Today’s public frequently engages with environmental situations thanks to widespread and rapid information sharing from social media; however, there is a prevalent attitude that information does not get shared by the State and federal government fast enough. The ASTSWMO Removals and Emergency Response Focus Group sought information from their State and regional counterparts to determine if public communication during time-critical removal actions and emergency responses is an established process or if future national guidance may be needed. This webinar will discuss the research findings and present two programs with established and evolving public communication strategies.
The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) and its members from the 50 States, 5 Territories and the District of Columbia (States), routinely work with our partners at the EPA to identify opportunities for improvements to the Superfund Program. In recent months, EPA contacted ASTSWMO for help collecting input from States on how to improve the federal site assessment program. The ASTSWMO Site Assessment Focus Group noticed several trends when compiling responses from States and this issues letter identifies those trends.
The ASTSWMO Investigation and Remedy Selection Focus Group with the assistance of US EPA have developed the following Quick Reference Guide for State staff. The goal of this Quick Reference Guide (QRG) is to serve as a practical, step-by-step guide for using Spreadsheets for Environmental Footprint Analysis (SEFA), a tool developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help quantify the energy and resource demands of proposed remedial activities. SEFA may be used to aid in the remedy selection process by determining key project metrics and asset usage such as fuel and energy use, water consumption, and material use (import, export, reuse, and disposal). These metrics are helpful when comparing remedies to determine the most efficient and economical remedy components. SEFA is intended for use by project managers, engineers, field coordinators, and analysts involved in planning, executing, or closing out site remediation projects. The following presentation was given at the 2026 ASTSWMO Mid-Year meeting to help walk through how to use the SEFA tool.
SEFA Tool Presentation
SEFA Tool Video
The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, also known as the Brownfields Law, was signed into law in 2002 and amended CERCLA to provide, among other things, liability protections for non-polluters including the Bonafide Prospective Purchaser Defense (BFPP). Numerous States have implemented programs that mirror the CERCLA law to facilitate brownfields redevelopment by incentivizing parties with a liability defense to invest in site cleanup and reuse with reduced legal risk.
This session will compare three State programs and the USEPA use of BFPP agreements, explore how liability protections have driven successful redevelopment, and look forward to the long-term maintenance of a BFPP defense. Attendees will gain practical insights and concepts on how to improve your State’s program and advance the work that has already started.
Presenters: - David A. Franchina McGuireWoods, LLP
- Joselyn Harriger, PG North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
- Bill Rees Utah Department of Environmental Quality
- Maryam Tasnif-Abbasi California Department of Toxic Substances Control
On April 8, 2026 ASTSWMO submitted comments on four house Bills introduced at the March 4, 2026, Hearing: “Ready for Reuse: Legislative Proposals to Unleash the Potential of America’s Brownfields Sites
Recognizing the value in collaborative problem solving in brownfields redevelopment, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection created the GENTL strategy for community engagement. The acronym stands for:
Go Where the People Are
Existing Network
Non-Traditional Partners
Look for Unique Funding Sources
This approach centers community voices in decision-making, addresses health and safety concerns, and transforms distressed properties into neighborhood assets.
The session will present case studies from New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Oregon using the GENTL strategy. Participants will learn how to develop customized plans tailored to the interests and needs of the community and learn how they can employ the GENTL strategy in their brownfields projects.
You only have one shot at making a good first connection. Over the years, scientists, engineers, and regulators have developed a reputation for giving technically sound [perhaps overly detailed] presentations but at the risk of not connecting with their audience due to jargon or highlighting uncertainty to the point of blurring the technical conclusion.
Although we have different communication tools (texting, email, social media) than were available 20+ years ago, the skills needed for successful in-person communication have not changed over time. This session will provide strategy, approaches, and specific examples for positive engagement and meaningful communication with your audience.
Learn lessons from state regulators and TAB provider who have implemented successful public outreach programs to effectively engage communities and stakeholder groups with diverse backgrounds.
Learning Objectives
- Make your Pitch. Start with the lead. Help your audience know what to focus on and why.
- Understand your audience and tailor your presentation to that group of stakeholders. Experts, scientists, engineers, and regulators need to be able to speak the language of the “real people” in their audience. We will provide concrete examples you can use in your professional practice.
Speakers:
- David Foss, MA DEP
- Paula Middlebrooks, TN DEC
- Randi Mendes, UCONN
The Virginia Brownfields Restoration and Economic Redevelopment Assistance Fund (VBAF) and Vermont’s Brownfield Revitalization Fund provide targeted grant support for the remediation and redevelopment of Brownfield sites. Although program structures differ, both are assessed using comparable economic performance indicators, including job creation, property value appreciation, tax revenue generation, acreage remediated or redeveloped, and leveraged investment. This webinar will highlight the two programs, present findings from a recently published Economic Impact Analysis of the first 10 years of VBAF funding, discuss quantitative outcomes and methodological approaches to measuring the effectiveness of Brownfield grant investment, and highlight challenges and limitations associated with quantifying return on investment (ROI).
Speakers:
- Karen Weber, P.G., Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
- Sarah Barlett, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
Learning Objectives:
- Review of economic outcomes from grant investment in Brownfield redevelopment on the State level.
- Identify key economic performance indicators related to Brownfields redevelopment.
- Recognize challenges and limitations in quantifying ROI.
- Opportunity for states and tribes to learn about other state Brownfield initiatives and programs.
Superfund is a critical federal program that provides a mechanism for cleaning up properties that pose a threat to human health and the environment. As of January 2025, there are 1,341 sites included on the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Priorities List (NPL) across the States, Territories and the District of Columbia. These sites are in various stages of the Superfund process. While 458 sites have been deleted from the NPL, EPA is under continued pressure to accelerate cleanups and remove sites from the NPL. Leveraging both State and federal resources is an opportunity to achieve this objective at these Superfund sites.
ASTSWMO’s CERCLA Post Construction Focus Group updated this report from 2017 to provide examples of challenges experienced by various States during the transition of sites from the EPA to a State and present National Priorities List site examples that illustrate opportunities for possible solutions to aid in facilitating more successful transitions.
