1

Ann Carroll, MPHOffice of Brownfields & Land Revitalization

(OBLR)

September 25, 2012

2

Challenges / Opportunities

1,714 Corrective Action sites

6,700 RCRA Sites

450,000+ Brownfields 100,000-200,000 LUST (abandoned)

40,000 CERLCIS sites >1,600 Superfund (NPL) sites

3Source: National Vacant Property Campaign

HMTRI – October 2012.

4

Brownfield Communities & Health Challenges

– Training workers protects them, their co-workers, and clients.– Teaching them safe practices protects them, co-workers, site

neighbors and their families. That is community health!

– Individual site hazards and risks to community• Contaminated soil, dust, surface water runoff or groundwater • Physical and safety hazards of deteriorating structures, lead

paint, asbestos, pit or open foundations as ‘attractive nuisance’.• Restrict access and reduce or prevent exposure through fencing,

signs, cleanup, caps and other remedies.

– Broader community profile • Dumping, vagrancy, fires, vandalism, crime• Sub-standard housing - lead hazards of paint, dust and soil,

pesticides, illegal dumping, and hazards from past site industry or use

• Low income population, often minority, un/underemployed, job loss, property value decline, fear, social isolation, reduced access to general and health care services, higher chronic disease burden, poorer nutritional status, less access to healthy food, disintegrating social fabric. HMTRI – October 2012

Risk = Hazard + Exposure

No Risk because there is No Hazard! No Risk because there is No Exposure! Risk = Hazard + Exposure on site

Physical hazards Environmental hazards – Soil

contaminants Exposure - dermal, ingestion and

inhalation risks from preparing site and gardening

Exposure – eating food – surface contamination or plant uptake

Versus Risks of: Doing nothing …with blighted site !

Contamination … obvious or subtle?

HMTRI – October 2012

7

Typical

Brownfield

Contaminants?

• Petroleum and hydrocarbons

• Lead and other metals

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

• Pesticides

• Asbestos, mixtures …

O’Hara Township, Allegheny County

Re/Development Choices & Public Health

Physical Activity Walkability,

Recreation and Transit Appropriate for all

Ages Respiratory Health

Indoor and Outdoor Air

Emotional/Mental Social Capital Link to reduced

violence Access to Services

Food Health Care Greenspace and

Recreation

Development Approaches Smart Growth and

New Urbanism Green Buildings Community Greening Community Services

focused Potential Economic

Valuation ‘Living Wage’ and Job

Growth emphasis Increase private

sector value for key redevelopment scenarios

EWDJT trainees help create sustainable communities!

HMTRI – October 2012

HMTRI – October 2012

Florida Brownfields Association, Nov 7-9,

2007

Ann Carroll

US EPA Brownfields

Columbia, Lancaster County