Fact Sheet EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield is a site, or portion thereof, that has actual or perceived contamination and an active potential for redevelopment or reuse. These pilot programs are intended to provide EPA, states, tribes, municipalities, and communities with useful information and strategies as they continue to seek new methods to promote a unified approach to site assessment, environmental cleanup, and redevelopment. The Pilot targets public and private properties that have near term development potential and are located in areas needing revitalization. Economic decline and contaminated industrial sites have negatively impacted the quality of life for Buffalo communities.
Fear regarding possible contamination is attached to countless other properties in the city.
The Pilot's objective is to use the supplemental assistance to retain its Brownfields Manager and, thereby, continue its activities as a cooperative effort working to promote the safe, productive, and appropriate reuse of the city's brownfields. This effort will contribute to ensuring a safer, cleaner environment, as well as creating and promoting new, high-quality residential, commercial, and industrial acreage. The overall strategy of the Pilot is to provide technical assistance and support during the environmental assessment phase of planning and development projects, accomplished by conducting or leveraging Phase I and Phase II assessments and more extensive environmental investigations as warranted. Phase I and Phase II assessments and more extensive environmental investigations as warranted.