BROWNFIELDS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

The Lakes Region Planning Commission (LRPC) was awarded $475,000 from the FY2023 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Program to assist Lakes Region communities with assessments of vacant and underutilized sites that remain in that state due to concerns about environmental contamination from hazardous materials. Our goals for the funding include “creating and preserving open space, increasing economic opportunities in the Lakes Region, and reducing the threat to human health and the environment”. Our previous Brownfields funding led to the clean-up of sites in Bristol, Franklin, Ashland, and Tilton, as well as a special assessment for the Lakes Region Facility in Laconia. EPA has given this region another opportunity to work on more eligible properties.

Belmont Mill Brownfields Revitalization Project | Belmont, NH

This new award has enabled LRPC to hire a qualified environmental firm to conduct Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies, and re-use planning of Brownfields sites in the Lakes Region.

Phase 1 assessments examine current and former uses of a property in order to determine the potential for environmental issues.
Phase 2 studies involve collecting laboratory samples and data necessary to confirm or dismiss any environmental questions identified during Phase 1. These studies are important steps before clean-up and reuse can occur. Brownfields sites are defined under the Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002 as “real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.”
Re-use Planning can take many forms, while revitalizing a brownfield starts with understanding how the community’s site reuse goals align with local economic, infrastructure, social and environmental conditions. Specific planning activities will help your community determine which reuses are feasible for the site. Site reuse planning is essential because the reuse influences how the site will be assessed, remediated, and maintained safely post-cleanup.

The LRPC initiated the program in Spring 2024 and expects to complete it within a three-year timeframe. Representing 31 communities, the LRPC continues to lead active initiatives in land use and environmental planning, transportation, watershed protection, economic development, technical assistance, and information services.

For additional information about the federal Brownfields program in New England, see http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/region1. For questions on current projects, please contact Glenn Trefethen, LRPC Transportation Planner at 603-279-5335.

Program Goals

Create an inventory of hazardous sites for potential preliminary assessments and environmental characterizations.
Conduct community outreach.
Select up to 6 hazardous substances sites for Phase 1 (preliminary assessment) and Phase 2 (environmental characterizations).
Obtain all necessary federal and state approvals needed to conduct the environmental characterizations, and perform reporting and maintenance of the ACRES database.
Prepare and present written reports regarding the environmental assessments and characterizations for review by the NH Department of Environmental Services and acceptance by the LRPC.
Creation of tailored public outreach and visioning sessions that will result with a property re-use plan.