What is a brownfield?
A brownfield is a property whose expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of contamination.
In more detail
The definition comes from the 2002 federal brownfields law. It covers everything from an old gas station lot to a closed plant. EPA has estimated there are hundreds of thousands of them in the US.
Brownfields can be good deals. State voluntary cleanup programs, EPA grants and liability protections exist to get them reused, and the discount can outweigh the cleanup cost.
What it means when you buy
A brownfield is a pricing question, not a dead end. Know what's there before you commit, and talk to the state's voluntary cleanup program early.
How the pre-screen handles it
The pre-screen shows the history and records that make a site a likely brownfield, so you can tell early whether the discount is worth it.
Pre-screen a property before you spend on a Phase I
A desk review of one address: past uses from historical photos and maps, federal and state environmental records, and flood risk, ready usually within the hour. $100 for one report, or $100/month for 3.