Across much of the United States, cities are finding areas that were once used for industrial and/or commercial purposes have slowly been abandoned and passed over time and again for redevelopment. The perception is that these properties have been contaminated by past site activities and that the cost from both a liability and redevelopment perspective is just too high. While it is true that some of these properties are likely contaminated, it is often the case that many of the properties are simply perceived to be contaminated or have only a small problem that can easily be addressed. Whether real or perceived, the obstacles associated with this environmental stigma are often enough to deter lending institutions, real estate developers, or other investors from taking part in the property's redevelopment. In the end, this process hurts local communities the most, as they see new development occurring farther and farther from where they live. These "abandoned" urban areas often become a community eyesore and feed into the overall sense of hopelessness commonly associated with "brownfield" areas. In many communities, new development is planned at the expanding edges of town on historically undeveloped property or "greenfields." Some of the many secondary effects of this greenfield development are the extension of urban sprawl, the loss of historical heritage within a community, higher rates of unemployment, and the lengthening of commuter traffic, all of which carry additional costs to the environment and the community.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a brownfield site 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."

To address the problems associated with brownfields, the EPA began pilot programs to provide states, tribes, municipalities, and communities with useful information and strategies to promote a unified approach to site assessment, environmental cleanup, and redevelopment of contaminated properties. In January 2002, President George W. Bush signed legislation (Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act) to further encourage the cleanup and redevelopment of commercial and industrial properties. In addition, President Bush has requested an increase of EPA funding for brownfields from $98 million to $200 million for fiscal year 2003.