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Brownfields What are Brownfields? The Environmental Protection Agency defines brownfields as abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination that can add cost, time or uncertainty to a redevelopment project. These brownfield sites can range from old industrial property, old gas stations, vacant warehouses, abandoned residential buildings, and even former dry cleaning establishments.   Status of the Problem In a recent U.S. Conference of Mayors survey of 231 cities, 210 cities estimated that they collectively had more than 21,000 brownfield sites ranging in size from a quarter of an acre to 1,300 acres. The General Accounting Office has estimated that there are over 450,000 brownfield properties across America, in every state of the union. The Sierra Club strongly supports restoring brownfields to productive use. Revitalizing brownfields could reduce the public's exposure to health-threatening contaminants, make use of existing infrastructure, and provide alternatives to sprawl. Although we want to revitalize America's cities, bad brownfields redevelopment can harm people's health and the environment. More on Brownfields Sierra Club Principles on Brownfields Redevelopment Case Studies Midway Village, Daly City, CA Grand Street Mercury, Hoboken, NJ Hickory Wood, Buffalo, NY Mercy College Landfill, Dobbs Ferry, NY Sierra Club Brownfields Guidance Document Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club