A Community-wide Brownfields Assessment helps understand and identify environmental conditions, including potential hazards, contaminants, and resources on a property. Because environmental pollutants do not have boundaries, investigations may start on one site, but expand into an additional property to understand the extent of potential clean up activities.  Tools developed by the US EPA are available to determine the conditions, known as Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESA)s.

Phase I: To assist in the identification of potential hazards and/or contaminates, Phase I ESAs typically involve examining current and historical uses through review of records/databases, visual inspection, interviews with property owners, adjacent neighbors, and/or past employees. No ground disturbance is required for a Phase I ESA.

Phase II: is recommended if the Phase I ESA results reveal known or potential contamination found on the property. Qualified environmental professionals develop sampling plans to evaluate the  potential presence of contaminants in soils, groundwater, air and/or gas, or vacant buildings, and determines the sources and exposures. Cleanup plans will be developed with consultation with VA DEQ before proceeding with reuse or redevelopment activities.