EPA’s Brownfields Program seeks to 

reclaim America’s brownfields to 

revitalize our neighborhoods, protect 

greenfields and reduce urban sprawl. 

WHAT IS THE BROWNFIELDS 

REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS? 

Many brownfields are in prime locations 

along waterfronts or transportation 

corridors with access to existing 

infrastructure. EPA’s Brownfields 

Program provides federal support for 

cleaning up our nation’s brownfields. 

1.Identification – Experts determine if 

environmental contamination is real or just 

perceived. Background information, such as 

historical records, is collected to learn about 

past practices and current conditions. 

2.Environmental Assessment – If it is 

determined that pollution may exist on a 

property, a more detailed field study is 

conducted to take environmental samples to 

confirm pollution levels. 

3.Cleanup – Once contamination has been 

delineated, cleanup can occur in conjunction 

with redevelopment objectives.

How to Contact Us: 

Do you have Brownfields 

where you live? Call us to 

learn how EPA’s Brownfields 

program can meet the needs 

of your community. 

Tom Stolle 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

1650 Arch Street (3HS51) 

Philadelphia, PA 19103 

(215) 814-3129 

Visit our Web site to find out more: 

www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs 

United States EPA 903-F-03-007 

Environmental Protection Agency 

U.S. EPA’S

BROWNFIELDS

PROGRAM 

Providing Financial and 

Technical Assistance to

Communities for 

Brownfields Revitalization

EPA Region III serves the Mid-Atlantic 

Region states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, 

Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and the 

District of Columbia. 

Printed on chlorine free, recycled paper made with 100% post consumer pulp. 

Every acre of brownfields redeveloped saves four 

and half acres of greenfields. U.S EPA, Region III, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
WHAT ARE 

BROWNFIELDS? 

Many properties across the country that 

were once used for industrial and 

commercial purposes are abandoned and 

some are contaminated. Fear of 

contamination and the associated liability 

has hampered development of these sites 

and made developing in pristine areas, 

called “greenfields,” more attractive. Left 

behind are blighted areas with abandoned 

facilities that cause both an economic and 

environmental drain on their communities.

These properties are brownfields. In 

addition to former industrial sites, other 

examples of brownfields properties include 

abandoned gas stations, dumps, 

abandoned coal mines and illegal 

residential drug labs. 

WHO CAN APPLY FOR 

ASSISTANCE? 

State and local governments, Indian tribes, 

economic development corporations, 

industrial development authorities, regional 

councils, community or neighborhood 

organizations and nonprofit organizations 

can apply for brownfields funding. Call us 

first to discuss your eligibility. 

EPA has helped communities across the 

country successfully turn brownfields into 

community assets and lucrative businesses, 

such as shopping centers, manufacturing 

plants or community ball fields.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 

FOR COMMUNITIES

EPA offers a variety of grant and loan 

programs to help communities assess and 

clean up brownfields and ready them for 

redevelopment.

Assessment Grants 

Brownfields Assessment grants are 

available for pre-cleanup activities, such as: 

� inventorying brownfield sites 

� site investigation and environmental 

assessment 

� planning for remediation and 

redevelopment 

� health monitoring, long-term site care 

and environmental insurance.

Cleanup Grants � Loan Program – EPA provides up to 

$1 million to communities to establish 

revolving loan funds for cleanups at 

brownfields. Private and public 

developers can apply for low or no 

interest loans for clean-up activities. A 

portion of the loan funds can also be 

used to provide grants, which don’t 

require repayment, to pay for cleanup 

on publicly owned or nonprofit owned 

properties. Applicants must 

contribute 20 percent matching funds. 

� Direct Cleanup Grants– EPA 

provides grants of up to $200,000 to 

pay for site-specific cleanup on 

publicly owned or nonprofit owned 

properties. Applicants must contribute 

20 percent matching funds.

Work Force Training Grants 

EPA provides up to $200,000 for 

environmental job training of residents in 

brownfields communities. Public and 

private training institutions, such as 

colleges, community or nonprofit job 

training centers and state and local 

governments located within or near 

brownfields are eligible to apply. 

OTHER ASSISTANCE FOR 

BROWNFIELDS

Technical assistance and tools 

EPA provides expert advice on costeffective solutions and innovative 

technology for environmental assessment 

and cleanup.

Free Environmental Assessments 

EPA, at no charge to the community, will 

characterize a brownfield to determine the 

nature and extent of contamination. 

Results are provided to the community to 

assist them in redevelopment planning.

Networking 

Along with EPA, a network of organizations 

and state and federal agencies are working to 

redevelop brownfields and revitalize 

communities. EPA can help you leverage 

public and private sources of capital and 

technical assistance to ensure successful 

redevelopment. Our Federal Partners 

Resource Guideidentifies the community 

development resources of over a dozen 

federal agencies and how to access them.