Brownfields

LATEST NEWS

September 16, 2026 – $815,000 Available for Cleanup of Contaminated Sites in Chittenden County | Read the press release »

The Chittenden County Brownfields Program is accepting applications. See below for details »

Brownfields Advisory Committee agendas, minutes and meeting materials are available below »

View a map of past and current projects we have supported.

The goal of the Chittenden County Brownfields Program is to help properties that are vacant or underutilized because of potential petroleum or hazardous substance contamination get put to productive use again. To accomplish this goal, the CCRPC administers the Chittenden County Brownfields Program, which:

  • Educates municipalities, businesses, property owners and the public about brownfields;
  • Assists property owners and potential developers by conducting environmental studies and/or draft site clean-up plans and cost estimates;
  • Assists property owners and potential developers by helping identify sources of potential funding to clean up and redevelop the property.

Since 2006, the Brownfields Program has funded assessment at over thirty sites. To learn more, download the Chittenden County Brownfields Program Brochure.

SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON:
HOW TO APPLY »
ADVISORY COMMITTEE »
CURRENT AND PAST PROJECTS »
RESOURCES »
CONTACT »

Now Accepting Applications for Site Assistance 

The Chittenden County Brownfields Program is now accepting applications!  If you own or wish to develop a property that is contaminated or suspected to be contaminated, please apply. To get started, read the information on different types of assistance below and fill out and send us a site nomination/assistance request form.

  1. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
    If your property is suspected to have contamination issues, an initial study called a “Phase I Environmental Site Assessment” can be completed. A Phase I uses historical records review, site visits and interviews of past tenants, and the result is an opinion as to whether there is the potential for contamination on the site. If the Phase I determines that there is a potential for contamination at the site, a Phase II will be needed.
  2. Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
    After a Phase I ESA has been completed, a Phase II ESA establishes the type, degree and extent of contamination on the site. A Phase II uses soil and groundwater testing, soil sampling and lab analysis. Based on the results of a Phase II ESA, a Corrective Action Plan can be developed.
  3. Corrective Action Plan  (CAP)
    Once the Phase I and Phase II have determined the type, degree and extent of site contamination, a Correction Action Plan is developed for the site. Depending on the type of contamination, corrective action may range from leaving the contamination in place and monitoring it regularly to removing the contamination completely.
  4. Archaeological Resources/Historic Preservation Issues 
    With certain properties, State or Federal authorities may also require an assessment of archeological resources or a review pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
  5. Implementing Cleanup Plans/Corrective Actions
    To support cleanup under an approved CAP, loans are available for up to $250,000 at flat interest rates (2% for municipalities and nonprofits, 3% for-profit entities), with a term of up to 30 years and flexibility on payments during the construction of the project. A limited number of grants or forgivable loans up to $150,000 each are available to municipalities and nonprofit organizations. Cleanup implementation funding is only available to projects that create a minimum of four (4) net new housing units or support development, redevelopment, or rehabilitation of a community facility owned and/or operated by a municipality or nonprofit. More details can be found in CCRPC’s Brownfields Cleanup Funding Policy.

Site Selection Principles and Evaluation Criteria
After submission of a Site Nomination/Assistance Request Form, CCRPC staff will score the nomination using a Project Review Sheet and also consult with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) staff to determine eligibility for program funding. Applicants may be asked to make a presentation to the Brownfields Advisory Committee. Using the Program’s Assessment Funding Policy or Cleanup Funding Policy, the Committee will then review the nomination form, the evaluation scoring, the results of staff consultations and any other pertinent information and make a recommendation to CCRPC staff whether to support the request and, if so, to what degree. CCRPC staff make the final decision on funding requests.

Advisory Committee

The Chittenden County Brownfields Program is managed by the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, with guidance from the Brownfields Advisory Committee. The Brownfields Advisory Committee is comprised of representatives from a variety of local and regional organizations. Current members are as follows:

City of BurlingtonWill Clavelle
City of WinooskiJazmine Hurley
Greater Burlington Industrial CorporationAlex Demoly
Lake Champlain Basin ProgramMatt Vaughan
University of VermontDr. Pablo Bose
Vermont Department of HealthMelissa Needham
EvernorthJoshua Slade
Downs Rachlin MartinEmily Garrett
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
EPA Region OneWilliam Lariviere
Vermont DEC Brownfields ProgramSarah Palmer Bartlett
Vermont ACCDKristie Farnham

Meetings of the Brownfields Advisory Committee are held remotely via Zoom as of July 1, 2024 and are held on the 2nd Monday of each month at 11:00am. The Committee provides guidance on program priorities, outreach, site selection and hiring consultants to conduct assessments. Agendas and meeting materials are posted below. For more details, read the Committee’s Policies & Procedures document.

Meetings

AUGUST 14, 11:00am-12:00pm

JuLY 21, 11:00am-12:00pm

June 12, 11:00am-12:00pm

May 9, 9:00-10:00am

March 13, 12:00-12:30pm

January 6, 2:30-3:00pm

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Current and Prior Grants

Since its inception, the program has utilized three major grants. Details on the grants’ accomplishments are noted in the links below:

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 Resources

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CONTACT

For more information about the Chittenden County Brownfields Program, contact Darren Schibler, CCRPC Senior Planner, at (802) 540-2508.

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