Western Geo-Engineers

(530) 668-5300; Fax (530) 662-0273; wege@cal.net

A FULL SERVICE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING COMPANY

Brownfields Assessments

What are Brownfields?

Brownfields are properties typically in urban areas with a history of industrial or manufacturing use, which have known or suspected residual contamination. Because of cleanup liability and high transaction cost concerns, these properties (Brownfields) have not been developed and are either abandoned or underutilized. Conversely, development has progressed into "greenfields", properties typically in rural areas (agricultural lands) that have no history of industrial or manufacturing use.

In contrast, blackfields are properties that are so contaminated that those properties are "upside-down"; the value of the property, even when developed, is less than the cost of cleanup.

It is estimated that there are some 400,000 Brownfields properties in the U.S. (Brownfields '96 A New Environmental Frontier, Conference September 20 and 21, 1996, Pittsburgh, PA.).

Brownfields, Attractions for Redevelopment

1. There is little industrial or manufacturing property located within cities.
2. Many Brownfields properties are located near substantial infrastructure, such as highways, railroads, electric service, pipelines and even surface waters.
3. Brownfields are attractive to city policy-makers because the properties can be used to create manufacturing and industrial facilities that typically create work for skilled, well-paid employees.

Brownfields Assessments

Western Geo-Engineers has over 14 years experience in Rapid Site Characterization, using soil vapor surveys and Soil Probe Surveys (SPS^TM) for defining soil and groundwater impacts with petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, chlorinated solvents and other volatile organic compounds.

In recent years the SPS^TM has also incorporated the use of Risk Based Modeling and Natural Attenuation Studies sampling for electron acceptors, methane and dissolved oxygen. The Brownfields Assessment incorporates the SPS^TM with both the Risk Base Modeling and Natural Attenuation Study to develop a Rapid Site Screening for the future development, and if needed, remedial actions for the property of interest.