The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a Brownfield site 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.” The NIEHS/EPA Brownfields Minority Worker Training Program, established in 1998, focused on delivering comprehensive training to disadvantaged residents living near Brownfields sites to foster economic and environmental restoration of their communities. That program ended in 2008, but as part of the HHS commitment to the Brownfields National Partnership Action Agenda, NIEHS continues to provide training under the Environmental Career Worker Training Program (ECWTP) to support training targeting Brownfields communities. NIEHS staff and ECWTP award recipients are also active participants in the National Brownfields Training Conference, regularly moderating and presenting sessions on topics such as job training, environmental justice, and partnership development.

The following resources address efforts to promote jobs and environmental justice through the safe and successful cleanup and redevelopment of Brownfields sites.

Training Resources

WTP Resources

• Brownfields: Hazmat Cleanup, But More(4MB)
• Environmental Justice and Hazardous Waste Worker Training Programs: 15 Years of Investment in Environmental Justice(1.49MB)
• Minority Worker Training Program: Guidance on How to Achieve Successes and Best Practices(8.04MB)
• The Economic Impact of the Environmental Career Worker Training Program(1.55MB)

WTP Technical Workshops

• 2010 Conference on Environmental Justice, Air Quality, Goods Movement, and Green Jobs: Evolution and Innovation
• Fall 2010 Technical Workshop – Back to the Basics
• Fall 2007 Technical Workshop – The Future of Hazardous Materials Cleanup and Training
• Spring 2006 Technical Workshop – Learning from Disasters: Health and Safety Training in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
• Fall 2005 Technical Workshop – Katrina Response: Flexible, Focused Training for Disasters
• Spring 2001 NIEHS/OSHA Joint Technical Workshop – Best Practices for Worker Training

Federal Links and Documents

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

• Brownfield Redevelopment – Stakeholders Cite Additional Measures That Could Complement EPA ’s Efforts to Clean Up and Redevelop Properties(41KB)
• Hazardous Waste Programs – Information on Appropriations and Expenditures for Superfund, Brownfields, and Related Programs(123KB)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• Brownfields Page
• Hazardous Waste Page

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Brownfields Home Page
• Brownfields Road Map to Understanding Technology Options for Site Investigation and Cleanup

Other Links and Documents

• The Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR): Online Resource Center
• The Center for Public Environmental Oversight Brief: The Biggest Brownfield(128KB)
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Brownfields Page