Brownfields challenges

The dimensions of the brownfields challenge in the United States are staggering. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) estimates that between 500,000 and a million brownfield sites exist nationally, and that the cost for cleaning them up will exceed 650 billion [US General Accounting Office (US GAO), 1995]. Cities across the country estimate that they could create more than 550,000 jobs—and recover 2.4 billion in tax revenue—if these properties were redeveloped (US Conference of Mayors, 2000). Despite this promise, many communities have discovered that redevelopment of brownfields is challenging and requires creative approaches and flexibility to succeed. 

Over the past decade, elected officials, regulatory agencies, and the private sector have started to address many of the brownfields challenges with creative tools, allowing communities to move forward with redevelopment plans the following describes some of these tools. 

Innovative Responses to Challenges Redevelopment of Cos Cob Brownfields Site, Connecticut, USA... 

Communities have historically faced several challenges in their attempts to redevelop brownfields. These have included ... 

As stated in Section 1, the Bagnoli brownfield site contains metallic elements whose source overlaps a natural component (ascribable to the CF hydrothermal activity connected to the quiescent volcanism) and an anthropogenic one (due to the industrial activity). The challenge was demonstrating and separating the contribution of these two components. 

In a brownfield site, the conditions can be much more challenging. An old plant that has been modified and expanded over the years has probably already used up the best building sites. The new cellhouse could have to face the costs of building on inferior ground. Conditions that can render the ground inferior are ... 

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