Washington brownfield conferences and workshops

Overview

The Brownfields Team and our partners held one-day workshops in Richland (Tuesday, September 10), North Bend (Wednesday, September 11), and Bremerton (Thursday, September 12). Each event ran from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Representatives from communities of all sizes were welcome, but most content focused on the needs of communities with populations less than 75,000. More than 70 people attended. Read the article in the November 2024 issue of the Brownfields Newsletter 

What was covered

• Brownfield resources and funding programs

• Overview of Washington’s cleanup process using local examples

• Common challenges and strategies for redeveloping brownfields

• Panel discussion and local case studies

• Site-specific Q&As

Session materials

• Session 1: Brownfield resources in Washington and where to find them
• Session 2 in Richland: Overview of the MTCA Cleanup Process with local case study
• Session 2 in North Bend: Overview of the MTCA Cleanup Process with local case study 
• Session 2 in Bremerton: Overview of the MTCA Cleanup Process with local case study
• Session 3: Transforming brownfields: Challenges, solutions, and success stories

Session descriptions

Session 1: Where do I start? Your guide to brownfield resources in Washington (and where to find them)

When you’re faced with a brownfield property in your community, your first questions might be, Where do I start? What if I find something? How will we pay for it? This 50-minute session began answering those questions. We briefly introduced people who can help: the hydrogeologists, toxicologists, site managers, and funding and planning experts at Ecology, CCLR, EPA, and Commerce. We explained what brownfields are and shared data about why getting them to “beneficial reuse” matters. We then mapped out major brownfield resources in Washington and some potential next steps. This session took the scary out of starting the brownfield journey so your community can start reaping the rewards.

Session 2: Pathway to reuse: A (mostly) non-technical overview of the MTCA Cleanup Process

Most contaminated site cleanups in Washington follow the process and requirements of our state’s environmental cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act or MTCA. Although MTCA provides a structured framework to guide cleanups, the technical jargon and acronyms can be daunting to people who are new to it. In this session, we provided a brief overview of steps in the MTCA cleanup process. We crosswalked MTCA terms with EPA terms often encountered when cleaning up brownfields, then used local, real-world examples that illustrate how the MTCA cleanup steps are put into action.

Session 3: Transforming brownfields: Challenges, solutions, and success stories

In this informative and interactive panel discussion, we explored some of the challenges and strategies for transforming brownfields into vibrant, usable spaces. We spotlighted successful projects and sparked ideas you can use in your own community. Panel topics included (a) engaging with property owners and navigating property access issues; (b) effective community engagement; (c) attracting and securing the right developer; and (d) crafting optimal deal structures to ensure project viability. The panel offered insights and real-world, practical approaches for overcoming the complexities of brownfield redevelopments (even when they take an unexpected turn). Whether you’re a municipal representative, developer, property owner, or community advocate, this session helped equip you with tools and knowledge for driving successful redevelopment projects… and reassured you are not alone in the brownfields journey.

Thank you to our 2024 hosts and partners!

• Richland: Amanda (Mandy) Wallner, Economic Development Manager, City of Richland, and Michelle Holt, Executive Director, Benton-Franklin Council of Governments
• North Bend: James Henderson, Economic Development Manager, City of North Bend. Special thanks to North Bend Mayor Mary Miller.
• Bremerton: James Weaver, Director of Marine Facilities, Port of Bremerton. Special thanks to Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler.
• Workshops were hosted by the communities of Richland, North Bend, and Bremerton and presented by the Department of Ecology, the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of Commerce. The events were funded wholly or in part by EPA under assistance agreement TR-84027101 to the Center for Creative Land Recycling.

Overview

The 2019 Washington Brownfield Conference was a 1.5-day event held in Spokane, at the Doubletree by Hilton Spokane City Center on Wednesday and Thursday, May 29–30. The event brought together public and private sector stakeholders and Tribes from Washington and the Inland Northwest.

Session content focused on cleaning up and redeveloping brownfields, which are two key factors that support local economic development efforts. When communities redevelop brownfields, they turn perceived problems into assets such as affordable housing.

The event was hosted by Ecology and coordinated in partnership with the Northwest Environmental Business Council. It was funded in part by EPA.

Conference materials

Visit our Brownfield Conference EZview page to view and download conference materials that include:

• Conference program and agenda (booklet)
• Guides for bus and walking tours in Spokane
• Session descriptions and presentations

Thank you to our 2019 sponsors!

Title sponsor

• Maul Foster Alongi

Premier sponsors

• Kane Environmental
• Stantec

Major sponsors

• Alta Science & Engineering
• EDR
• ERIS (Environmental Risk Information Services)
• GeoSearch
• Hart Crowser
• Historical Information Gatherers (HIG)
• Land Science, a division of REGENESIS
• PBS, an Apex Company
• Restorical Research
• SES—Spokane Environmental Solutions
• STEGO Industries
• TSI