Toxics Cleanup > Brownfields Environmental Cleanup

Brownfields Environmental Cleanup

Brownfields are properties that are abandoned or underused because of environmental contamination, or perceived contamination from past industrial or commercial practices. Often the potential liability associated with contamination complicates business development, property transactions or expansion on the property.

Washington State has a cooperative approach to Brownfields cleanup and redevelopment.  Technical assistance, site assessments, and a revolving loan program are available through state agencies and private consultants.

The Department of Ecology’s Voluntary Cleanup Program is the program for most contaminated Brownfields sites.  For a fee, Ecology staff can review an independent cleanup report and provide a written decision about the adequacy of the cleanup action as described in the report.  The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) manages a revolving loan fund, and provides technical assistance to parties interested in redeveloping a Brownfields property.  Technical assistance in submitting applications for a revolving fund loan or coordinating site assessments is done in partnership with King County/City of Seattle, City of Tacoma, and the City of Spokane.  Site manager technical assistance is also provided by Ecology to CTED for Brownfields properties being cleaned up and redeveloped.  Ecology and CTED also have a close working relationship with EPA Region 10 Brownfields staff and routinely collaborate on strategies to assist communities.

"Brownfields Resource Guide" - Updated March 2006

Dollars available for cleanups:

• Brownfields Loan Guide
  (includes loan application)
• Overview: Ecology Remedial Action Grants
• Guidelines:  Remedial Action Grants & Loans
  (only available to local governments)

Tax exemptions:

• State Tax Incentives for Environmental Remedial Action

Due to budget concerns, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) tax exemptions expired June 30, 2003. Please see the following Dept. of Revenue NOTICE for information on how remedial actions are to be taxed from now on.

• Environmental Remedial Action Sunsets
• Substantial Equivalence for Tax Exemptions
-- [document withdrawn, please see Private Right of Action instead.]
• Public Notice/Site Register Contact
• Owner/Agency Certification of Environmental Remedial Action
• Professional Certification Confirming Environmental Remedial Action

• Federal Brownfields Tax Incentive and its modification
  • Contaminated Site Verification Contact
  • EnviroMapper for Brownfields. This U.S. EPA tool combines interactive maps and aerial photography to locate, display and query brownfields grant types by the areas/jurisdictions of city, county, state, and tribe.

Recovering cleanup costs from others who contributed to contamination:

• Private Right of Action -- Updated December 2002
  • English
  • Korean

• Public Notice/Site Register Contact

Laws, policies, and other information:

• Regulations & Related Information
• Policies & Guidance Page
• Hazardous Waste Cleanups – Selecting an Environmental Consulting Firm (1992)
• Hazardous Waste Considerations in Real Estate Transactions (revised September 1999)

Links:

• Search for Contaminated Sites
• Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development
• U.S. Conferences of Mayors
  • Brownfields Online Library
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• U.S. EPA Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment
• Northeast Midwest Institute:  Brownfields
  • From Rags to Riches Innovation in Petroleum Brownfields