We will maintain our active brownfields redevelopment program. The Environmental Protection Agency defines brownfield sites 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.” Many of these sites were occupied by industrial operations that used or produced hazardous materials, salvage yards, and some types of commercial uses. A lack of knowledge of the prior uses of these sites could lead to contamination of ground or surface water and other hazards to public health. Oklahoma City has an active brownfields mitigation program in place that maintains information on sites. The City will also continue to assist potential developers by identifying available financing options and other incentives, and helping to assemble funding packages that can encourage redevelopment.
We will require that sites with environmental hazards are properly cleaned up and mitigated before issuing development permits. The brownfields site inventory helps ensure that future reuse of these sites includes proper mitigation procedures. To this end, proof that hazards have been removed in compliance with federal, state, and local requirements will be required before the City issues grading, building, or any other type of development permit.