Brownfields are properties that are contaminated, or thought to be contaminated, and are underutilized due to perceived cleanup costs and liability concerns. When agricultural and green spaces are developed for residential, commercial or industrial uses, infrastructure such as roads and sewers must be developed. Redeveloping urban brownfields properties optimizes the use of existing infrastructure and protects our precious resources.
It is not known at this time how many brownfields exist in Sacramento County. It has been estimated that there are approximately 100,000 brownfields in the State of California. Sacramento County Business Environmental Resource Center (BERC) received a $200,000 grant from U.S. EPA to fund a county-wide brownfields assessment project. This project, which started in October 2004, seeks to determine how many brownfields exist in the County and how best to assist those sites to redevelopment.
No. All contaminated sites are not brownfields. Brownfields are sites with actual or perceived contamination and are idle, abandoned, vacant, or underutilized as a result.
Sacramento County Business Environmental Resource Center (BERC) received a $200,000 grant from U.S. EPA to fund a county-wide brownfields assessment project. This project, which started in October 2004, seeks to determine how many brownfields exist in the County and how best to assist those sites to redevelopment. For more information, contact BERC.
There is a limited amount of state and local funding for brownfields assessment and cleanup. California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) oversees Targeted Site Assessment funding (http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/SiteCleanup/Brownfields/);
The City of Sacramento maintains a revolving Loan fund for brownfields cleanup, and BERC has limited funds to assist with (http://www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/planning/projects/brownfields/) site investigations. For more information, contact BERC.
In California, brownfields cleanups may be overseen the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), a Regional Water Quality Control Board, or a local environmental management agency. In Sacramento County, the local agency is the County Department of Environmental Management.
See links below to these agencies:
