Brownfields and sustainability: Strengthening the link

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first became involved in brownfield redevelopment efforts in 1995 with the Brownfields Initiative under CERCLA (The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act). However, potential or future liability and the extent of contamination remained uncertain and brownfields were left largely untouched. In 2002, with the passage of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, this situation was remedied. Liability protection under CERCLA was clarified and substantial funding was allocated for assessment and cleanup of contaminated sites. The EPA's brownfields program distributes grant money for the assessment and cleanup (also called remediation) of contaminated or potentially contaminated sites. Once the site is remediated, the role of EPA is terminated, and redevelopment is left to the grantee.; This thesis examines the extent to which sustainable development is addressed by EPA in grant allocation and site redevelopment planning. Interviews were conducted with EPA officials in the Brownfields program in six regional offices to understand how sustainable development is addressed in the decision making process. Results show that regional offices vary in their treatment of sustainable development. In one regional office, sustainable redevelopment is the focus of extensive educational programs and outreach, activities that are not replicated across all of EPA's other regions. Although EPA does not have regulatory authority to mandate sustainable reuse methods, this research reveals that a variety of approaches can be taken to encourage their use.; The importance of considering sustainable development in reuse planning is examined through the case of the Boston University BioSquare Laboratory, a facility that critics argue brings few benefits to the low income minority community in which this urban infill project is located. Implementing sustainable reuse methods into brownfield redevelopment is a way to ensure that the environmental, economic, and social aspects of a community are taken into account, thus, increasing the lasting viability of the site.