Targeted Brownfields Assessment Support

Potentially contaminated brownfields sites need to be properly investigated to progress through the cleanup and redevelopment process. To support redevelopment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) program provides support for environmental site assessments, cleanup options, cost estimates, and community outreach to states, tribes, municipalities, and other public entities. EPA Region 10 engaged ERG to provide support to TBA applicants. 

ERG provided assessment and cleanup planning support to municipalities, tribes, and non-profit organizations in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington for a wide variety of properties, including large public school complexes with asbestos and lead-based paint concerns; remote Alaskan sites requiring extensive travel to collect environmental samples; a former junk yard along a riverbank with dioxin, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and metals contamination concerns; a former municipal landfill on a riverbank impacted by erosion; an abandoned fuel depot where PFAS-containing aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) was potentially applied during a fire response; and a former gas station with leaking underground storage tanks. 

ERG conducted Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and prepared Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) reports. We designed and implemented multimedia sampling plans for Phase II ESAs based on thorough site investigation and characterization provided from Phase I ESAs. ERG’s assessments obtained critical information needed to determine additional investigation steps or evaluate cleanup options and associated costs. We coordinated diverse project teams that included state, federal, and community stakeholders, and we planned and facilitated community meetings with local residents to obtain information on site histories and conduct visioning for future site uses.