Brownfield Areas

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) defines Brownfields as “abandoned, idled, or underused industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived contamination”. The goal of the FDEP Brownfields Redevelopment Act is to reduce health and environmental hazards on existing commercial and industrial sites by incentivizing voluntary cleanup and redevelopment.

A brownfield area can be as small as a single parcel, and as large as several square miles. Often, an entire highway corridor will be designated. Because Brownfields are created through resolution by local municipalities, many uncontaminated properties will end up falling within the Brownfield Area. An ASTM-compliant Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) conducted by a knowledgeable Environmental Professional can determine if the property is likely to be contaminated or not.

Many of our Clients also specifically seek out environmentally distressed properties for Brownfield designation. In order to gain the tax incentives and cleanup reimbursement, and provide liability protection for the responsible party, site rehabilitation must be conducted in accordance with the Brownfields Cleanup Criteria outlined in Chapter 62-785 of the Florida Administrative Code. Generally, the site rehabilitation will involve setting and committing to site rehabilitation milestones under a Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreement (BSRA), submitting monitoring reports to the FDEP on a designated schedule, and eventually obtaining a Site Rehabilitation Completion Order (SRCO).

From initial assessment to final closeout, Excelsior’s staff are ready to assist with your Brownfield project.

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