 SRP Publications Brownfields Reports 2001
United States and Germany Brownfield Partnership
— A Global Approach to the Sharing of Environmental Strategies on
Brownfield Cleanup and ReuseThe cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites
of hazardous materials is a global concern that requires an integrated
approach to mitigate the risks to human health and the environment.
Many countries have committed extensive resources to the effort
to address environmental, social and economic issues related to
cleanup and redevelopment of these contaminated hazardous waste
sites. The challenge is how to capitalize on the resources, expertise,
and knowledge of countries that are developing solutions to those
issues and effectively share this information. It is clear that
the successful development of brownfields requires the cooperative
efforts of Federal and State agencies as well as private individuals.
In 1990, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Office of Research and Development
(ORD) and the German Federal Ministry
of Education and Research (BMBF) established a bilateral working
group to gain a better understanding of each country’s efforts in
the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and to evaluate the effectiveness
of innovative technologies being applied at selected sites in each
country. The overall objective of the Bilateral Work-group is for
each partner country to gain a comprehensive understanding of the
other’s approach to remediating hazardous waste sites and evaluating
the effectiveness of innovative technologies being applied at these
sites. In April 2001 the workgroup was expanded to include
the state of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection.
This addition will provide feedback and input on brownfield processes
and issues from a state perspective regarding the cleanup and reuse
of these contaminated properties. New Jersey’s successful brownfield
program contains numerous incentives and processes specifically
designed to encourage the cleanup and reuse of contaminated properties
that are a blight to the urban landscape. The goals of the workgroup
meetings are to identify, evaluate, and focus on the barriers to
cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites in both countries. Throughout the course of the discussion at the
initial meeting it was interesting that both Germany and the U.S./New
Jersey have identified similar obstacles to the cleanup and redevelopment
of abandoned contaminated properties. The lack of predictable benefits
such as economic, ecological and social benefits to the area surrounding
a brownfield site were also identified as issues to be addressed
as the process moves forward. Specifically, issues of urban sprawl,
revitalization of the cities and the development of incentives to
promote this aspect of cleanup and redevelopment, liability, and
identification and marketing of brownfield sites. Both countries agreed to initiate the development
of training, guidance materials, workshops and resource websites
that can be used by all interested parties to facilitate the cleanup
and reuse of contaminated properties.  Brownfield
redevelopment is a way to enhance sustainable urban development
and includes the following presumptions:
- Prevent further land consumption
- Prevent growing financial burdens for the citizens through
the use of available infrastructure
- Stabilization and broadening the municipal tax base
- Economic and social revitalization of negatively affected communities
- Enhancing the quality of life in cities
- Brownfields as “experimental stages”
- chances for innovative sustainable projects
With agreement from all participants on the Technical
Bilateral workgroup, the Phase III workplan implementation is moving
forward. 
Landschaftspark
Duisberg-Nord is a former industrial site reused as a park and enjoyed
by area residents. It represents a creative and innovative reuse
strategy by German environmental officials.
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