Brownfields Program

Hazardous Waste Division

Terry Sligh - (501) 682-0867

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is administering the Brownfields Program to redevelop properties with either real or perceived hazardous substance contamination. ADEQ hopes to encourage the development of brownfields as a sustainable land use policy and to discourage the development of Greenfields or pristine properties in the State of Arkansas.

Quick Links

FAQs

Q. What is a “brownfield”?
 
A. A brownfield is a parcel of property where commercial, industrial, or agricultural use may have contaminated the site with a hazardous substance, thereby complicating prospects for expansion, redevelopment, or reuse.
 
Q. Who is eligible to participate?
 
A. Individuals, companies, or real estate developers who did not contribute to the contamination and who do not hold title to one of these abandoned properties may enter into an agreement with ADEQ for the clean up.
 
Q. What about my financial obligations and environmental liability?
 
A. Based on the terms of the agreement, the purchaser of the property will be able to define the financial obligations early in the process and after approval from ADEQ, will not be held liable for past contamination after the clean up is complete. Lending institutions will also be able to quantify financial risks associated with a contaminated property.
 
Q. What are the goals of the Brownfields Program?
 
A.
  • Provide continued protection of human health & the environment,
  • Encourage redevelopment as a sound land use management policy,
  • Develop risk-based clean up standards,
  • Enable prospective purchasers to determine liability “up front”, and
  • Develop a schedule-oriented program that can keep pace with real estate transactions.

 
Q. What Type of Financial Assistance Does ADEQ Provide?
 
A.
  1. Technical Assistance for Assessments ADEQ offers its assistance to qualified non-profit or public Brownfield Program Participants for environmental site assessments. For more information, please read the Targeted Brownfields Assessments information below.
  2. EPA Grants For information on funding available by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, please visit their website at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields.

History of the Brownfields Program

The “Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative” was announced by EPA Administrator Carol Browner in November 1994 as part of the EPA Region 6 Brownfields Program. The objective of the Initiative is to return unproductive, potentially contaminated properties back to beneficial use, to define the financial liabilities associated with a clean up early in the process, and to ensure environmentally sound redevelopment in the future.

In 1995 the Arkansas Brownfields Law (Act 125) was enacted with a great deal of support and enthusiasm by both political parties in the Arkansas Legislature. ADEQ began receiving federal funds from EPA to begin program development soon thereafter. In 1996 external and internal work groups were formed to develop clean up standards, guidance, and policy. In 1997 several amendments to the Brownfields Law were adopted by the Arkansas Legislature, again with overwhelming, bipartisan support. The amendments (Arkansas Code Annotated § 8-7-1101 et seq.), which became effective in August 1997, expand the types of properties which qualify for the program, further limit financial liability for purchasers of Brownfields properties, and provide for low-interest loan program to be established for participants in the program.

In December of 2000 the EPA and ADEQ entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to support ADEQ’s Brownfields Program and define the roles and responsibilities of Region 6 (EPA) and ADEQ.

Further information about the Arkansas Brownfields Program guidelines can be found in APC&E Commission Regulation 29.

Targeted Brownfields Assessments

Funded by awards granted by the U.S. EPA, ADEQ has the opportunity to offer technical assistance for site assessments to qualified Brownfields Program participants belonging to either the non-profit or public sector. Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBA) are designed to help minimize the uncertainties of contamination often associated with brownfields. A TBA may encompass one or more of the following activities:

  • A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, including a background and historical investigation and a preliminary site inspection; and
  • A Comprehensive Site Assessment (CSA), including sampling activities to identify the types and concentrations of contaminants and the areas of contamination to be cleaned.

TBA funding may only be used at sites as authorized by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986. The site must be contaminated or suspected to be contaminated with hazardous substances. Sites contaminated only with petroleum products are not eligible for assistance at this time.

To apply for TBA assistance, please view the TBA Request Guidance document or contact the ADEQ Brownfields staff at (501) 682-0867 or brownfields@adeq.state.ar.us for more information.

Links to Brownfields Forms and Resources

Links to Financial Assistance Resources

Record of Arkansas Brownfields Projects

For more information about Arkansas’ brownfields opportunities, please contact:

Brownfields Coordinator
Phone: (501) 682-0867
E-mail: terry@adeq.state.ar.us