Environmental Cleanup & Brownfields

Brownfields Brochure Cover - Greenport Carousel
Original cover photo taken by
Bob McInnis. All rights reserved. Nearly every community in New York State is affected by brownfield sites. Contaminated and abandoned properties exist in big cities, small towns, sprawling suburbs and the country side. Left untouched, brownfields pose environmental, legal and financial burdens on a community and its taxpayers. However, after cleanup, these sites can again become the powerful engines for economic vitality, jobs and community pride that they once were.

Download copy of DER's Brownfields color brochure (1.06 MB, 11 page PDF) or request a full size glossy copy.

Download a copy of the Brownfield Redevelopment Toolbox, A Guide to Assist Communities in Redeveloping New York State's Brownfields (1.3 MB, 46 page PDF). It was developed by the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials' (ASTSWMO) State Response and Brownfields Program Operations Task Force. It was originally designed as a generic resource on brownfields to be used nationally. New York State-specific information has been added, including an overview of New York State brownfield programs and resources.

The before and after images of Irvington waterfront park

The Village of Irvington Water Front Park project involves the remediation
and redevelopment of a 12-acre fill site which formerly was used as a
lumber yard, bus maintenance facility and for other light industrial activities.
The site, including the rehabilitation of an existing building for a senior citizen
center, is being developed into a water front park.

Brownfield Redevelopment in New York State

The Department's brownfield programs promote environmental restoration and preservation, public health protection, economic development, job creation and community revitalization throughout the state. DEC has over 20 years of experience in cleaning up contaminated properties. While maintaining strict cleanup standards, we also provide appropriate liability relief and funding for investigation and remediation of brownfields.

Creativity and innovation at the state level provide for collaboration among all levels of government, businesses and nonprofits to transform brownfields into productive, beneficial areas that improve the quality of life for all of New York State's residents.

New York State's brownfield programs have evolved to include:

Streamlined cleanup processes
Community involvement and planning
Increased availability of financial assistance
Liability clarification and relief
Valuable partnerships with agencies within New York State and across the country
Resources for all project stages, from planning to cleanup and redevelopment

View the Brownfields Flash Presentation - A visual demonstration of the dramatic community improvements that result from participation in the Brownfields program. For additional information regarding the Brownfields in New York State contact your Regional Program Contact.

Other Brownfield Information

Guidelines for the Federal Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants have been posted to the following EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/. These grants may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum). Opportunities for funding are as follows:

Brownfields assessment grants: (each funded up to $200,000 over three years) provide funding to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct planning and community involvement related to brownfield sites;
Brownfields revolving loan fund grants (RLF): (each funded up to $1,000,000 over five years) provide funding to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites that are owned by the subgrant recipient;
Brownfields cleanup grants: (each funded up to $200,000 over three years) provide funding for a grant recipient to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites that are owned by the grant recipient.

More about Environmental Cleanup & Brownfields:

Brownfield and Superfund Regulation - On October 25, 2006, the State Environmental Board approved 6 NYCRR Subparts 375-1 through 375-4 and Subpart 375-6. The Department filed the rulemaking package with the New York State Department of State (DOS) on November 14, 2006. The regulation is effective December 14, 2006
Brownfield Cleanup Program - New York State's Brownfield Cleanup Program spurs the redevelopment and reuse of contaminated properties
Brownfields Flash Presentation - A visual demonstration of the dramatic community improvements that result from participation in the Brownfields program.
Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program - DER's Brownfield Opportunity Areas Grants Program provides municipalities and community based organizations with assistance to complete area-wide approaches to brownfields redevelopment planning.
Chemical and Petroleum Spills - Chemical and Petroleum Bulk Storage in New York. Information on the regulatory programs and requirements for bulk storage of petroleum and chemicals in New York State.
Environmental Restoration Program - New York's Environmental Restoration Program spurs cleanup and redevelopment of underutilized contaminated properties through financial assistance to municipalities and liability releases
Environmental Site Database Search - This database contains records of the sites being remediated under one of DER's remedial programs (i.e. , State Superfund, Brownfield Cleanp, etc.). This database also includes the Registry of Institutional and Engineering Controls in New York State.
Federal Brownfields Tax Incentive - Information on Federal Brownfields Tax Incentive. Under Section 198 of the IRS code, eligible expenses can be fully deducted in the year incurred.
Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Program (Superfund) - The Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site program is the State's program for identifying, investigating and cleaning up sites where consequential amounts of hazardous waste may exist.
Manufactured Gas Plants - From the late 1800's to the mid 1900's, hundreds of manufactured gas plants across New York State supplied homes and industry with fuel for heating, cooking, and lighting. Today, the New York State DEC is overseeing the investigation and cleanup of contamination left behind from these plants.
Region 1 - Environmental Remediation Project Information - This page shows projects and reports involving Division of Environmental Remediation. You can find information relating to upcoming public meetings and public comment periods and related documents.
Region 2 - Environmental Remediation Project Information - This page shows project information and reports involving the Division of Environmental Remediation in Region 2. You can find information relating to upcoming public meetings and public comment periods and related documents.
Region 3 - Environmental Remediation Project Information - This page shows project information and reports involving the Division of Environmental Remediation in Region 3. You can find information relating to upcoming public meetings and public comment periods and related documents.
Region 4 - Environmental Remediation Project Information - This page shows project information and reports involving the Division of Environmental Remediation in Region 4. You can find information relating to upcoming public meetings and public comment periods and related documents.
Region 5 - Environmental Remediation Project Information - This page shows project information and reports involving the Division of Environmental Remediation. You can find information relating to upcoming public meetings and public comment periods and related documents.
Region 6 - Environmental Remediation Project Information - This page shows project information and reports involving the Division of Environmental Remediation in Region 6. You can find information relating to upcoming public meetings and public comment periods and related documents.
Region 7 - Environmental Remediation Project Information - This page shows project information and reports involving the Division of Environmental Remediation. You can find information relating to upcoming public meetings and public comment periods and related documents.
Region 8 - Environmental Remediation Project Information - This page shows projects and reports involving the Division of Environmental Remediation in Region 8. You can find information relating to upcoming public meetings, public comment periods and related documents.
Region 9 - Environmental Remediation Project Information - This page shows projects and reports involving the Division of Environmental Remediation in Region 9. You can find information relating to upcoming public meetings, public comment periods and related documents.
Remediation Sites with Environmental Easements
Toxic Release Inventory - The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)contains information on toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities reported annually by certain covered industry groups as well as federal facilities. This inventory was established under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) and expanded by the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. Facility-specific and chemical-specific information is available to the public from EPA's database for New York State.
Voluntary Cleanup Program - New York State's Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) has been replaced by the Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) which spurs the redevelopment and reuse of contaminated properties