Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or under-used commercial, industrial, and institutional properties where redevelopment and reuse are complicated by light to moderate contamination from hazardous substances and wastes. These properties are most often in urban areas previously used by industrial and commercial operations that generated waste materials.
The Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative, administered by the EPA, provides assistance and incentives to States, local communities, and the private sector for the assessment,clean-up, and economic reuse of these sites.
The FHWA has revised its existing policy on hazardous waste and contaminated sites to supports the Brownfields Initiative by encouraging participation in transportation projects that include the use and redevelopment of contaminated sites when appropriate.
