Frequently Asked Questions

Brownfields are "real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant." Brownfields blight communities across the country, inhibiting economic development and contaminating the environment. Brownfield sites include unproductive and abandoned textile mills, service stations, industrial facilities, chemical processing plants, and vacant properties that previously had pre-197 buildings. By cleaning up these properties, local governments can protect the environment, spur economic growth, and create jobs.

Yes, and due to fear of the unknown, buyers, lenders and developers pass over abandon, under used or blighted properties for those appearing less “risky.” Merely the fear of environmental contamination and regulatory intervention has been enough to hinder or stop redevelopment of these once vital community areas.

The UG Brownfields Program provides technical and financial assistance to private businesses and landowners, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities. Financial assistance can include full funding of assessments and partial to full funding of cleanups.

Contact  Alyssa Marcy at 913-573-5755 or download a Brownfields Nomination Form(PDF, 231KB) and email to amarcy@wycokck.org.

The purpose of this program is to assess the level and nature of environmental contamination at selected brownfield sites and conduct planning for the cleanup and reuse of the properties. By assessing contaminated properties, the UG is quantifying the risks involved in redeveloping the properties to encourage property owners and developers to cleanup the sites and put them back into productive use.

The cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites create productive properties, removes blight, protects the environment and often leads to the creation of new jobs.

The program facilitates the redevelopment of properties by conducting environmental site assessments and identifying/removing the environmental risk/uncertainty associated with the property. With the funds from our partners, the UG will connect applicants to funding for environmental site assessment activities and potentially cleanup, if needed.

The goal for a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is to make an “appropriate inquiry into previous ownership and use of the property consistent with good commercial or customary practice.”

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment's are performed by the current owner or prospective purchaser. These are conducted according to guidelines established in the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM), Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessment (E 1527), and EPA’s All Appropriate Inquiries Rule. These do not include sampling or chemical analysis of soil, groundwater or other media. This provides the necessary information needed to determine if cleanup activities are warranted on the property.

The (4) primary components:

1. Records Review,
2. Site Reconnaissance,
3. Interviews, and;
4. Report Preparation

This report also includes a statement as evidence of recognized environmental conditions.

Phase II Environmental Site Assessments include site-specific sampling and chemical analyses to characterize the occurrence, distribution, nature and extent of hazardous compounds in soil and groundwater at a property. These provide the necessary information needed to determine if cleanup activities are warranted on the property. Where concerns are identified, recommendations for this activity are included in the report.

There are funding opportunities available through the UG's partnership with EPA, KDHE, and KCBI to identify, apply for, and acquire cleanup funding. In some cases, cleanup costs may be completely covered by a program while other scenarios may only be partially funded.