The ASTSWMO Board of Directors, in April 2023, approved the Position Paper supporting a permanent increase in the standard 128(a) Congressional appropriation. The paper acknowledges that the permanent increase of funding will ensure that State brownfields programs are able to provide the critical support necessary for a robust national brownfields program.
Articles with the Tag Brownfields
Technical Assistance Resources to Support the Reuse of Brownfield Sites
The Brownfields Focus Group located in the CERCLA and Brownfields Subcommittee (CaBS) has produced a technical assistance resource document for the reuse of Brownfield sites. This document provides an overview of available technical assistance opportunities including a description of each opportunity, how to access/apply for the assistance, example deliverables, and contact information for additional information. The intended audience for this document includes State Brownfield Coordinators and staff.
ASTSWMO 128(a) Position Paper
On January 11, 2002, President Bush signed the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (Pub.L.No. 107-118, 115 stat. 2356, “the Brownfields Law”). The Brownfields Law amended the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) by providing funds to assess and clean up brownfields; clarified CERCLA liability protections; and provided funds to enhance State and tribal response programs. Other related laws and regulations impact brownfields cleanup and reuse through financial incentives and regulatory requirements.
Toolbox for Community Redevelopment
The ASTSWMO Brownfields Focus Group has updated the toolbox that was produced by the Focus Group in 2007. This toolbox reflects on new procedures, information and resources in community redevelopment, and it will help communities redevelop brownfield properties, and provide the basics needed to navigate the redevelopment process and access resources to assist with revitalization efforts. The PDF version of the toolbox is ready to use as is and the Word version is provided to programs so that they may tailor the toolbox to program needs.
Toolbox (PDF)
Toolbox (WORD)
ASTSWMO Position Paper on 128(a) Funding
This paper has been replaced by the document located here.
On January 11, 2002, President Bush signed the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (Pub.L.No. 107-118, 115 stat. 2356, “the Brownfields Law”). The Brownfields Law amended the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) by providing funds to assess and clean up brownfields; clarified CERCLA liability protections; and provided funds to enhance State and tribal response programs. Other related laws and regulations impact brownfields cleanup and reuse through financial incentives and regulatory requirements.
Since the Brownfields Law was signed in 2002, funding to States, Territories and Tribes, via the 128(a) Brownfield Grant, has been essential for States and Territories (States) to build and maintain successful State brownfield programs. The funding that States and Territories receive each year provides an incredible number of benefits to local units of government, corporations, and other organizations, who oversee the day-to-day cleanup and redevelopment of blighted, underutilized, and contaminated properties.
128(a) Successes Checklist
The Checklist and Defintions below are meant to summarize the work accomplished during the reporting period that is not captured by ACRES and PALS. It is not meant to be a comprehensive compilation unless defined as such but rather a “snapshot taken” during that period. We realize that programs and needs vary from State to State (and territories) and therefore accomplishments will also vary so the Checklist not meant to be a “to do” list or goal to complete a task to obtain a number in every box but rather an improved manner to report accomplishments and to provide a means to easily summarize what is being done on a national level.
Introduction and Definitions of the 128(a) Successes Checklist (PDF)
128(a) Successes Checklist (Excel)
Community Gardening Toolbox
The Toolbox is designed to assist States by providing a reference guide for State environmental staff on community gardening on brownfield sites. States are encouraged to personalize the toolbox by adding their own State-specific and other regulatory information to increase the documents applicability and usefulness. The final Toolbox is presented in Microsoft Word so States are able to reformat the document for their own specific needs.
Community Gardening Toolbox
Appendix A: References
Appendix B: Site Model
Compendium of State Land Revitalization Indicators
This Compendium illustrates the types of socioeconomic data being collected by States to measure the effectiveness of their state programs in facilitating the investigation, remediation and redevelopment of contaminated sites, including brownfields.