1
Ann Carroll, MPHOffice of Brownfields & Land Revitalization
(OBLR)
September 25, 2012
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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
3 Source: National Vacant Property Campaign HMTRI – October 2012.
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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
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Typical BrownfieldContaminants?
• 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