Overview

EPA assists in the transfer of properties at both Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and National Priorities List (NPL) sites.  Because these facilities often encompass hundreds of acres with buildings, roads and other infrastructure, their effective and efficient cleanup and reuse can play a pivotal role in a community’s economic development.

To elicit community input, smooth the transfer process and mitigate the social and economic impacts of a site closure, EPA and the lead federal agency responsible for cleanup often work with surrounding communities through advisory boards. Together, the lead federal agency of each facility, EPA, and state and local governments conduct environmental restoration activities as efficiently and effectively as possible to help the local community put the property into economically beneficial use as quickly as possible.

Policy & Guidances

• Institutional Controls and Transfer of Real Property under CERCLA Section 120(h)(3)(A),(B) or (C)
• EPA Guidance on the Transfer of Federal Property by Deed Before All Necessary Remedial Action Has Been Taken Pursuant to CERCLA Section 120(h)(3) -- (Early Transfer Authority Guidance)
• Guidance on EPA Concurrence in the Identification of Uncontaminated Parcels under CERCLA Section 120 (h)(4) - March 1997
• Guidance for Evaluation of Federal Agency Demonstrations that Remedial Actions are Operating Properly and Successfully Under CERCLA Section 120(h)(3) - (Interim) - August 1996

Civilian Agency Property Transfer Guidance

• Civilian Federal Agency Task Force: Guide on Evaluating Environmental Liability for Property Transfers (PDF)(276 pp, 616K, About PDF) - August 1998  

Liability & Transferee Policies

• Guidance on EPA Concurrence in the Identification of Uncontaminated Parcels under CERCLA Section 120 (h)(4) - March 1997
• Policy Towards Landowners and Transferees of Federal Facilities - June 1997
• Addendum to EPA’s 1997 Policy Towards Landowners and Transferees of Federal Facilities