{"id":5778,"date":"2018-09-17T08:08:14","date_gmt":"2018-09-17T08:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iwtcargoguard.com\/?p=5778"},"modified":"2019-03-07T21:56:15","modified_gmt":"2019-03-07T21:56:15","slug":"brownfield-remediation-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.staging.iwtcargoguard.com\/staging\/brownfield-remediation-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Brownfield Remediation: Why It\u2019s Needed and How It\u2019s Done"},"content":{"rendered":"

The EPA defines a brownfield as a \u201creal property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant”. Brownfields are usually closed or unused industrial facilities such as abandoned factories or old warehouses in a suburban area. However, they can also be found on smaller pieces of land where commercial buildings like dry cleaners or gas stations previously were. These are all locations where brownfield remediation is necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

Identifying a Brownfield<\/span><\/h2>\n

An Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) investigation determines the presence of hazardous materials in these locations. The law requires an ESE since the passage of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act in 1980 holding the purchaser of said properties liable for contaminants or pollutants found on the land. The EPA estimates that there are over 450,000 brownfield sites in the United States. However, this estimate only includes properties in which an ESA investigation has been performed. The actual number of brownfields in the US may be much higher. When a site has been identified as a brownfield, remediation is needed. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"brownfield<\/p>\n

Why Brownfield Remediation is Important<\/span><\/h2>\n

Brownfield remediation is an important issue for both environmental and economic reasons. The cost of brownfield cleanup often exceeds the value of the land after cleanup.\u00a0 Therefore, developers have been extremely hesitant to take on such an endeavor. As a result, abandoned and unsightly brownfields often stay idle, lowering local real estate values and hindering economic development in the area. <\/span><\/p>\n

These sites are often in prime real estate locations near a populated workforce and public transportation which gives them immense potential for economic growth. Since brownfield remediation is crucial for job creation and aiding the economic expansion of local communities, government programs now make it easier for developers to take action. The main goal is to transform these brownfields into \u201cgreen spaces\u201d which benefit human health, the environment, and the surrounding communities. <\/span><\/p>\n

Brownfield Remediation Options<\/span><\/h2>\n

The type of brownfield remediation option will depend on the contaminants present and the level of those contaminants. While excavation is a more traditional method, it can be quite costly. There are other methods that allow for the treatment of pollutants onsite without hauling them away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Engineered Caps<\/span><\/h3>\n

Engineered caps can seem like a band-aid covering up the contaminants in a brownfield without actually protecting the environment. However, using engineered caps encloses all the contaminants, preventing them from spreading vertically or horizontally throughout the site. There are three main types of engineered caps:<\/span><\/p>\n