Building on Brownfields

An important strategy for protecting prime agricultural land, open space, and woodlands against the forces of sprawl is to build within existing urban areas and on previously disturbed sites. Unfortunately, many such sites suffer the scars of heavy use in a time when environmental controls were unknown or unheeded. Their soil and groundwater may be contaminated with toxic heavy metals or petrochemicals. Adding to the complications of cleaning up such sites is the burden of financial liability for the whole mess, which can fall on any owner, regardless of their role in causing the problem.

...

To read the complete article, please login below.

BuildingGreen.com