Brownfields Assistance Program


The West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Program empowers communities, developers, and stakeholders to assess, cleanup, and sustainably reuse brownfields.  WVDEP can provide free guidance and technical assistance throughout the brownfield redevelopment process.

Example services WVDEP provides include:

  • Review and explain environmental reports.
  • Provide technical and programmatical guidance to assess and remediate sites.
  • Assist with educating stakeholders and conducting community outreach.
  • Introduce similar projects successfully completed throughout the state and country.
  • Identify potential project funding sources.





Brownfields Property Assessments

The Office of Environmental Remediation regularly applies for and frequently receives USEPA Brownfields Assessment Grants to conduct environmental assessments of brownfield sites throughout West Virginia.  The amount of funding available for assessment varies over time and depends on the number of sites previously assessed.  Occasionally funds are unavailable until the next grant funding cycle, which is typically October of each year. 

The OER uses funds from these assessment grants to assist municipalities and non-profits to conduct Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, Asbestos Inspections, and Lead-based Paint testing at properties that are potentially contaminated by hazardous materials or petroleum.  The primary goal of these grant funds is to assess priority brownfields and return these properties to productive use for redevelopment.  These services are provided at no cost, but sites are prioritized based on potential for redevelopment, community engagement/support, and need. 

To obtain more information regarding the availability of funds for assessment of brownfield properties, contact the OER at DEPBrownfieldsAssessment@wv.gov.



Brownfields Revolving Fund

The Office of Environmental Remediation also administers the Brownfields Revolving Fund (BRF) program that offers low-interest loans to eligible local governments, nonprofits, and private sector businesses to assist them in the cleanup of properties contaminated with petroleum or hazardous substances.  Repayment terms of up to 10 years can be negotiated.

Borrowers in the BRF program are required to contribute 20% of the total loan amount toward the cleanup effort, though the match amount can be met through in-kind labor, material, or services. Borrowers also must enroll the site in the WV Voluntary Remediation Program to complete the cleanup work unless the remediation is limited to asbestos or lead-based paint abatement.  Funds cannot be used to perform environmental site assessments, such as Phase I or Phase II ESAs prior to cleanup. 

More information regarding cleanup loans from the Brownfield Revolving Fund can be found here or by emailing DEPBrownfieldsRevolvingFund@wv.gov.

Brownfields Reference Documents for Download