Brownfields are abandoned sites, usually in urban locations, that are tainted by either real or perceived contamination, making them undesirable for private redevelopment efforts. Too often instead of cleaning these sites up and reading them for a new industry, the industry that caused the damage goes bankrupt, cannot clean up the mess and new industries look for undeveloped pristine land to establish themselves. From Brownfields we not only have an abandoned unwanted site that encourages sprawl, but a leaching problem that may be causing health problem.  Rochester and Monroe County has many Brownfields (Check out Environmental Cleanup & Brownfields - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation) and so do probably every city in the United States and elsewhere.  Go to my Brownfields page and get all the news on this issue and even find out where our Brownfields are and what's being done about them.  

Brownfields are abandoned sites, usually in urban locations, that are tainted by either real or perceived contamination, making them undesirable for private redevelopment efforts. "In Monroe County, 48 contaminated sites are without funding, according to the DEC."   -DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE

Other Rochester Issues:

[ energy ] [ brownfields ] [ wind power ] [ great lakes ] [ finger lakes ] [ parks ] [ food ] [ animals ] [ plants ] [ environmental health ] [ pesticides ] [ air quality ] [ urban sprawl ] [ wetlands ] [ water quality ] [ lead poisoning ] [ recycling ] [ genesee river ] [ Transportation_Rochester ] [ invasive species ]

Are there Brownfield Threats Near Where You Live

Brownfield in the Rochester-area News

Resources for Brownfield Information in the Rochester area.

Are there Environmental Threats Near You?  Here's a list of sites that will help you find them.

  New York State Department of Environmental Conservation - Brownfields Homepage Nearly every community in New York State is affected by brownfield sites. Contaminated and abandoned properties exist in big cities, small towns, sprawling suburbs and the country side. Left untouched, brownfields pose environmental, legal and financial burdens on a community and its taxpayers. However, after cleanup, these sites can again become the powerful engines for economic vitality, jobs and community pride that they once were.  Also: Wondering if your area has an active or inactive hazardous waste dump? Check the new New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) “Environmental Remediation Databases”. And go to either of two databases: “Spill Incidents Database Search” & “Environmental Site Remediation Database Search”.

 A report from the New York Public Interest Research Group says just over in three Monroe County residents lives within a mile of a Superfund toxic waste site. That's worse than the statewide average, which NYPIRG says is nearly one out of four New Yorkers.--from WXXI Public Newsroom.

 How can my community apply for EPA - Brownfields Application Information? --from the EPA  Also: Where You Live | Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment | US EPA EPA’s Brownfields Program works in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Through its 10 Regional offices across the country, EPA makes brownfields information, assistance, and grant funding available regardless of location. EPA's Envirofacts database provides up-to-date brownfields data and EPA's EnviroMapper application visually indicates where all brownfields in the Program are located. Region 2 Brownfields

 Counties with percentages of residents living within a mile of Superfund toxic chemical waste sites: (June 5, 2002)  DemocratandChronicle.com) Schenectady, 50.8 percent of residents. Nassau, 46.4 percent. Niagara, 46 percent. Broome, 38.5 percent. Monroe, 36.5 percent. Cortland, 36.4 percent. Oneida, 36.3 percent. Chemung, 36.1 percent. Erie, 34.2 percent. Rockland, 30.1 percent. 

Hazardous Waste Information Hotline (800) 342-9296 Twenty-four-hour answering machine--from NYSDEC.    

Love Canal: Find out about the most noted brownfields in the United States -- not far from Rochester Love Canal

•  Environmental Protection Agency The fenced 70acre Love Canal site (Site) encompasses the original 16acre hazardous waste landfill and a 40-acre clay/synthetic liner cap. Also, a barrier drainage system and leachate collection and treatment system is in place and operating. The Site includes the "original" canal that was excavated by Mr. William T. Love in the 1890's for a proposed hydroelectric power project but was never implemented. Beginning in 1942, the landfill was used by Hooker Chemicals and Plastics (now Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC)) for the disposal of over 21,000 tons of various chemical wastes, including halogenated organics, pesticides, chlororbenzenes and dioxin. Dumping ceased in 1952, and, in 1953, the landfill was covered and deeded to the Niagara Falls Board of Education (NFBE).

•  CHEJ Love Canal - Lois Gibbs was raising her family in Love Canal, near Niagara Falls in upstate New York, when, in 1978, she discovered that her home and those of her neighbors were sitting next to 20,000 tons of toxic chemicals.

•  Love Canal--the tragedy.  What do you know about it?  Do you know there is an on-going study on it?  Find out about one of the most spectacular corporate pollutions in the country--and just next door to Rochester: Love Canal @ 25 Exhibit -- Arts and Sciences Libraries, UB Libraries -- Love Canal is probably the country's most notorious and infamous hazardous waste site. It wasn't the first. It wasn't the worst. But it did grab headlines, draw attention, and stimulate scientists, industrial leaders, politicians, government officials, and grassroots activists. August 2, 2003, marks the 25th anniversary of the evacuation of residents from the Love Canal neighborhood of Niagara Falls, New York

The Omnipresent Stain of Brownfields

essay by Frank J. Regan

If the public finds environmental groups chronically hostile towards industry maybe it is because of brownfields. Brownfields are polluted, abandoned industrial sites. According to the Sierra Club “The General Accounting Office has estimated that there are over 450,000 brownfield properties across America, in every state of the union.”

How do brownfields come about? In the beginning, a company comes into existence promising to be a responsible member of the community, offers jobs and products that people want. However, sometime during their evolution—due to greediness, an ignorance and disdain of our environment, or the pressures of economics—the leaders of certain industries believe it is more cost effective to dump their toxic by-products in near-by streams, let them seep into the ground, or leave them festering in an undisclosed and improperly sealed tank. Then, these companies file for bankruptcy or move so far away that public officials cannot get them back to find out exactly what they dumped, when, and where.

These polluted grounds, brownfields, are usually so vile that it takes a substantial amount of money (usually monies from a state or federal Superfund) to make them useful and free from death again. They are the wellspring of cancers, sickness, abandoned city sites that no future industry wants and a continual bickering between politicians. Because (as in New York State) once the funds have been set aside to restore these abandoned industrial sites to life, the top politicians either find another use for the money or begin squabbling about who should take the brunt of the expense--the public or industries? And, so, cleaning up the sites gets stalled. In the end, as according to Environmental Advocates of New York, in New York “This has left nearly 800 recognized Superfund sites uncleaned, and another 2000 sites in need of testing.”

The real tragedy of brownfields is the underlying assumption within the voting public that brownfields are the price we have to pay for a vibrant economy. Thousands of children getting sick and innumerable pockmarks of toxic wastelands in every city are an acceptable part of business. This illogical premise means that not only will most brownfields go uncleaned and unnoticed, but also we will continue to allow this steady blight to occur in our land until it poisons us all. (It may well already have, as there are trace measures of mercury in most of us, and most of the fish in the Great Lakes.) Furthermore, brownfields induce sprawl (poorly planned development) because industry does not want to have to clean up an inner city toxic site before they begin their own industry and so move to the outskirts of the city in an undeveloped parcel of land, which means in most cases creating a toxic site themselves. The truth is that in the United States industry is an entity that exists as if in a virtual world where money is its only concern, its only substance for survival, our land and water being in actuality an inexhaustible drainpipe for toxic waste.

Without the watchful eye of environmental groups, brownfields would most likely go on polluting communities silently and tolerantly within our cities. Industries coming into a community would promise to run a responsible business and then quietly pack up their bags, after poisoning the ground they occupied, and move on--even destroying the evidence of their disdain. When the relatively few companies are eventually brought to court to pay for damages from their resultant brownfields, these irresponsible industries tie our legal system into knots by proving the impossibility of pointing a finger at those responsible for cancer clusters. They heap insult on injury. So, the creation of brownfields will go on as long as we allow them; the effects of brownfields will probably last forever.

--from Scorecard.org

Are there environmental threats near you?  

     Use these online environmental search engines to locate pollution near your home.

  Click here to get a complete EnviroMap of Rochester, New York. from the EPA.  Find extensive environmental information about our city including of environmental information, including drinking water, toxic and air releases, hazardous waste, water discharge permits, and Superfund sites.

 Check out Welcome to ecoTHREAT-NY Welcome to CEC's ecoTHREATNY.org  The site that lets you zoom to maps of your community and view the top environmental concerns, find out about each pollution source, and learn how to take action

  Who is polluting in your area?  Check out the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory: The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), published by the U.S. EPA, is a valuable source of information regarding toxic chemicals that are being used, manufactured, treated, transported, or released into the environment.

Envirofacts is a US EPA database. With EnviroFacts, you can find out which facilities in your neighborhood are releasing pollutants or are legally handling hazardous materials, where any Superfund sites are located and what their cleanup status is. Specifically, you can retrieve: Facility Information; Chemicals; Air Releases; Toxic Releases Inventory (TRI) Reports; Superfund Reports Hazardous Waste (RCRIS) Reports; Drinking Water Occurrence; Safe Drinking Water Information; Drinking Water Microbial and Disinfection Byproduct Information Water Discharge Permits; Brownfields Pilot Projects; Risk Management Plans; Construction, Non-Construction, and State Revolving Funds grant programs

     Map Cancer Deaths and Toxic Releases --from Health-Tracker.org New system offers access to combined data on rates for cancers known or suspected to have environmental causes and toxic chemical releases of known or probable carcinogens.

  Scorecard Home This site, by the Environmental Defense Fund, allows visitors to quickly find out what companies are polluting in any given area, what the major pollution levels are, how our community compares with others, how to take action, and view a map of our area.  All you have to do is type in your zip code.   If you type in 14692, I think you'll be shocked by Monroe County's pollution ranking.  

How environmentally safe is your house and community?  NearMyHouse.com checks: There may be hazards near your home or in your community: You'll Get Info on: Interactive Maps of Hazards Air Pollution, Detailed Reports for your Address Natural Hazard Risks, Hazard-Related Research Info Historical Storms & Floods, Toxic Spills & Landfills Schools & Hospitals, Groundwater Contamination Demographics.

Do you know how polluted your neighborhood is? * Might there be an additional cancer risk? * Would you like to know the names of the polluters close to home? * Curious about how your neighborhood compares with others? Want to know what you can do? Visit and complete the form.  We'll prepare your report and email it to you within 1 hour. In the meantime, here's some more information about our organization. --- Environmental Defense is a leading national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including future generations.

Brownfields are a problem in Monroe County: Polluted sites shown on map - Schumer says gas additive has contaminated 89 places in county - With massive gasoline storage tanks towering in the background, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stood Friday on Genesee Park Boulevard and unveiled a map showing 89 spots in Monroe County that have been contaminated by methyl tertiary butyl ether, a gasoline additive and potential carcinogen.  (May 28, 2005) Democrat and Chronicle  To view maps of toxic sites, including MTBE contaminated areas, in towns throughout Monroe County, go to www.toxicstargeting.com/toxicmaps/monroe/monroe_maps.htm  Also: MTBE LIST - .pdf needed to view files.

 To get rid of household hazardous waster in Monroe County, go here : HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW) COLLECTION PROGRAM  The collection dates for hazardous water are here: http://www.co.monroe.ny.us/aboutmc/calendar.cfm?

EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online This Web site allows you to search for facilities in your community for the purpose of determining whether: EPA or State/local governments have conducted compliance inspections violations were detected or enforcement actions were taken and penalties were assessed in response to environmental law violations.

If you do not know all about the CSX Train accident, of December 23 of 2001, The Democrat and Chronicle - through a Freedom of Information Act request - obtained 330 pages of documents detailing correspondence between the city and CSX, company lawyers and cleanup contractor, Department of Environmental Conservation and Monroe County Health Department. The letters back and forth indicate the city has little confidence that CSX will properly and quickly clean up the area.

  As promised by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) an expanded information available on its website to known spills of petroleum--now including methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). NYSDEC - Spill Response & Remediation

  NYS DEC -2000- 30 years of Environmental Progress. This is quite lengthy, but here's what your New York State Department of the Environment has been up to: In New York State, the 30 years of DEC's history have seen: A remarkable recovery of air, land and water quality Renewal of fish, wildlife and forests Growth of safe waste management and recycling Expansion of opportunities for outdoor recreation Growing sophistication in citizen involvement This 30th Anniversary Report highlights the key achievements of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Links throughout the report lead to further detail about the department's work.

 Find out all about the Diaz Spill, a complete collection of articles from the Democrat and Chronicle. On Jan. 5, 2002 the Diaz Chemical Corp. plant in Holley released toluene, steam and a rare chemical, 2-chloro-6-fluorophenol into the surrounding neighborhood forcing families to move out.
A state Department of Health study later determined that residents faced a "minimal to low" risk of health effects. However, a year after the incident, nine families still refused to go back home. They lived in motels or furnished apartments at first paid for by Diaz, and subsequently by the federal government.

Find all New York State Superfund Sites Also, NYSDEC - Ecosystem Remediation & Restoration Section The Ecosystem Remediation & Restoration Section is made up of three units which serve to clean up or restore habitats which have been injured due to the release of pollutants. These units are the Natural Resources Damages Unit, the Hazardous Waste Site Evaluation Unit, and the Onondaga Lake Project. See the list above to go directly to each program for more information on their activities.

Prospective home buyers would be wise to investigate the potential or existing environmental problems of a property. Experts suggest taking these steps: Conduct research on your own by telephoning or checking the Web sites of the federal Environmental Protection Agency or New York state or county health or environmental agencies. Go to:
www.nearmyhome.com    www.dec.state.ny.us   www.health.state.ny.us --from Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

The DEC spills reporting hotline --good statewide, 24 hours a day (800) 457-7362   Also, DSHM - Hazardous Waste Program Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials Through education and outreach, and guided by the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), our hazardous waste management program promotes the prevention of industrial hazardous wastes. Our comprehensive regulatory regime advances the control and treatment of hazardous wastes that are a necessary by-product of commerce and industry.

Sheriff cracks down on litterbugs. To access the hotline, you can dial *TRASH on your Frontier Cellular phone, or you can call 428-4523.-8/12/99 --TOP NEWS From WHEC, and MSNBC

The city will offer a reward of $100 to anyone whose report of illegal dumping leads to redress of the violation. To report instances of illegal dumping or abandonment of solid waste, contact: 1. City of Rochester Office of Customer Satisfaction 585-428-5990; 2. Monroe County Health Department 585-274-6050; 3. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation 585-226-5411.

Brownfields in the Rochester-area News (Note: pages below open in a new window.)

How much does your vehicle pollute? Using Tailpipe Tally, you can compare the environmental and economic costs of different vehicles. Simply provide some basic information and get fuel consumption, fuel cost, and vehicle emissions for any vehicle (model year 1978 to present) you choose.

Resources for Brownfields Information in the Rochester area: 

• EPA Brownfields Pilot/Grantee - Rochester, NY
• Hazardous Waste (RCRA Subtitle C) EPA - Region 2 (includes Rochester, NY) Hazardous Waste programs.
• DSHM - Hazardous Waste Program Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials at the New York State Department of Conservation (DEC) Through education and outreach, and guided by the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), our hazardous waste management program promotes the prevention of industrial hazardous wastes. Our comprehensive regulatory regime advances the control and treatment of hazardous wastes that are a necessary by-product of commerce and industry.
•  Town of Pittsford Yard Debris Pickup
•  Toxics Release Inventory - from the EPA  The Communities Right to Know -- Find out all Federal resources for your right to know about toxics in your neighborhood by the Environmental Protection Agency. 
•  DES Service Guide APPENDIX H: HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE Hazardous waste is a solid waste or combination of solid wastes that, because of quantity, concentration or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics, may cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious illness, or pose a substantial hazard to human health or the environment. A substance is hazardous if it ignites easily, can react or explode when mixed with other substances, is corrosive, or is toxic. Most hazardous household waste falls into one of four categories: automotive products, household cleaners, paints and solvents, and pesticides. -- from Rochester City Hall
•  Brownfields --HUD is working with community organizations, the private sector, local and State governments and other federal agencies to stimulate reinvestment in communities by restoring Brownfields to productive use.--US Department of Housing and Urban Development. 
• Make sure our cities have a future A primer on Brownfields in New York State. "Because of the great environmental consequences of the decisions that will be made, Environmental Advocates has published this primer. We urge all New Yorkers who care about the vitality of our cities and the rapid loss of open space to learn about the issues surrounding Brownfields and to make your concerns known."--Environmental Advocates. 
•  Brownfields EPA Pilots News is a quarterly newsletter for and about the EPA's brownfields pilot program. It is published by the Institute for Responsible Management.
•  POLLUTION LOCATOR |Environmental Release Report --Scorecard.org
•  Brownfields to American Dream Fields Let’s Make A Deal The "Let’s Make A Deal" session provided mayors or their representatives with a forum to present developers, businesses, and financial institutions the opportunities and incentives to redevelop Brownfield sites in their communities.--US Chamber of Commerce
•  Brownfields: an extensive web site from the EPA on brownfields.  We have several brownfields in our community.  Find out what they are and how to monitor them.
•  Brownfields, Region 2: Brownfields Quarterly Community Report

•  Brownfields Development Initiative  Under this Initiative, the General Services Administration (GTSA) reviews and identifies underutilized federal properties. 

•  Brownfield Development: The Implications for Urban Infrastructure - NSF funded research project involving the development of a rational approach to decision making on infrastructure renewal in the context of Brownfield redevelopment.

•  Brownfield News Brownfield News is a national magazine with each issue focusing on a city or region to report on their brownfield programs.

•  Brownfields Non-Profits Network    A network of non-profit organizations helping to promote the redevelopment of Brownfield properties throughout the United States. It helps community groups and other organizations to find out more about what they can do with abandoned contaminated sites and where they can get help in their efforts.

•  Brownfields Redevelopment International work to restore brownfields and to set a model for honesty and fairness in our business dealings that will set a standard against which all companies should be judged.

•  Center for Public Environmental Oversight (CPEO) is an organization that promotes and facilitates public participation in the oversight of environmental activities, including but not limited to the remediation of federal facilities, private "Superfund" sites, and Brownfields.

•  Clean-Start Properties Unlimited - a New England-based listing service for brownfield properties.

•  Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) The CBE uses science-based research, legal tactics, and organizing strategies to prevent air and water pollution, eliminate toxic hazards, and improve public health.

•  Concerted Action on Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in the European Union (CARACAS)   CARACAS is a Concerted Action initiative within the Environment and Climate Programme of the European Commission DG XII. CARACAS co-ordinates current research initiatives on contaminated land risk assessment in Europe and identifies priority research tasks for future R&D programmes.

•  EcoJustice Network The EcoJustice Network provides on-line services, informational resources and training for activists and organizations involved in the environmental justice movement.

•  Global Abatement Technologies, Inc.  Specializes in asbestos abatement, lead paint removal, hazardous waste cleanup and brownfield remediation.

•  ICLEI Project Summary #27: Emscher Park, Germany: Renewal of Old Industrial Areas  

•  Internationale Bauausstellung IBA Emscher Park (International Brownfields IBA Emscher Park) (in German)  

•  Initiative for Community Outreach, Research and Education (ICORE)  ICORE focuses on the redevelopment needs of neighborhoods in metropolitan Atlanta area and throughout the state of Georgia.

•  International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives Case Studies   The ICLEI is an association of local governments dedicated to the prevention and solution of local, regional, and global environmental problems through local action. Approximately 300 cities, towns, counties, and their associations from around the world are Members of the Council.

•  The Kansas City Brownfield Initiative (KCBI)  KCBI's main objectives are (1) to facilitate at least one successful brownfield redevelopment on each side of the state line to serve as an example and spur further efforts and investment; and (2) to build a permanent brownfield redevelopment program in the greater Kansas City area.

•  National Brownfield Association - industry association dedicated to assisting professionals, corporations, and nonprofits with the complex issues surrounding the development of environmentally impaired properties.

•  Network for Industrially Contaminated Land in Europe (NICOLE) - a concerted action of the European Union encompassing company, industry, policy, and regulatory interests to better manage contaminated land and its risks.

•  Nine Mile Run Project - working to create a transferable, inter-disciplinary process model for use in transforming urban brownfield sites into a sustainable environment.

•  Pennsylvania Land Recycling Program - encourages private cleanups of contaminated properties and their return to productive use.

• Portland Brownfields Initiative - building a set of government, business, and community supported processes that will foster restoration and redevelopment of contaminated lands within Portland.

•  Shayne & Greenwald Co., L.P.A. - ERISA litigation, automobile dealership law, health care, qui tam actions, hazardous substance or toxic waste actions, Ohio brownfield law, incorporation of new businesses, and estate planning.

•  Superfund Innovation Network  A web site designed for state and community policy-makers and administrators involved in Superfund cleanups.

• Sustainable Communities Network A site that links citizens to resources and each other to create sustainable communities

•  Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Remediation and Redevelopment Program - offers information about buying, selling, redeveloping, or dealing with contaminated land (brownfields).

•  Whitman Companies, Inc. - services include site assessment and remediation, USTs, brownfields, groundwater, and expert witnessing.

•  Sewage Sludge Homepage Considerable information and links on using sewage sludge. 

•  The New York State Cancer Surveillance Improvement Initiative? In April 1998, Governor George E. Pataki asked the State Health Department to develop easy to understand information that would help answer people’s questions about the number of cancer cases in their communities. -From NYS Dept. Health.

•  Governor's Awards for Pollution Prevention These awards are given annually to those New York businesses and organizations that demonstrate outstanding achievement in pollution prevention. If you've implemented pollution prevention in your facility, please consider applying for an award! (You can also find out who the pass winners were.)--from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

•  MTBE Contamination.com. Providing information about water contamination caused by the gasoline additive MTBE. Check your Community for Reported MTBE Spills

•  Pollution Prevention Starts at Home There are many ways you can prevent pollution at home. If we each do a little, it can add up to a lot: (Submit comments and suggestions to this site) From New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

•  ENVIROFACTS Query Results Pollution, hazardous waste sites, and other regulatory information for the Rochester area.

•  Mercury Study Report to Congress With mercury poisoning in the news lately, here's some information on it.
•  ATSDR - ALERT! Patterns of Metallic Mercury Exposure, 06/26/97
•  In 1998-99, DEC completed cleanups at 38 sites.  This is the list of the 38 sites cleaned up in State Fiscal Year 1998-99.  Rochester is in Region 8. http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/press/pressrel/99-72.pdf File is in Portable Document File Help for format.
•  BATAVIA LANDFILL -- NEW YORK, EPA ID# NYD980507693,  CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 27, GENESEE COUNTY, NEAR BATAVIA, Site Description: From the 1960s until 1980, several operations dumped industrial wastes at the 35acre Batavia Landfill, which is now inactive. Drummed and undrummed wastes disposed of at the site include heavy metal sludges, oils, and organic solvents. -- EPA REGION 2,
•  Love Canal Follow-up Health Study - April 1999 Study Plan and Progress In 1997 the New York State Department of Health (DOH) was awarded a grant from the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to conduct a follow-up health study of the families who lived near Love Canal before 1979. With help from the community, DOH selected a panel of leading experts to give advice about technical aspects of the study. This panel, named the Love Canal Expert Advisory Committee, met twice in 1998 and offered several suggestions to help improve the study. Even though the study proposal is already approved and funded by ATSDR, changes are possible at this time because the full study will take six years. Since ATSDR can fund the study for only three years at a time, we will submit additional plans and a new budget this June. The Love Canal community now has an opportunity to participate in upcoming decisions about the study’s direction for the next three years before DOH asks ATSDR for continued funding. --New York State Department of Health (DOH)
•  Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative (EPA) EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse Brownfields. 
•  Get a free local report on Pollution, Gardening, Nature, Recycling. Enter your zip code at this new environmental site: For My World.
•  Healthy Homes Please look for our new educational information addressing household toxics and chemicals- what you can do to protect yourself and your kids, coming soooon!!!
•  Human Health Risks from PCBs Thousands of medical studies have shown that PCBs cause a wide variety of health effects, often at very low levels. The average American already carries enough PCBs in his or her body to meet or exceed the minimum threshold for beginning health problems due to PCBs.
•  Welcome to the Brownfields 2002 Conference Home Page
•  EPA RCRA Brownfields Prevention Initiative - HomepageWASTE PROPERTIES TO COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, OTHER USE EPA has launched a new website to promote the cleanup and reuse of brownfield properties across the nation that are regulated by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Called the RCRA Brownfields Prevention Initiative website, it will provide state and tribal governments and the public easy access to useful information about the reuse of brownfield properties where hazardous waste was generated, treated, stored or disposed. Despite the existence of redevelopment potential for residential, industrial, commercial, recreational or greenspace (undeveloped property) use, many of these RCRA properties are not in full usage because of real or perceived concerns about actual or potential contamination, legal liability and RCRA requirements. EPA established the initiative to encourage the reuse of potential RCRA brownfields so the land better serves the needs of the community. RCRA gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from "cradle-to-grave," including generation, treatment, storage and disposal. RCRA generally focuses on active and future facilities and is designed to prevent future Superfund sites and brownfields. The RCRA Brownfields Prevention Initiative links RCRA facilities with the brownfields program to help use economic redevelopment as an engine that drives environmental cleanup. Brownfields are properties whose expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance. For more information about the initiative, see: http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/rcrabf/index.html   For more information on the RCRA Brownfields Prevention Initiative link, visit: www.epa.gov/swerosps/rcrabf/   For general information on the U.S. EPA's Brownfields Program, visit: www.epa.gov/brownfields/