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  1. Home
  2. Brownfields
  3. Supporting Communities

Understanding Brownfields

What might brownfields look like in your community? What you can do about them?

The following fact sheets provide a simple and visual introduction to brownfields, including:

  • the process of assessing brownfield sites;
  • where they may be found; 
  • frequently reported contaminants and ways exposures may occur; 
  • common cleanup methods; and,
  • future reuses of cleaned brownfields. 

These fact sheets can support the outreach efforts of community organizations and local leaders to identify, address, and clean up brownfield sites so they can be safely reused in ways that meet community needs and contaminant threats to public health and the environment can be reduced. 

  • Assessing Brownfield Sites (pdf) (157.99 KB)
  • Evaluación de Sitios Brownfield (pdf) (163.24 KB)
  • Past Property Uses May Result in a Brownfield Site (pdf) (208.99 KB, 560-F-19-006)
  • Los Usos Pasados de las Propiedades Pueden Resultar en Sitio Brownfield  (pdf) (317.37 KB)
  • Environmental Contaminants Often Found at Brownfield Sites  (pdf) (121.5 KB)
  • Contaminantes Ambientales que se Encuentran a Menudo en Sitios Brownfield (pdf) (167.2 KB)
  • Cleaning Up Brownfield Sites (pdf) (185.9 KB, September 2019, EPA 560F19181)
  • Limpieza de Sitios Brownfield (pdf) (240.98 KB)
  • Reuse Possibilities for Brownfield Sites (pdf) (169.97 KB, September 2019, EPA 560F19182)
  • Posibilidades de Reutilización para los Sitios Brownfield (pdf) (346.07 KB)

Brownfields

  • About
    • What's New?
    • Accomplishments
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Brownfields Near You
    • State and Tribal Brownfields Response Programs
    • Region 1
    • Region 2
    • Region 3
    • Region 4
    • Region 5
    • Region 6
    • Region 7
    • Region 8
    • Region 9
      • Targeted Brownfields Assessment Application
      • Vacant to Vibrant, Land Renewal
    • Region 10
  • Grants and Funding
    • Types of Funding
    • MARC Grant Application Resources
    • Program & Funding Resources
    • Eligibility
    • Current & Upcoming Funding Opportunities
    • Past Funding Opportunities
    • Brownfields Grant Fact Sheet Search
  • Grant Recipient Reporting
    • Key Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • ACRES Training, Tips and Tools
  • Supporting Communities
    • Understanding Brownfields
    • Environmental Contamination at Brownfield Sites
    • Environmental Justice
    • Public Health
    • Relevant Federal Programs
    • Small and Rural Communities
    • Nonprofit Involvement in Brownfields Reuse
    • Tribal Nations
    • Land Banks and Brownfields
    • Urban Agriculture
    • Laws & Regulations
  • Success Stories
Contact Us about Brownfields
Contact Us about Brownfields to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on August 5, 2024
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