Brownfields Targeted Assessment Program

Since 2013 and again in 2021, the Cities of New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Oak Hill (SVCIC) received grant funding from EPA to conduct Brownfields Site Assessments (BAs) to assist local units of government, redevelopment agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and other agencies within the Southeast Volusia communities. Often, local governments have acquired contaminated properties through foreclosure for back taxes, land donations, or may already own property they would like to sell for redevelopment. It is sometimes difficult for communities to find adequate funding to pay for environmental assessments (Phase I and Phase II assessments for Due Diligence) prior to redevelopment. The BA Program provides funding and technical assistance to assist communities in assessing properties. Often, it is the unknown condition of the environment that dissuades developers from considering properties, not actual contamination. Once communities can demonstrate a particular property is viable for redevelopment, these communities can then encourage redevelopment activities on these unused pieces of property. The grant was a three year grant and has sunset.

What Does a Brownfields Assessment Include?

A Brownfields Assessment includes:

• a screening (Phase I) assessment, including a background and historical investigation and a preliminary site inspection;
• a full (Phase II) site assessment, including sampling activities to evaluate the extent of environmental impacts.

SVCIC's program targets properties that: are abandoned or publicly owned; have low to moderate contamination; include issues of environmental justice; suffer from the stigma of liability; or have a prospective purchaser willing to buy and pay for the cleanup of the property, if needed.