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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 contaminated and abandoned properties, or brownfield sites. 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. Reforms made to brownfield legislation in 2008 will make New York's programs smarter and more effective.

Promoting site cleanups: New York offers incentives in the form of technical and financial assistance, as well as liability relief, to encourage the cleanup and reuse of contaminated sites. Incentive programs target both the public and private sector. DEC also oversees cleanups of inactive hazardous waste disposal sites and petroleum/chemical spills.

Technical guidance and policy: For technical guidance on investigations and cleanups overseen by DEC, please see our Environmental Cleanup Policy and Guidance. Our Brownfield and Superfund regulation also contains important guidance, including Soil Cleanup Objective tables.

Site-specific information: DEC provides information through our website regarding select (usually larger) remedial projects in your region - including fact sheets, records of decisions, and notices of public meetings. To search for information on all sites in DEC's cleanup programs, please utilize our Environmental Site Database Search.

Our new manual "Locating, Accessing and Utilizing New York State Environmental Cleanup and Brownfield Data" (2.56 MB, 19 pages PDF) walks you through DEC's online data resources and illustrates how to download site information, export databases and create maps. This is a large file and may take some time to download.

Looking for more information?

For a comprehensive overview on brownfield redevelopment, download a copy of the manual "Brownfields to Greenfields". The link is located in the Offsite Links on the right side of this page. This handbook was developed by Sustainable Long Island, a not-for-profit organization that promotes sustainable redevelopment in New York, with assistance and input from several organizations throughout the State, including DEC. The text includes a description of New York's remedial programs, as well as discussions on community planning, environmental liability and project funding.

View the Brownfields Flash Presentation - A visual demonstration of the dramatic community improvements that result from participation in the Brownfields program.


More about Environmental Cleanup & Brownfields:

  • Environmental Cleanup Success Stories - These success stories highlight a wide range of reuses that will greatly improve New York's economic and ecological landscape.
  • 2008 Brownfields Legislation Summary - Summary of 2008 Brownfield Reform Legislation
  • 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 Easements - Any institutional controls, engineering controls, use restrictions and/or any site management requirements applicable to a remedial site will be contained in an Environmental Easement.
  • 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.
  • Regional Remediation Project Information - This page shows project information and reports involving the Division of Environmental Remediation in each Region throughout New York State. You can find information relating to upcoming public meetings and public comment periods and related documents.
  • 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