Frequently Asked Questions

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

A greyfield is an underutilized property due to disinvestment and abandonment rather than contamination.

Greenfields are undeveloped lands such as farmlands, woodlands, or fields located on the outskirts of urbanized areas. Businesses often prefer to develop new facilities on greenfield sites to avoid the real or perceived difficulties associated with brownfields redevelopment. 

Cleaning up and reinvesting in brownfield properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth,  and utilizes existing infrastructure for infill development. In addition, redeveloping brownfields takes pressures off of undeveloped, "green" properties whiel both improving and protecting the environment.

Brownfields Assessment Grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are used to assess sites by determining existing contamination of hazardous substances and/or petroleum contamination. This is accomplished by completing Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments. Assessment Grants also provide funding to compile an inventory of brownfield sites, conduct planning for site revitalization, complete site-specific cleanup and redevelopment planning, and to facilitate community planning and public input activities.

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is a preliminary investigation into past and present uses of the property and potential environmental issues. The assessment helps identify if further investigation or remediation is necessary prior to or during purchase of the property. The Phase I ESA is generally considered the first step in the process of environmental due diligence.  

A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment is an "intrusive" investigation which collects original samples of soil, groundwater or building materials to analyze for quantitative values of various contaminants. This investigation is normally undertaken when a Phase I ESA determines a likelihood of site contamination. The most frequent substances tested are petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pesticides, solvents, asbestos, lead-based paint, and mold.

In certain circumstances, EPA Brownfields Grant funds can be used by eligible entities to pay for site assessment activities on privately-owned sites.

Generally, sites that have a real or perceived environmental concern are eligible and can include public or private properties. If you have a property that may qualify as a brownfield site and would like it to be considered for an environmental assessment under this grant program, please visit the Contacts Page and request a redevelopment form from any of the contacts listed.

In general, these properties can include dry cleaners, auto-body shops, abandoned gas stations, industrial properties, and even some residential areas. 

According to the US EPA, brownfields redevelopment improves and protects the environment, increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, makes use of existing infrastructure, and takes development pressures off green spaces and working lands. The EPA’s involvement with communities through the Brownfields Program encourages and strengthens local efforts with safe reuse and redevelopment of properties to meet economic development and public health goals.

Furthermore, redeveloped brownfield properties can provide the community with new recreational spaces or amenities and both improves and protects the environment. These outcomes can directly improve the qualify of life for residents in the community.

Commercial and residential developers may be hesitant to invest in brownfield sites over concerns of liability involved with potentially contaminated properties, the time and costs needed for environmental assessments of the properties, federal regulations surrounding environmental cleanup, feasible reuse options, unfavorable neighborhood and market conditions, and reluctance to invest in distressed communities due to concerns with urban socio-economic conditions. However, significant economic growth exists where infill redevelopment is possible.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency.  The US EPA funds and administers the federal Brownfields Program. The US EPA funds and administers the federal Brownfields Program. The program is designed to empower states, tribes, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. Brownfield grants support revitalization efforts by funding environmental assessment, cleanup, and job training activities. 

The State of Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  The IDNR administers Iowa’s Brownfield Redevelopment Program which is funded by the federal Brownfield Revitalization Act of Natural Resources. The Iowa Brownfield Redevelopment Program provides technical and financial resources to communities to help them find answers to environmental questions at brownfield sites. The program also assists with environmental cleanup planning and implementation to prepare sites for reuse or redevelopment. The following is a link to the Iowa DNR Brownfields webpage: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Environmental-Protection/Land-Quality/Contaminated-Sites/Brownfields