Revitalization Tools for Communities
EPA’s Land Revitalization Program offers technical assistance to communities facing the challenge of identifying and implementing reuse alternatives for formerly contaminated properties. Highlighted below are available tools and guidance to assist communities in finding and evaluating reuse alternatives for brownfields and other contaminated properties. An overview of some of the Land Revitalization Tools is provided in the Land Revitalization Program Tools for Communities Factsheet.
- The Climate Smart Brownfields Manual: This manual is an excellent resource for communities that want to consider climate change as they assess, clean up, or redevelop brownfield sites. It provides guidance on best practices for climate change mitigation, adaption, and resilience at all stages of Brownfields work, from planning to redevelopment. In addition, the manual contains case studies and links to additional resources that communities can use as they develop Brownfields project plans.
- The PREPARED Workbook: Framework to assist local governments in evaluating potential property recovery actions for brownfields. Includes a step-by-step process for determining how to facilitate reuse alternatives for contaminated properties.
- The U.S. EPA Community Reuse Property Prioritization Tool is designed to help communities prioritize properties based on a specific reuse plan. Additionally, the Tool supports communities in developing a low-level inventory that can be used to prioritize brownfields for future assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment by capturing information that will help estimate the complexity of such activities.
- EPA’s Guide "New Manufacturing on Old Brownfields" makes the case for siting advanced manufacturing facilities on brownfields by showcasing examples from three communities that are revitalizing brownfields for new manufacturing. It also includes a resource guide to assist communities working to reuse brownfields for new manufacturing.
- Setting the Stage for Leveraging Resources for Brownfields Revitalization: Guidance to assist communities in finding and attracting sufficient funding for brownfields redevelopment projects.
- Brownfields Stakeholder Forum Kit: A guide to assist communities in planning effective brownfields stakeholder forums. Provides guidance to assist communities in engaging stakeholders and establishing partnerships to address brownfields revitalization challenges.
- Brownfields and Urban Agriculture: Interim Guidelines for Safe Gardening Practices: Guidelines for developing agricultural reuse projects on brownfields.
- Business Planning Tool for Urban Agriculture: Tools to assist communities that are seeking agricultural reuses for brownfields. This tool includes:
- Aquaponics Business Plan User Guide: Provides guidance for developing a business plan for the setup and operation of an urban aquaponics farm. The user guide includes:
- Economic Development and Climate Resilience Planning Tool: Outlines nationally applicable examples of relevant regulatory standards, incentives and guidelines for communities to consider when updating their building code, zoning and subdivision regulations. This tool includes guidance for communities may use to inform their efforts to balance planning goals, increase climate resiliency, and promote economic development.
- Public Infrastructure Coordinator Assessment and Planning Tool: Guidance to assist communities with identifying opportunities to leverage investments across infrastructure systems.
- Deconstruction Rapid Assessment Tool: Assists communities and contractors with assessing the potential value of materials that could be recycled by deconstructing a structure rather than demolishing it.
- Residential Demolition Tool: A guide for communities facing residential demolition. Provides guidance to communities for developing contract language for bid packages that instructs contractors on specific technical requirements to achieve improved environmental results during demolition.
- Deconstruction Tools for Tribes and Rural Communities: Two tools that provide a step-by-step approach for calculating the feasibility and value of deconstructing buildings, reclaiming materials, and recycling materials for potential profit.