Creating a pathway to land reuse
A brownfield is a vacant or underused property where actual or known environmental contamination makes it harder to expand, reuse, or redevelop. DEQ helps remove environmental barriers to redevelopment by providing technical assistance and other services.
DEQ conducts site assessments to determine whether a property is contaminated and what steps may be needed to receive a No Further Action determination. Brownfields can also be investigated by municipalities or private parties under DEQ's Voluntary Cleanup Program. In most cases, these parties hire an environmental cleanup contractor to do the investigation and cleanup work, and DEQ reviews that work for compliance with state cleanup law. Property owners may also seek DEQ approval through the Independent Cleanup Pathway after completing an investigation or cleanup at a qualified simple site.
For parties looking to purchase a brownfield property, DEQ offers a Prospective Purchaser Agreement. A PPA limits the lessee's or buyer's future liability to DEQ for environmental cleanup of the property. In exchange for this liability protection, the lessee/buyer must commit to a contribution that provides a substantial public benefit — such as a defined amount of money or cleanup effort. DEQ's brownfield coordinators work with communities, organizations, and government agencies to support brownfield redevelopment. DEQ also helps local governments and nonprofits apply for grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other sources.
Contact the Brownfields Program as soon as you begin considering the purchase, renovation, or reuse of a property that may be a brownfield.
Key takeaways
Cleaning up and reusing brownfields reduces community exposure to contamination and supports neighborhood revitalization. There are three cleanup pathways available. Grant funding may also be available through EPA, Business Oregon, and other sources.
- Independent Cleanup
- Voluntary Cleanup
- Site Response Program
For details on the cleanup process, visit our Cleanup page or click the link below which provides details on each of these pathways.