Now Accepting Site Nominations
CMRPC’s Brownfields Assessment Program is currently accepting nominations of sites that need assessment and/or cleanup/reuse planning support. For a site to be considered, a nomination form must be emailed to ksalwa@cmrpc.org. Sites will be evaluated and selected by CMRPC and its Brownfields Advisory Committee based on the Site Ranking and Prioritization Criteria.
See the BAC Meeting #1 Presentation for an overview of the brownfield assessment/cleanup process and CMRPC’s Brownfields Assessment Program.
What’s a Brownfield?
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines brownfields as “real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or re-use of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” More than 4,600 contaminated or possibly contaminated sites in CMRPC’s 40-municipality planning district have been reported to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) since 1993. While most of these have been cleaned up, those that remain have the potential to negatively impact the region’s health, natural resources, and economic development.
FY2025 EPA Assessment Coalition Grant
CMRPC was awarded a Fiscal Year 2025 Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant from the US EPA. Grant funds will facilitate revitalization of brownfields through Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, hazardous building materials surveys (asbestos, lead paint, etc.), cleanup/reuse plans, and related submittals to regulatory entities. The performance period for the grant ends in September 2029.
CMRPC’s Coalition partners for the grant are the Town of Southbridge and the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation. The grant application identified five target areas: the Town of Southbridge; the Town of Spencer; the Town of Warren; the Webster, MA Census Designated Place;, and the City of Worcester. One to two priority sites were also designated for each target area. Primary focus for assessment and cleanup/reuse planning activities will be on these target areas and priority sites, but projects throughout CMRPC’s 40-municipality service area are eligible to receive assistance, subject to EPA eligibility determinations. At least two sites in each Coalition member’s geographic boundaries must be assessed.
Brownfields Assessment Program Background
CMRPC’s Brownfields Assessment Program began in 2009. The Program has received financial assistance from both the US EPA and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In Fiscal Years 2009 and 2018, CMRPC was awarded Community-wide Assessment Grants by the EPA. District Local Technical Assistance funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts also enabled the creation of a Regional Brownfields Plan in 2016 to inventory potential brownfields sites in Central Massachusetts.
The overall goal of the Brownfields Assessment Program is to enhance redevelopment and revitalization efforts and outcomes in the region. To date, the Program has assessed 25 sites that were known or suspected to be contaminated with oil and/or hazardous substances, leading to several successful redevelopments.
Brownfields Advisory Committee
CMRPC’s Brownfields Advisory Committee serves as a regional roundtable for brownfields topics. When funding is available for site assessment, the Committee provides feedback and guidance on site selection priorities. See also CMRPC Brownfields Advisory Committee.
Regional Plan
CMRPC previously completed a region-wide brownfields plan to identify brownfields-impacted neighborhoods and key sites throughout the region. For more information, see CMRPC Regional Brownfields Plan.
Though this project has been funded wholly or in part by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the contents of this web page do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of EPA.
