Brownfield redevelopment plays a critical role in revitalizing communities and supporting economic growth. A brownfield is a property where redevelopment or reuse is complicated by the presence, or potential presence, of hazardous substances, waste, or contaminants. BE3’s team of environmental engineers brings extensive experience guiding brownfield remediation efforts in advance of redevelopment and economic investment.
Beyond being an eyesore, brownfields can pose risks to human health and safety. Common examples include former gas stations, rail yards, factories, and dry cleaners. These sites are often vacant, underutilized, or abandoned altogether. Without proper care and oversight, environmental impacts can worsen over time, leading a property to officially qualify as a brownfield.
BE3 has completed hundreds of successful brownfield projects for both municipal and private clients. These redeveloped sites have supported a wide range of community-enhancing uses, including affordable housing, market-rate residential and mixed-use developments, commercial and manufacturing facilities, solar arrays, and recreational parks.
Navigating the Brownfield Process
The brownfield redevelopment process is complex and requires careful planning, regulatory coordination, and technical expertise. BE3 has assisted numerous developers and property owners through every stage of this process, helping move projects efficiently from assessment to completion.
Typical brownfield services include:
Pre-Brownfield Approval Tasks: Completion of Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments to evaluate site conditions and potential contamination.
Remedial Investigation Work Plan (RIWP): Preparation of a detailed plan submitted for state agency approval that outlines the investigation strategy and required procedures.
Remedial Investigation: Implementation of the approved plan, typically including soil, groundwater, and air sampling and analysis.
Remedial Investigation and Alternatives Analysis Report (RI/AAR): Documentation of investigation findings, including the nature and extent of contamination and evaluation of remediation options.
Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP): Development of a comprehensive plan detailing all proposed remediation and construction activities.
Remedial Construction Documents: Preparation of contractor bidding documents needed to carry out remediation work.
Remedial Construction Oversight: On-site monitoring and documentation of remediation activities, including implementation of community air monitoring programs when required.
Site Management Plan (SMP): Development of a plan to manage any remaining contamination following remediation.
Final Engineering Report (FER): Preparation of a detailed report documenting all remediation activities, stamped by a licensed professional engineer.
Ongoing Operation and Maintenance: Management of long-term remedial systems or controls after project completion.
Helping Communities Through Redevelopment
With technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and hands-on experience, BE3 helps transform environmentally challenged properties into productive, community-serving assets. By guiding clients through the brownfield process from start to finish, BE3 supports responsible redevelopment that protects public health, enhances neighborhoods, and unlocks new opportunities for growth.