From Brownfield Burden To Community Pride

Brownfields are lands that are either contaminated by environmental pollutants or perceived to be. They come in all sizes--from small vacant lots to large abandoned industrial sites. Whatever their size, brownfields can raise health concerns and pose a high degree of liability if left untreated. Many people do not understand the technical aspects of dealing with a polluted site, so they tend to ignore brownfield areas. In many cases, the treatment costs are expensive, so brownfield areas become dilapidate and in some cases abandoned. Many brownfield areas were once the center of economic activity. As these economic centers diminish, the community need for revitalization and economic boosts still exists. Because of the location and existing infrastructure of many brownfields, and the pressing need for new business sites, many citizens want to reexamine a brownfield site for a future use.