Brownfields
Biden Administration Announces $254 Million to Tackle Polluted Brownfield Sites
In 2019, NRPC was awarded a $300,000 grant from the EPA to identify, assess and characterize known or potential sites contaminated with hazardous substances or petroleum. These sites, known as Brownfields, sites are typically abandoned, vacant, or under-used industrial or commercial properties. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a brownfield as a property where the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of petroleum or hazardous substances. It is estimated there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S. and over 100 brownfields in the NRPC region.
The goal of the Brownfields Assessment Program is to cover the costs of environmental assessments on qualifying brownfield sites to help facilitate their clean-up and redevelopment into economically viable uses. Generally, most, sites that have a real or perceived environmental concern are eligible to participate. Public or private property may be eligible. The NRPC Brownfields Advisory Committee works with its Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) Credere Associates, and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), and EPA regulatory agencies to confirm eligibility when selecting sites for assessment.
Since 2019, NRPC has funded environmental assessments on five sites in the region. Descriptions of each site are provided below. Several additional sites in the region were assessed during prior funding rounds in 2004, 2007, and 2014. Due to funding limitations, NRPC is no longer accepting applications for new sites, though it is hoped that additional funding will become available in the future.
DocumentsIt is estimated that there are over 100 brownfields sites in the NRPC region
