Abstract |
In September 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its USTfields pilot initiative, to address abandoned or idle property where redevelopment is hindered by petroleum contamination from abandoned, federally regulated underground storage tanks or USTs. The USTfields effort, now 50 pilots strong, is beginning to tally some important results. As the pilots have seen, sites polluted with petroleum--such as abandoned gas stations, auto body shops, industrial facilities, and other petroleum brownfields--must overcome significant barriers to reuse, notably, fear of liability, lengthy regulatory procedures, and up-front cleanup expenses. As many as 200,000 abandoned gas stations and other petroleum brownfields blight communities across America. Until recently, USTfield programs have focused solely on the cleanup of environmental problems at high priority petroleum release sites, but now a new approach is emerging that considers petroleum brownfields from more of a real estate vantage point--as opportunities for economic and community revitalization, but with an environmental twist. |