The Challenges of Brownfields

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

Each of these challenges is discussed in more detail below. 

Detailed site assessments historically required extensive data collection and off-site laboratory analysis of contaminants. These studies are expensive and time consuming. Often, a suite of samples taken during site assessment shows unacceptable levels of contamination, requiring a second or even third round of sampling to determine the dimensions of contaminated areas. These multiple deployments increase both the time and costs associated with site assessment, reducing the resources available for cleanup. 

Brownfields can be cleaned up under any number of environmental laws, including the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERLCA, more commonly called Superfund) the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and a variety of state environmental protection laws that generally parallel the Federal laws. Some sites are regulated under multiple authorities. One example of the confusion of cleanup standards can be seen in the original Superfund regulations. Under Superfund, US EPA and the states determined cleanup standards for each site based on ARAlls, or laws and regulations that were 

Technological limitations on ability to clean up sites to protective standards 

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