Nearly two out of every three counties (64 percent) have an identified brownfield property. Cook County, Ill. alone has more than 600 properties, the most of any county with a brownfield site, with the median number of sites for brownfield counties reaching five properties. These sites are concentrated in rust-belt and other former industrial- heavy regions of the country. With more than 450,000 total estimated sites, brownfields impact every county to varying degrees.

Brownfield properties can come in many shapes and sizes. Often, they are thought of as large abandoned industrial complexes, but it is more common for brownfield sites to be smaller properties like former gas stations, dry cleaners or automotive repair garages. Brownfield sites can also be agricultural, residential, railroad sites, chemical manufacturing plants or public buildings.

Download Primer

Related News

Thermal power plant burning coal fossil fuel for production of electrical energy. Kingston power station in Roane County, Tennessee
Advocacy

DOI, DOE and the EPA announce new funding and regulatory measures to support U.S. coal industry

On September 29, the U.S. Departments of the Interior (DOI), Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced coordinated actions to expand domestic coal production and coal-fired energy generation. 

Personal perspective of man filling a glass of filtered water right from the tap in the kitchen at home
Advocacy

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announces it will uphold 2024 PFAS CERCLA rule

On September 17, the EPA announced that the agency will uphold the 2024 rule designating two types of PFAS as hazardous under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. 

Huge flocks of migrating snow geese take flight at sunrise
Advocacy

DOI announces millions for multiple wetlands conservation programs

On September 18, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced $54 million in land acquisitions for waterfowl habitat conservation through a program administered by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. The conservation actions add onto an August 4 announcement of $102.9 million in grant-based funding under a separate program administered by the Commission for the conservation of critical wetlands ecosystems and migratory bird habitat through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

Sunset landscape of the marshes of south San Francisco bay, Sunnyvale, California
Advocacy

House Natural Resources Committee advances reauthorization legislation for NOAA’s Digital Coast program

On September 17, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed the bipartisan Digital Coast Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize the Digital Coast program through 2030.

539281953
Advocacy

MAHA Commission releases federal strategy outlining next steps in childhood chronic disease prevention

On September 9, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s new Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, following the earlier MAHA Report published in May 2025. The strategy builds on the assessment’s findings regarding four key drivers of childhood chronic disease: poor diet, chemical exposure, lack of physical activity and chronic stress and overmedicalization.

Erie County, N.Y. Parks, Recreation and Forestry staff will train new recruits to use equipment necessary to maintain the parks. Photo courtesy of Erie County Parks, Recreation & Forestry
County News

Paid training program helps staff a county park system

Modeled on the Civilian Conservation Corps, Erie County, N.Y.'s training and internship program aims to help fill vacant staff positions while offering the necessary training.