CIVIL ENGINEERING

Civil Engineering



Civil Engineering-Assignment Construction Technology

What is a Brownfield?

Brownfields are abandoned or underutilized properties for which expansion, development, or reuse may be complicated by environmental contamination, such as the presence of a hazardous substance or pollutant. Examples of brownfields include the former sites of factories, mills, rail yards, gas stations, and dry cleaners (Abidin, 2009, pp.168-80).

What signs might indicate that a property is a Brownfields?

Indicators of contamination might include:

Discolored soil or water

The presence of old, rundown buildings

Old storage tanks

Minimal or complete absence of vegetation

Strange odors

Garbage and debris

Old equipment

Is a Brownfields the same as a Superfund site?

No. Superfund sites are formally designated under the National Priorities List (Superfund) program of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Superfund sites are generally managed by the federal government. Brownfields may also pose a significant threat to human heath and the environment but they are managed through state and local programs, rather than a single federal program.

Why are brownfields a big problem in Buffalo?

In the first half of the 20th century, Buffalo was a manufacturing and industrial center. Buffalo had a population of almost 600,000 people. However, Buffalo's prosperity began to decline in the wake of World War II and with the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Many of the city's industrial and manufacturing facilities were shuttered. People moved away from the city and Buffalo's population declined dramatically. Today, Buffalo is one of the poorest cities in the nation, in terms of the percentage of people on public assistance, household income, and unemployment (Fowler, 2010, pp.96).

Buffalo's industrial past and former prosperity left an ugly legacy: brownfields. The crumbling of industry in Buffalo, in particular the closing of many steel plants, led to the abandonment of several square miles of property. A significant number of these properties are located along Buffalo's waterfront, an area that has great potential for development. Lingering on many of these sites are environmental contaminants (Gibberd, 2009, pp. 1605-1612). Though a firm number representing the number of brownfield sites in Buffalo is unavailable, one need only take a walk along the city's waterfront to realize the enormity of the problem.

If Brownfields sites are contaminated, can the land be used again?

Yes. Brownfields can be “cleaned” (decontaminated to a level that some sort of human activity is safe) and redeveloped. For example, the Wegmans supermarket in Buffalo is located on a former Brownfields site.

Why do many observers feel that the cleanup and development of brownfields are important to Buffalo's future success?

Brownfields can injure a local economy by deterring investment and development. In Buffalo, Brownfields sites occupy a significant portion of the city's prime property for redevelopment. If investors are unwilling to undertake the risks and costs associated with Brownfields cleanup and development, it seems unlikely that they will place their projects in the City of Buffalo. In fact, many investors find development on untouched lands, in the city's suburbs or elsewhere, to be less risky and more affordable than Buffalo Brownfields ...