10 Veterans Boulevard · New Orleans, LA · 70124 · 504.483.8500 |
Glossary of Common Terms
Brownfield: A Brownfield is a piece of real property (land) that is either abandoned or underutilized and has
real or potential contamination that is preventing the site from being redeveloped or put back into commerce.
EPA’s Brownfield Program provides funding to perform environmental assessments (grants) and cleanups
(grants and loans) for eligible applicants looking to redevelop Brownfield sites.
RPC: Regional Planning Commission- The Metropolitan Planning Organization for southeast Louisiana
specifically focused on the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany Parishes,
and also including St. John the Baptist and St. Charles Parishes. RPC is a Brownfield grantee with funding
available for Brownfield assessments (grants) and cleanups (loans).
USEPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency- USEPA provides funding for environmental
assessments and cleanups through their Brownfield Program. They are responsible for ensuring that the money
is spent properly and in accordance with the regulations, and are also a source of information and technical
assistance. Also abbreviated EPA.
LDEQ: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality- LDEQ is the state regulatory agency that oversees
Phase II environmental investigations and cleanups. They also have Brownfield grant money for environmental
assessments through their Targeted Brownfield Assistance program, and for cleanups through their Brownfield
Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Program. LDEQ is also a technical resource.
ESA: Environmental Site Assessment
Phase I ESA- a research report on a property that details past and present sources for potential
contamination. Phase I ESAs under the Brownfield Program, or by a prospective purchaser to prevent future
liability if they purchase the site, must conform to USEPA’s All Appropriate Inquiry standards (ASTM E1527-05).
(Link to AAI)
Phase II ESA – A Phase II ESA typically involves the collection of soil, groundwater, and/or soil gas samples to
determine if contamination exists at a site. Further sampling may be performed to determine the nature (what
type of contaminants are present) and extent (horizontal and vertical limits) of the contamination.
TBA: Targeted Brownfields Assistance- LDEQ’s TBA program provides funding for environmental assessments.
Applicants must meet USEPA’s eligibility requirements for Brownfields funding and complete the TBA application
(http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/269/Default.aspx). If selected, LDEQ will notify their designated
contractor to conduct the investigation. This funding is available for both Phase I and Phase II environmental
investigations.
Brownfield Pilot: One of the original Brownfields grantees when EPA started the program in the late 1990’s.
BCRLF: Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund- Provides a pot of money from which loans are made to
cleanup eligible Brownfield properties at below market interest rates. As the loans are repaid, additional loans
can be made, thus revolving the loan funds.
CAP: Corrective Action Plan- If soil and groundwater sampling reveal contamination that exceeds LDEQ’s
actionable levels, the Corrective Action Plan details how the contamination will be addressed/ cleaned up. Also
know as a Remedial Action Plan (RAP).
RECAP: Risk Evaluation/ Corrective Action Program- RECAP is an LDEQ program that regulates the minimum
remediation (cleanup) standards for present and past uncontrolled constituent releases (contamination at a
site). Environmental cleanups in Louisiana are performed under this program to ensure that minimum standards
are met to protect human health and the environment. After completing a cleanup under this program, a
certificate of completion is awarded from LDEQ for the activities detailed in a specific approved cleanup plan.
The cleanup plan is usually developed around the results of soil and groundwater sampling, which is based on
the environmental concerns noted in a Phase I environmental site assessment.
VRP: Voluntary Remediation Program- This is an LDEQ program to oversee assessment and cleanups of
contaminated properties. In exchange for more extensive sampling at a site, if a cleanup is completed under
the Voluntary Remediation Program, the applicant is granted a Certificate of Completion and a release of
liability for all past contamination at the site. If additional past contamination is found, LDEQ will be responsible
for the cleanup. The release of liability is transferable to future owners of the site, as long as no new
contamination is contributed to the property.
Brownfield: A Brownfield is a piece of real property (land) that is either abandoned or underutilized and has
real or potential contamination that is preventing the site from being redeveloped or put back into commerce.
EPA’s Brownfield Program provides funding to perform environmental assessments (grants) and cleanups
(grants and loans) for eligible applicants looking to redevelop Brownfield sites.
RPC: Regional Planning Commission- The Metropolitan Planning Organization for southeast Louisiana
specifically focused on the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany Parishes,
and also including St. John the Baptist and St. Charles Parishes. RPC is a Brownfield grantee with funding
available for Brownfield assessments (grants) and cleanups (loans).
USEPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency- USEPA provides funding for environmental
assessments and cleanups through their Brownfield Program. They are responsible for ensuring that the money
is spent properly and in accordance with the regulations, and are also a source of information and technical
assistance. Also abbreviated EPA.
LDEQ: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality- LDEQ is the state regulatory agency that oversees
Phase II environmental investigations and cleanups. They also have Brownfield grant money for environmental
assessments through their Targeted Brownfield Assistance program, and for cleanups through their Brownfield
Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Program. LDEQ is also a technical resource.
ESA: Environmental Site Assessment
Phase I ESA- a research report on a property that details past and present sources for potential
contamination. Phase I ESAs under the Brownfield Program, or by a prospective purchaser to prevent future
liability if they purchase the site, must conform to USEPA’s All Appropriate Inquiry standards (ASTM E1527-05).
(Link to AAI)
Phase II ESA – A Phase II ESA typically involves the collection of soil, groundwater, and/or soil gas samples to
determine if contamination exists at a site. Further sampling may be performed to determine the nature (what
type of contaminants are present) and extent (horizontal and vertical limits) of the contamination.
TBA: Targeted Brownfields Assistance- LDEQ’s TBA program provides funding for environmental assessments.
Applicants must meet USEPA’s eligibility requirements for Brownfields funding and complete the TBA application
(http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/269/Default.aspx). If selected, LDEQ will notify their designated
contractor to conduct the investigation. This funding is available for both Phase I and Phase II environmental
investigations.
Brownfield Pilot: One of the original Brownfields grantees when EPA started the program in the late 1990’s.
BCRLF: Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund- Provides a pot of money from which loans are made to
cleanup eligible Brownfield properties at below market interest rates. As the loans are repaid, additional loans
can be made, thus revolving the loan funds.
CAP: Corrective Action Plan- If soil and groundwater sampling reveal contamination that exceeds LDEQ’s
actionable levels, the Corrective Action Plan details how the contamination will be addressed/ cleaned up. Also
know as a Remedial Action Plan (RAP).
RECAP: Risk Evaluation/ Corrective Action Program- RECAP is an LDEQ program that regulates the minimum
remediation (cleanup) standards for present and past uncontrolled constituent releases (contamination at a
site). Environmental cleanups in Louisiana are performed under this program to ensure that minimum standards
are met to protect human health and the environment. After completing a cleanup under this program, a
certificate of completion is awarded from LDEQ for the activities detailed in a specific approved cleanup plan.
The cleanup plan is usually developed around the results of soil and groundwater sampling, which is based on
the environmental concerns noted in a Phase I environmental site assessment.
VRP: Voluntary Remediation Program- This is an LDEQ program to oversee assessment and cleanups of
contaminated properties. In exchange for more extensive sampling at a site, if a cleanup is completed under
the Voluntary Remediation Program, the applicant is granted a Certificate of Completion and a release of
liability for all past contamination at the site. If additional past contamination is found, LDEQ will be responsible
for the cleanup. The release of liability is transferable to future owners of the site, as long as no new
contamination is contributed to the property.
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Regional Planning Commission 10 Veterans Blvd New Orleans, LA 70124 (504) 483-8500 www.norpc.org brownfields@norpc.org |