheet platform, county officials are also able to sort properties by location and size when 

interested parties—typically developers—inquire about a specific type of property. 
21 

Best Practice: Inventories can be most effective when they are developed using input from multiple 

stakeholders, including municipality representatives, planning offices, developers, and other local 

organizations. 

Contact Information: Amy Fisk • amy.fisk@niagaracounty.com • (716) 278-8754 

Oswego County, New York 

Oswego County maintains a brownfields site inventory for a one mile buffer along the Oswego River/Canal 

corridor. While the county would like to expand its inventory effort county-wide, it recognized the need to 

restrict the scope to ensure that the inventory was manageable. The county designed the inventory for use as 

an internal prioritization tool and to help leverage additional grant funding for cleanup and redevelopment. 

Twenty-five Phase I environmental site assessments have been completed; three Phase II’s are underway. 

Best Practice: Restricting your inventory to cover a smaller area can help save resources and refine the 

inventory's process and goals. 

Contact Information: Karen Noyes • knoyes@co.oswego.ny.us • (315) 349-8292 

North Side Industrial Development Company, Pennsylvania 

The North Side Industrial Development Company is a non-profit organization promoting the cleanup and 

reuse of industrial sites in the Pittsburgh region. The Company designed a petroleum brownfields site 

inventory to identify sites along the Allegheny River corridor. Company staff met with community members 

to identify sites for cleanup and redevelopment and collected information through one-on-one meetings with 

local municipal leaders and open community forums. While information was collected on both hazardous 

waste and petroleum sites, the Company maintained separate inventories for these categories. 

With a real estate attorney on staff, the Company was able to reach out to property owners and promote the 

benefits of participating in the brownfields program and secure access agreements for every site within the 

inventory. The site access agreements allowed the Company to conduct environmental site assessments on 

the sites with property owner permission. The inventory is now used to help identify sites for assessment, 

cleanup, and reuse, and to promote redevelopment opportunities along the Allegheny River corridor. 

Best Practice: Being able to promote the benefits of participation in the site inventory and brownfields 

program enabled the Company to secure property access agreements for all sites. 

Contact Information: Emily Buka • eb@riversidecenterforinnovation.com • (412) 322-3523 

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD), Washington State 

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department's Abandoned Commercial Tanks Project (Project ACT) 

maintains an advanced site inventory of approximately 740 properties using both GIS and an electronic 

database. The inventory allows county government staff to easily sort and rank properties based on more than 

135 data elements. The Project ACT inventory also helps to understand some area-wide issues. TPCHD’s 

inventory gives it a big advantage in illustrating the impact of these old gas stations. The inventory of 372 

abandoned sites, related site information, and GIS database used for mapping the information represent 

valuable tools for this project. The inventory’s capabilities can go from the area-wide to the one-site 

perspective, and the inventory has provided the focal point that helps frame the conversation about this 

brownfields issue that forges partnerships in government, business, and the community. 

Best Practice: Employing PC-based technology to capitalize on pre-existing data and utilizing simple GIS 

software to construct a tool that is very useful in forging partnerships. 

Contact Information: Greg Tanbara • gtanbara@tpchd.org • (253) 798-4784
APPENDIX I: EPA BROWNFIELDS GRANT OPPORTUNITIES 

The federal Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (the Brownfields law) of 

2002 expanded the definition of a brownfield to include sites that are contaminated by petroleum or 

petroleum products and are determined to be of relatively low risk relative to other petroleum sites within a 

state. Also within the Brownfields law are several provisions that allow EPA Brownfields grant recipients to 

conduct activities that help them to survey and inventory their brownfields, including petroleumcontaminated sites. These provisions include: 

• Section 128(a)(2)(A) authorizes states and tribes to use federal grant funds to survey and inventory 

brownfield sites [42 U.S.C. 9628(a)(2)(A)]. 

• Section 211(k)(2)(A)(i) authorizes the use of federal grant funds, in the form of competitive Brownfields 

Assessment grants, to be used to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct planning related to 

brownfields [42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(2)(A)(i)]. 

In addition to Assessment grants and State and Tribal (Section 128(a)) grants, EPA funding is available for 

petroleum brownfields inventory development activities through Exchange Network grants. 

Section 104(k) Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund (RLF), And Cleanup Grants 

EPA’s Brownfields Assessment grants provide funding for a grant recipient to inventory, characterize, 

assess, and conduct planning and community involvement related to brownfields properties. An eligible 

entity may apply for up to $200,000 to address a property contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, 

or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum) and up to $200,000 to address 

a property contaminated by petroleum. To learn more about EPA’s Brownfields Assessment, RLF, and 

Cleanup grants visit: www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/pilot.htm. 

Section 128(a) State And Tribal Grants 

Section 128(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 

(CERCLA), as amended, authorizes a noncompetitive $50 million grant program to establish and enhance 

state and tribal response programs. Each year, actual allocation of funds varies depending upon 

Congressional appropriation. 

The primary goal of the funding is to ensure that state and tribal response programs include, or are taking 

reasonable steps to include, the following four elements in their programs: 

1. Timely survey and inventory of brownfields sites. 

2. Oversight and enforcement authorities or other mechanisms and resources to ensure that a response 

action will protect human health and the environment. 

3. Mechanisms and resources to provide meaningful opportunities for public participation. 

4. Mechanisms for approval of a cleanup plan and verification/certification that cleanup is complete. 

To learn more about EPA’s Section 128(a) State and Tribal Response Program grants visit: 

www.epa.gov/brownfields/state_tribal.htm. 

Exchange Network Grants 

The Environmental Information Exchange Network (Exchange Network) is a new approach for exchanging 

environmental data between EPA, states, and other partners. The Exchange Network grant program provides 

funding to states, territories, and federally-recognized Indian tribes to support the development of the 

A-1 
Exchange Network. This network is an Internet- and standards-based secure information systems network 

that supports the electronic collection, exchange, and integration of high-quality data. This grant program 

supports the acquisition and development of computer hardware/software needed to connect to the Exchange 

Network; the development of common data standards, formats, and trading partner agreements for sharing 

data over the Exchange Network; and the planning, development, and implementation of collaborative and 

innovative uses of the Exchange Network. This grant program may include the standardization, exchange, 

and integration of geospatial information to address environmental, natural resource, and related human 

health issues. For more information on the EPA’s Exchange Network visit www.epa.gov/exchangenetwork/. 

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A-3 

APPENDIX II: RESOURCES

The following information has been compiled to help stakeholders learn more about petroleum brownfieldsrelated programs and tools. 

CONTACTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

U.S. EPA Office Of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) 

The EPA Office of Underground Storage Tanks carries out a Congressional mandate to develop and 

implement a regulatory program for underground storage tank (UST) systems and supports the assessment, 

cleanup, and productive reuse of former petroleum-contaminated properties. 

Steven McNeely 

703-603-7164 

mcneely.steven@epa.gov 

U.S. EPA Office Of Brownfields And Land Revitalization (OBLR) 

The EPA Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization provides financial and technical support that helps 

clean up and reuse brownfields and other contaminated properties. 

Doris Thompson 

202-566-0203 

thompson.doris@epa.gov 

Technical Assistance To Brownfields (TAB) Communities 

TAB grants provide geographically-based technical assistance and training to communities and other 

stakeholders on brownfields issues with the goal of increasing a community’s understanding and 

involvement in brownfields cleanup and revitalization. TAB grants serve as an independent source of 

information assisting communities with: community involvement; better understanding the health impacts of 

brownfields; science and technology relating to brownfields site assessment, remediation, and site 

preparation activities; brownfields finance questions, and information on integrated approaches to 

brownfields cleanup and redevelopment. 

• New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) serves communities in EPA Regions 1, 2, and 3 

www.njit.edu/ 

• Enterprise Corporation of the Delta, Inc. (ECD) serves communities in EPA Regions 4 and 6 

www.ecd.org/ 

• Kansas State University serves communities in EPA Regions 5 and 7 

www.engg.ksu.edu/CHSR/ 

• Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) serves communities in EPA Regions 8, 9, and 10 

www.cclr.org/ 
A-4 

WEB SITES AND RESOURCE DOCUMENTS

Association Of State And Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) 

www.astswmo.org 

ASTSWMO Tanks Subcommittee 

www.astswmo.org/programs_tanks.htm 

CERLA And Brownfields Research Center 

http://www.astswmo.org/programs_cercla.htm 

Northeast Midwest Institute 

www.nemw.org 

Recycling America’s Gas Stations

www.nemw.org/recyclegas_stations.pdf 

Smart Growth America 

www.smartgrowthamerica.org/ 

U.S. EPA Office Of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST)

www.epa.gov/oust/ 

Petroleum Brownfields Action Plan: Promoting Revitalization And Sustainability 

www.epa.gov/oust/rags/petrobfactionplan.pdf 

U.S. EPA Office Of Brownfields And Land Revitalization (OBLR) 

www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/index.html 

State Brownfields And Voluntary Response Programs: An Update From The States (September 2008)

www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/pubs/st_res_prog_report.htm 

Tribal Brownfields And Response Programs: Respecting Our Land, Revitalizing Our Communities (April 

2008)

www.epa.gov/brownfields/tribalreport08.pdf 

U.S. EPA Office Of Superfund Remediation And Technology Innovation (OSRTI) 

www.epa.gov/superfund 
 

APPENDIX III: EPA PROPERTY PROFILE FORM

(See next page) 

A-5
–

United States Form Approved. 

OMB No. 2050-0192 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Expires 07-31-2009 

Washington, DC 20460

PROPERTY PROFILE FORM—Brownfields

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.25 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 

searching data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments 

regarding this burden estimate, or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the 

Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Information, Code 2822T, Washington, DC 20460 and to the Paperwork Reduction Project, 

Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. DO NOT RETURN your form to either of these addresses. Send your completed form to 

the address provided by the issuing office. 

PART I – GRANT RECIPIENT INFORMATION 

1. Grant Recipient Name (State/Tribe for Section 128(a) Grants; 2. Grant Number (contract number for TBAs): 

requestor/contractor for TBAs): 

3. Type of Brownfields Grant (check only one box): 

G Assessment G Section 128(a) – State and Tribal Response Program 

G Revolving Loan Fund G TBA (EPA Regions Only) 

G Cleanup 

4. For Assessment, Cleanup, and Revolving Loan Fund grants, what type of funding is being used at the property? 

G Hazardous Substance G Petroleum G Both 

5. Indicate if this form is the Initial or Updated Form: 6. Date: 

G Initial Form G Updated Form 

PART II PROPERTY INFORMATION 

Property Background Information 

7. Property Name: ________________________________________________________________________________ 

8a. Street Address: 8b. City: 

8c. State: _______________ 8d. Zip Code: ___________ 9. Size (in acres): _________ 

10. Parcel Number(s): ___________________________ 11b. Current Owner: 

11a. Ownership Entity:

 G Government (Tribal, State, Local) G Private 

Ownership & Superfund Liability (Mandatory for Cleanup and RLF Grants) 

12a. During the life of the grant, did ownership change? 12b. If “yes,” did Superfund federal landowner liability 

G Yes G No protections factor into the ownership change? 

G Yes G No G Unknown 

Property Geographic Information (EPA Brownfields Program, or its contractors, will provide complete 

latitude/longitude information if grant recipients are unable) 

13a. 

13d. 

Latitude 

(use 00.000000 format): 

13b. Longitude 

(use -000.000000 format): 

13c. 

Source Map Scale Number (only if a map/photo was used): 13e. 

___________________ __________________ 

Horizontal Collection Method: 

Reference Point (e.g., Center of Facility or Station): 

13f. Horizontal Reference Datum (Choose one): 

G NAD27-North American Datum of 1927 

G NAD83-North American Datum of 1983 

G WGS84-World Geodetic System of 1984 

Property History Information (as available) 

14. Property Description / History / Past Ownership: 15. Predominant Past Use(s) (check all that apply): 

Type Acreage Type Acreage 

G Greenspace ________ G Commercial ________ 

G Residential _________ G Industrial __________ 

EPA Form 6200-03 (9-2006) 
–

-

G G G 

G G G 

–

PART III ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION (mandatory for Assessment Grants, 

State & Tribal Property Specific Assessments, and TBAs; as available for Cleanup and RLF grant recipients) 

Table A – Environmental Assessment Activity (If there are multiple assessments, please use a separate line for each assessment) 

Environmental 

Assessment Detail 

Source of Funding 

(enter one source of funding per line; do not include 

funding received prior to the award of this EPA grant) 

Phase 

(Choose 

I, II, III) 

Start 

Date 

Completion 

Date 

This 

US EPA 

Grant 

Private/ 

Other 

Other 

Federal 

State/ 

Tribal 

(exclude 

§128(a) 

funds) 

Local 

Gov’t 

Name of Entity 

Providing Funds 

Amount of 

Funding 

G G G G G $ 

G G G G G $ 

G G G G G $ 

16. Indicate whether cleanup is required: G Yes G No G Unknown 

G G $ 

G G $ 

Make sure to complete Part V – INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS INFORMATION before submitting this Property 

Profile Form to your EPA Regional Representative 

PART IV CONTAMINANTS & MEDIA AFFECTED INFORMATION (mandatory for all grant types) 

Table B – Contaminants and Media Affected (check all that apply) 

Contaminants Media 

Class of Contaminant Found Cleaned Up Media Affected Cleaned Up 

Petroleum/Petroleum G G Soil G G Products 

Controlled Substances G G Air G G 

Asbestos G G Surface Water G G 

PCBs G G Ground Water G G 

VOCs G G Drinking Water G G 

G G G G 

Other Metals 

(______________________) G G No Media Affected G 

G G G 

Other Contaminants 

(______________________) G G 

Lead Sediments 

PAHs Unknown 

No Contaminants G 

Unknown G 

State & Tribal Brownfields/Voluntary Response Program Information 

17a. State & Tribal Program Enrollment (If the property was not enrolled in a state program, check Property Not Enrolled check box): 

G Property Not Enrolled in a State or Date of Enrollment ___________ ID Number (if applicable) _____________ Tribal Program 

17b. Date No Further Action/Cleanup Completion Document Issued 

(If the property was not enrolled in a state or tribal program, leave blank): 

Date: ______________________________________ 

EPA Form 6200-03 (9-2006) 
–

_________________________________________________________________________ 

–

-

–

G G G $ 

G G G $ 

PART V INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS INFORMATION (mandatory for all grant types) 

18a. Indicate whether Institutional Controls are required: G Yes G No 

18b. If Institutional Controls were required, indicate the category (check all that apply):

 G Proprietary Controls (e.g., easements, covenants) G Governmental Controls (e.g., zoning, building codes)

 G Informational Devices (e.g., state registries, deed notices) G Enforcement/Permit Tools (e.g., permits, consent decrees) 

Address of Data Source (URL if available): 

18c. Indicate whether Institutional Controls in place: 

G Yes G No Date: 

PART VI ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP INFORMATION (mandatory for Cleanup and RLF Grants and 

State & Tribal Property Specific Cleanups; as available for Assessment Grants and TBAs) 

19. Cleanup Activity Start Date: 20. Cleanup Activity Completion Date: 21. Acres Cleaned Up: 

22. If EPA Brownfields funding was used, indicate the type and amount (If any non-EPA funding was used, fill out Table C): 

Type Amount Type Amount

G Cleanup Grant __________________ G RLF Subgrant __________________

G RLF Loan __________________ G Section 128(a) 

State/Tribal Grants __________________ 

Table C – Environmental Cleanup Leveraged Funding Detail 

Source of Funding 

(enter one source of funding per line; 

do not include funding received prior to 

the award of this EPA grant) 

Other 

Federal 

State/ 

Local 

Gov’t 

Private/ 

Other 

Tribal 

(exclude 

§128(a) 

funds) Name of Entity Providing Funds Amount of Funding 

G G G G $ 

G G G G $

G G G G $ 

G G G G $

PART VII REDEVELOPMENT AND OTHER LEVERAGED ACCOMPLISHMENTS (Mandatory for Assessment, 

Cleanup and RLF Grants; as available for State and Tribal Property Specific Activities and TBAs) 

Redevelopment Information 

23. Redevelopment Start Date: 24. Future Use and Estimated Acreage (check all that apply): 

Type Acreage Type Acreage 

G Greenspace ______________ G Commercial ______________ 

G Residential ______________ G Industrial ______________ 

25. Number of Cleanup and Redevelopment Jobs 26. Actual Acreage(s) and Type(s) of Greenspace Created: 

Leveraged: 

Table D – Funds Used to Perform Redevelopment Activities 

Source of Funding 

(enter one source of funding per line; 

do not include funding received prior to 

the award of this EPA grant) 

Other 

Federal 

State/ 

Tribal 

Local 

Gov’t 

Private/ 

Other Name of Entity Providing Funds Amount of Funding 

G G G G $ 

G G G G $ 

EPA Form 6200-03 (9-2006) 

G 

G 
–

-

PART VIII ANECDOTAL PROPERTY INFORMATION (as available for all grant types) 

27. Property Highlights 

Property Photograph Information 

28. Indicate whether photographs are available: 29. Indicate whether video is available: 

G Yes G No G Yes G No 

PART IX APPROVALS 

30. Grant Recipient Project Manager 

Name (Please Print) Signature Date 

31. US EPA Regional Representative 

Name (Please Print) Signature Date 

EPA Form 6200-03 (9-2006) 
APPENDIX IV: PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INVENTORIES

The following entities have publicly available site inventories online. 

EPA 

Region 

Community/State Web site 

1 Connecticut Department 

of Economic 

Development 

www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2715&Q=325018 

1 State of New Hampshire www2.des.state.nh.us/OneStop/ORCB_Query.aspx?Project=UST 

3 Bucks County 

Redevelopment Authority, 

Pennsylvania 

www.bcrda.com/brown.html 

3 State of Pennsylvania www.pasitesearch.com/selectsites/ 

4 State of Georgia www.gaepd.org/Documents/hazsiteinv.html 

4 Mississippi Department of 

Environmental Quality 

muster.deq.state.ms.us/webreportapplication/USTFacilityWithin.aspx

5 Michigan Department of 

Environmental Quality 

www.deq.state.mi.us/ustfields/ 

5 Wisconsin Department of 

Natural Resources 

dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/rr/brrts/index.htm 

10 State of Oregon www.deq.state.or.us/lq/ECSI/ecsiquery.asp?listtype=lis&listtitle=Env

ironmental+Cleanup+Site%20Information+Database 

COMMENTS? 

Please send any comments on this publication or other information, such as lessons learned or success 

stories, to Pbf_strategy@sra.com. 

A-10 
United States Environmental Solid Waste and EPA 510-R-09-002 

Protection Agency Emergency Response May 2009 

 5401P www.epa.gov/oust/