Recycling land and buildings
Since 1998, ABRO has partnered with community organizations and local governments to return distressed properties to the community as greenspace, commercial, residential or mixed-use development.
Some of Austin's landmark attractions were once brownfields. If you've gone to a concert at Zilker Park, taken the train from Crestview Station, visited the Central Library, walked around the lake in Mueller neighborhood, eaten at a restaurant in the Seaholm Eco District, or shopped in Plaza Saltillo then you've enjoyed the benefits of brownfields revitalization in Austin. ABRO helped relieve the environmental barriers these properties had to overcome. Learn more about other local cleanup projects.
What are brownfields?
Brownfields can be any property that is idle, vacant or has concerns about environmental impacts from past uses. Brownfields can be anywhere.
Types of Brownfields assistance offered
Our program supports redeveloping properties by providing site assessments and technical assistance to relieve environmental concerns. If you have any questions about whether a property you are buying or redeveloping might qualify for a brownfields assistance, contact ABRO.
| Environmental site assessments (ESAs) |
A Phase I ESA looks at the property's history to see if there are any recognized environmental concerns. A Phase II ESA will be performed if possible contamination sources were found in the Phase I ESA. Environmental samples will be collected to see if there is contamination on the site. If contamination is found, multiple sampling events may be needed. |
| Building materials investigations | Surveys collect and analyze samples from existing buildings to see if they were constructed using regulated materials that need to be removed and handled in a special way. Before 1980, asbestos-containing materials (ACM) were the industry standard to help prevent fires. Paint with high concentrations of lead (lead-based paint or LBP) was commonly used before the 1980s. |
| Cleanup planning | Environmental professionals prepare plans/specifications outlining how to safely remove regulated building materials or clean up contaminated soils/groundwater and dispose of them following the required local, state and/or federal laws and regulations. |
| Remediation | Cleanup involves removing environmental media like soil and groundwater that have unsafe concentrations of hazardous materials or petroleum products, abating regulated building materials contaminated with asbestos and lead-based paint, and safely disposing of them so the property can be redeveloped. Depending on how complex the cleanup is, this can be quick and easy to complete or take a long time on a very complicated project. |
| Technical guidance | Technical guidance includes consulting with property owners, developers and prospective purchasers on environmental issues. The ABRO can also provide a review of environmental documentation on redevelopment sites and assistance with state or federal regulatory agency programs. |
ABRO support
- Brownfields site assessment
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Environmental due diligence starts with completing a Phase I ESA before purchasing a property. It is a critical step in protecting a future landowner from certain liability for contamination already on the property.
What to expect during a simple assessment process
A Phase I ESA looks at the history of the site and its surroundings, to see if there are any clues about possible environmental impacts. If sources of contamination are suspected, additional information specific to the site is needed. A Phase II ESA will be performed, and environmental samples will be collected to see if there is contamination on the site. If there is contamination, multiple sampling events may be needed to find the full extent of contamination to be cleaned up. A cleanup plan outlines how to safely remove the contamination following environmental regulations. Eligible entities for no-cost environmental site assessments (Phase I and Phase II) include:
- Nonprofits
- Community or neighborhood development corporations
- Redevelopment agencies
- Any redevelopment that benefits the community
Other eligibility criteria apply, please contact us for details. For more information, please email or call the Austin Brownfields Revitalization Office.
- Financial resources
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Financial resources for brownfields assistance include no-cost environmental site assessments (Phase I and II), building material surveys (asbestos, lead-based paint and mold) and cleanup plans for eligible projects in Austin.
Other eligibility criteria apply, please contact us for details. For more information, please email or call the Austin Brownfields Revitalization Office.
- Best practices for soil testing
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If you're interested in growing food, it’s important to check the soil for nutrient levels and the presence of harmful heavy metals. Soil testing is a way to make sure your soil is safe and suitable for various uses, including gardening.
Testing your soil for nutrients
- Submit a soil sample to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory.
- Gardeners sometimes need to add nitrogen fertilizer to support plant growth. Excessive use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers can contribute to ground and surface water pollution.
- Excess nitrogen (above 19 ppm) and phosphorus (above 50 ppm) from over-fertilizing can contaminate water and air. High levels of these substances can lead to the loss of certain plant species, cause harm to fish and aquatic organisms, and contaminate drinking water.
Testing your soil for heavy metals
- To test soil for heavy metals, visit the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and select an environmental laboratory accredited to analyze solids (soils) and metals.
Soil to Groundwater (the metals can leach from the soil to groundwater)
Total Soil Combined (includes inhalation, ingestion, dermal and vegetable consumption pathways)
Arsenic 5 mg/kg 24 mg/kg Lead 3 mg/kg 500 mg/kg* * there is no known safe level for ingestion of lead so make sure to wash produce.
- If the levels of heavy metals in your soil are below the "Soil to Groundwater" threshold, there is no need to be concerned about lead or heavy metal exposure.
- If your levels fall between the "Soil to Groundwater" number and the "Total Soil Combined" threshold, follow best management practices (BMPs) to reduce lead exposure from your vegetable garden. This includes maintaining a high pH for fruiting vegetables and keeping the soil mulched to minimize dust inhalation.
- If your levels are close to the "Total Soil Combined" threshold, consider avoiding the cultivation of leafy vegetables or root vegetables.
- If your levels exceed the "Total Soil Combined" threshold, consider using raised beds for gardening. Additionally, place mulch, gravel, or paving stones around the raised beds to prevent dust inhalation.
Additional gardening resources
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