Yesterday, the Cumberland County Building and Grounds Committee discussed brownfields and how the county can benefit from them.

So what are brownfields?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines Brownfields 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 Tennessee Brownfields Redevelopment Program works with the public to assist in the reuse and revitalization of brownfields in the state.

Many properties in Tennessee, previously used as gas stations, dry cleaners, factories, or properties, may have contamination from unknown sources qualify as brownfields.

Since 1996, the Tennessee Brownfields Redevelopment Program has worked with developers, communities, and property owners to bring over 1,700 brownfield properties across the state back into productive reuse.

Communities across Tennessee have abandoned places that can be transformed into productive reuses. Brownfield redevelopment transforms blighted properties into sustainable, productive reuses that:

• Use government resources to leverage private investments to meet the combined needs of the community and the marketplace

• Reduce urban sprawl by eliminating barriers to brownfield redevelopment

• Rejuvenating neighborhoods and reducing blight

• Ensuring reuse of existing infrastructure

• Increase local tax bases and property values

• Link economic revitalization with environmental protection

Brownfield sites are investigated by conducting Phase 1 and Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessments. The objectives of these assessments are to gather information on the past use of the site, identify if any environmental investigations have been completed, where the contamination is on the site, the type of chemicals present, and if the chemicals present could affect the health of those living nearby or those who may trespass onto the site. Typically site soil samples, groundwater, surface water, and air are collected to understand these objectives. Reports of findings of the assessments are made available by the local governments to those interested in the sites and to redevelopers who are studying redevelopment potential.

Initially, EPA provided small amounts of seed money to local governments of affected communities that launched hundreds of two-year brownfield “pilot” projects. Brownfield grants continue to serve as the foundation of EPA’s Brownfield Program. These grants support revitalization efforts by providing money for environmental assessment, cleanup, and job training. Brownfield Assessment Grants provide money for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach. Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund Grants provide money to capitalize loans used to clean up brownfields. Brownfield Cleanup Grants provide direct money for cleanup activities at specific properties with planned green space, recreational, or other nonprofit uses.

Misconceptions about brownfields are among the biggest obstacles to redeveloping these sites. There is a common perception that if a site is contaminated, developers do not want to have anything to do with it. Educating the public and companies on how to deal with the leftover pollution is vital. Cleaning up one property can lead to ripple effects on other nearby properties. Adjacent or nearby property owners often see the revitalization of one property improving the potential of their property. Benefits include fewer abandoned storefronts, more foot traffic, and more employees staying close to their workplace at lunch, grabbing food or shopping nearby, and an overall increase the vitality of an area. Brownfield redevelopments also put buildings back on the tax rolls. They create tax revenue that otherwise would not be available without the re-establishment of new businesses. Reuse of old buildings can also preserve architectural or historical character.

The Cumberland County Building and Grounds Committee will request a member of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to speak to them about brownfields at a future meeting.