EnvironmentRestoring Contaminated Urban Land
A **brownfield** is any property where the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. The EAD's Brownfields Program works with property owners, community developers, and the federal EPA to identify these properties, conduct site assessments, and execute cleanup strategies.
EPA Assessment & Cleanup Grants
By securing federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we provide technical and financial assistance for:
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs): Historic records searches to determine if past operations (e.g. gas stations, dry cleaners) likely left toxic footprints.
- Phase II ESAs: Physical testing of soil, soil gas, and groundwater to outline pollutant concentrations.
- Soil Remediation: Implementing cleanup techniques such as excavation, soil vapor extraction, and bioremediation (using microbes to digest pollutants).
Redevelopment Focus & Benefits
Remediating brownfields does more than remove health hazards from neighborhoods; it acts as a catalyst for urban renewal. Our projects prioritize:
- Affordable Housing: Converting former commercial parcels into transit-adjacent residential housing.
- Parks & Open Space: Mitigating heavy metals to establish safe community gardens and local parks in park-poor districts.
- Economic Development: Revitalizing commercial corridors to invite clean businesses and local job creation.
Historic Remediation Highlights
Over its operation, the Brownfields Program has assisted in the assessment and cleanup of hundreds of properties across LA. Key project areas include the Industrial Eastside, the Alameda Corridor, and the San Fernando Valley, transforming blighted sites into community assets.