2024 Washington Brownfield Workshops: Connecting the Dots – Renew. Reuse. Revitalize.

Washington Department of Ecology’s Brownfields Program and the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) will host three brownfield workshops in Washington this September. These workshops are designed for communities with populations less than 75,000 that want to explore end-use potential for their vacant and/or contaminated properties. You’ll hear practical information that helps you foster strategic partnerships between public and private entities and navigate the challenges of brownfield cleanup and redevelopment. Lunch and a short walking tour included.

Select the link below and register by navigating to the “Get Tickets” button on the righthand side. You will be presented with the location and ticket type for each individual workshop. Choose the Workshop you’d like to attend and complete the registration.

Registration Now Open!

Workshop Details:

1. Richland: September 10, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Richland Community Center: 500 Amon Park Dr., Richland, WA 99352
2. North Bend: September 11, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | North Bend City Hall: 920 SE Cedar Falls Way, North Bend, WA 98045
3. Bremerton: September 12, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Kitsap Conference Center: 100 Washington Ave., Bremerton, WA 98337 – Ferry schedules for direct transport from downtown Seattle to conference center: WA State Ferry or Kitsap Transit Fast Ferries

Attendees will walk away with valuable insights on technical assistance resources, funding avenues, and redevelopment strategies. You’ll have opportunities to hear directly from community leaders who have undergone the land reuse process, with opportunities to network and develop connections that inspire resilience and innovation.

Topics to be presented will include:

• Brownfield resources and funding programs
• Panel discussion and case studies
• Overview of Washington’s cleanup process
• Common challenges and strategies for redeveloping your brownfield
• Site-specific Q&As
• Representatives from communities of any size are welcome, but most content will focus on the needs of communities with populations less than 75,000.

What you’ll gain:

You’ll have the opportunity to gain valuable insights into technical assistance resources, funding avenues, and strategies from organizations such as Ecology, CCLR, and other sources. Learn lessons directly from communities that have successfully undergone the land reuse process. Connect with networks that will support and inspire your journey.

Program Agenda

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 starts answering those questions. We’ll briefly introduce you to people who can help: the hydrogeologists, toxicologists, site managers, and funding and planning experts at Ecology, CCLR, EPA, and Commerce. We’ll explain what brownfields are and share data about why getting them to “beneficial reuse” matters. We’ll then map out major brownfield resources in Washington and some potential next steps. This session takes the scary out of starting the brownfields journey so your community can start reaping the rewards.

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’ll provide a brief overview of steps in the MTCA cleanup process. We’ll crosswalk MTCA terms with EPA terms you’ll often encounter when redeveloping properties, then use local, real-world examples that illustrate how the MTCA cleanup steps are put into action.

Transforming Brownfields: Challenges, Solutions, and Success Stories

In this informative and interactive panel discussion, we’ll explore some of the challenges and strategies for transforming brownfields into vibrant, usable spaces. We’ll spotlight successful projects and spark ideas you can use in your own community. Panel topics include 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. You’ll gather insights and learn real-world, practical approaches for overcoming the complexities of brownfields redevelopment (even when it takes an unexpected turn). Whether you’re a municipal representative, developer, property owner, or community advocate, this session equips you with tools and knowledge for driving successful redevelopment projects… and reassures you are not alone in the brownfields journey.