An Overview of Brownfields Redevelopment in the United States Through Regulatory, Public Health, and Sustainability Lenses.

Abstract

This second article in a series of three on land reuse highlights brownfields redevelopment in the U.S., focusing on regulatory frameworks, public health, policy, and sustainable development. The main regulatory agency in the U.S. involved in brownfields is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Many other state and federal agencies have brownfield or brownfield-supporting programs. Apart from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, few agencies have programs fully dedicated to public health protection related to brownfields. Sustainable development, defined in this article as development that minimizes use of nonrenewable resources, is recognized as a component of redevelopment and is generally promoted by U.S. EPA and through other sustainable development initiatives. A broader focus on sustainable development and public health improvement could reduce the inequity and health disparities typically seen in areas with distressed environments. Such a focus could be implemented globally to improve population health and the environment over the long term.