K WWS V FI D I F FE I I EGUnderstanding Brownfields J OHG...

5/25/2015 6. Brownfield Restoration - Understand

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I N T R O D U C T I O N

Understanding Brownfields

By the end of this tutorial you will work your way to a list of brownfields!

The first step in facing any problem is defining it. This tutorial will help you understand whatexactly a brownfield is and how to find them in your own community. By the end of thistutorial, you will have a list of brownfields and you will submit them to the EAPDD.

To view this document offline, click here:

Click Step 1 in the navigation menu at the top of your screen or scroll down to get started.To return to the main field guide page, click here.

S T E P O N E

Define Brownfield

This could be a brownfield...

Before we dive in to our analysis, let’s start by defining a brownfield. So, what is abrownfield?

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Definitions often vary slightly state to state. The Arkansas definition, according to ADEQ,defines a brownfield as:

a parcel of property where commercial, industrial, or agriculturaluse may have contaminated the site with a hazardous substance,thereby complicating prospects for expansion, redevelopment, orreuse.

An example could be an old school building that contains a significant amount of asbestosand lead-based paint.

An example of a building that could classified as a brownfield

The EPA provides guidance, but it’s the community that identifies a property as abrownfield. Here are some general qualities:

Abandoned propertyActive but UnderutilizedReal estate turnover complicated by real or perceived contamination perceivedcontaminationProperty use Blighted –significantly conflicts with a master planOther qualities (e.g. illegal dumping)

Note: Brownfield resources can never be used to benefit the polluter or the partiesresponsible for casing the environmental contamination.

http://www2.adeq.state.ar.us/hazwaste/bf/



If your community has a Master Plan, that can act as a deciding factor when it comes tochoosing one property over another. Master Plans act as an established communitydocument and a brownfield represents an impedance of its completion. In the next step,we will begin identifying brownfields in our area, so grab your Master Plan if you have oneand move to the next step.

S T E P T W O

Identify Potential Locations

Discovering potential brownfield sites

Now that we understand a little bit about brownfields, let’s take a look within ourcommunity and see if we can identify some potential locations. For the sake of thisexample, let's say our community is Pocahontas, AR.



Pocahontas, AR Wikipedia Entry

Note: While performing this step, it helps to include community leaders as they willbring different perspectives and important public will to the project. Often times, thesepeople are often known as “Local Champions”. Include this step at the end of ameeting or during a community breakfast. Either way public input can be an importantpiece of leverage in the Brownfield Redevelopment process.

The quickest and cheapest way to explore an area is by using a map. If possible, go toyour community’s website and try to collect as many land use maps as possible.Sometimes, local plans will identify problem areas.

If you can’t find any land use maps or community plan for your area, use Google Maps! Iwas not able to find any maps for Pocahontas, so I will use Google Maps.

http://maps.google.com/



A look at Google Maps

Here is what we're looking for:

Abandoned propertyActive but underutilizedBlighted property which significantly conflicts with master or revitalization planBlighted property at gateway to your community

Switch Google Maps to Earth view by clicking the Earth Window. This will make it easier toexplore by the use of aerial imagery.

The Earth Window. Click to switch to aerial imagery



Earth View

You may already be familiar with certain potential sites, but the Earth View of Google Mapsmakes it easier to explore.

Could this be a potential brownfield?

Be sure to take advantage of Street View to get a closer look at the site. Click any of thewindow panes at the bottom or drag and drop "Peg Man" to move to Street View.



Click a window pane to move to street view...

...or drag and drop "Peg Man" on your street

Street View allows for a closer look. This probably is not a brownfield site

Consider sites like these:

Former industrial sites, dry cleaners, gas stationsTax delinquent propertiesFormer schools, hospitals, properties that are gateways to the communityProperties tied to other projects like transportation, disaster recovery, neighborhoodstabilization



This process can take time if you have never considered brownfields in your area. As youfind sites, make a note.

Make a note where you find sites

You could either print out a map and take hand notes or take a screenshot and mark it up.To learn how to edit screenshots, visit the Screenshots section from the Tips and Trickspage.

After you have identified sites, take note of potential stakeholders who would be involved inan improvement of this property. This would include nearby property owners who may beinvolved. You don't have to take action with stakeholders just yet, but it would be nice havea short list.

Speaking of lists, let's make one for our potential brownfields. Move on to the next tutorialto do just that.

S T E P T H R E E

List Your Brownfields

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Complete a brownfield list!

Now that you have an idea of suspected areas (and maybe potential stakeholders), it’s timeto make a list. Our goal here is to get started building a working inventory. We want tocreate one for our own personal records, but also keep the region updated so they areaware of our actions as well.

Open up Microsoft Excel or whichever software form you use for creating tables and createa table with the following column names:

Site Name, Address, City, County, State, Zip, Current Site Type (Industrial, Commercial,Residential), Current Use/History/Past Ownership (Manufacturing, Warehouse,Commercial, etc), Ideas for Future Use, Priority, and Existing Structure.

Making Column Names

Note: If you don't have access to Microsoft Excel, use Google Sheets - it's free!

If you have other attributes you think are useful or would like to include, do that now…

New Column Headers

Now fill out the rows to the best of your ability. Brownfield data is difficult to find so the factthat you have put even a minimal list together is a great step forward.

Completed survey

Finally, save your file.

Now that you have an inventory, share it with the EAPDD. Open up this link and contributeto the shared EAPDD file by adding your table. This is a shared Google Drive folder.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B-ZunkPhE02YflpZbHhaRXlybWlCNk55UWJoSURlczZMdjEyRzNHRm9ERTJvdmhTbldxd0E&usp=sharing


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Note: Before you add your file, give it a proper name. Use this as a template:LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_COUNTY_List_DATE. It seems long, but it will help keepeveryone organized!

To add your file, either drag and drop onto the web page OR click NEW > File Upload andfollow the directions.

Google Drive

Drag and drop your file or...



Upload your file

If you used Google Sheets to fill out your data, download the file and upload it asmentioned above.

Download your file by going to File...

Now choose Download As > Microsoft Excel

You will know your file is uploaded when it appears in Drive.

Your file is now added!



Brownfield Redevelopment Homepage Next: Prioritize Brownfield Options

Your file is now added!

If you are still having trouble moving from Google Sheets, you can always Email the form bygoing to "File > Email collaborators..."

If all else fails, send an email to an EAPDD member you have on file

When you are finished, your results will be filed and a EAPDD member will be notified ofyour update.

You now have a personal brownfield inventory as well as have contributed to the region'sbrownfield inventory!

For more information and resources, check out the next tab below. To continue workingtowards brownfield redevelopment, choose from the following:

M O R E I N F O

Useful links:

Official Brownfields Definition from EPABrownfields Center at the Environmental Law Institute

by Civic Analytics

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http://www.brownfieldscenter.org/faq.cfm

http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/overview/glossary.htm

http://civicanalytics.com/

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