TAB Services

TAB provides various types of brownfields related assistance to the main stakeholders of brownfields redevelopment -- communities, local governments, regulatory agencies and economic development organizations. Assistance comes primarily in the form of education, outreach and technical assistance. Two principles guide TAB's activities:

• TAB believes community involvement is a priority. TAB works with community and civic leaders to educate and involve the community in the redevelopment process through outreach activities designed for their community’s specific project and needs. Some of the outreach activities that TAB has participated in are conferences, surveys, redevelopment charrettes, and presentations before interested groups.
• TAB is a supporter of new technologies and innovative ideas that will encourage brownfields redevelopment. TAB staff track innovations and stay current with regulatory and financial developments in the dynamic world of brownfields. We strive to disseminate new information to stakeholders and help communities incorporate progressive ideas in their redevelopment plans.

Education and Outreach

TAB helps organize educational events on brownfields. For example, TAB helped plan the 2002 Oregon Brownfields Conference which included a fieldtrip to Portland area redevelopment projects.

One of the main goals of the TAB program is to provide stakeholders the knowledge to be viable participants in the redevelopment process.

To achieve this TAB sponsors conferences and workshops and offers training modules which we can present to interested groups. These training modules cover various subjects related to brownfields redevelopment and can be tailored to fit a community's particular project or interests. Modules currently include:

Brownfields Basics -- This presentation provides an overview of the brownfields redevelopment process. Topics covered include: a definition of brownfields, an historical perspective of brownfields formation, the benefits of redevelopment, and major political activity related to brownfields.
The module describes EPA grant programs as well as brownfields programs common to most states. The module contains discussion of the roles local governments play in redevelopment and outlines techniques for achieving effective community participation. The training provides an overall strategy for redeveloping brownfields with a listing of specific steps that promote successful redevelopment.

Assessment and Cleanup -- The presentation begins with a definition of brownfields and the challenges they pose for redevelopment and gives descriptions of the types of brownfields site assessments (phases 1, 2 and 3). The relationships between site assessments, future land use, risk and cleanup methods and cost are explained. A brief description of the risk assessment process is given. The presentation then describes the Triad Approach, an innovative, streamlined process of site assessment specifically designed to save time and money. The module explains the issues surrounding cleanup as they relate to time, cost, health/ safety and regulatory compliance. It provides specific examples of cleanup technologies, including both established methods and new and innovative approaches. Following that is a short description of the process of preparing a Request for Proposal and how to encourage technological innovation in proposals solicited. The presentation concludes with information on working with analytical laboratories.

Risk Assessment -- This presentation module defines risk assessment as it is used in the scientific community to assess risk from exposure to hazardous substances. This module also explains the purposes of environmental risk assessment. It includes:

• A description of the risk assessment paradigm as it is routinely performed.
• Definitions and explanations of hazard identification, toxicity assessment, exposure assessment, exposure pathways and modeling, and risk characterization in easy to understand terms.
• The methods of measuring toxicity, both for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic substances.

The presentation shows how these concepts come together to characterize risk and the relationship of risk assessment to the Superfund program. The presentation describes uncertainties inherent in the risk assessment process and the purpose of a baseline risk assessment. The presentation concludes with a list of additional websites that contain information about risk assessment.

TAB can also develop modules on other topics to meet a community's specific needs.

Technical Assistance

TAB assists stakeholders with the steps of the redevelopment process in many ways. Although focused primarily on the more technical aspects of brownfields redevelopment, TAB can offer advice and assistance with other areas of the process such as financing, insurance and liability issues.

The amount and type of assistance will often vary depending on a community's particular needs. TAB will deliver assistance to all stakeholder groups in a form that is the most helpful and productive.

Some areas of technical assistance provided by TAB are:

• Identifying grant opportunities and developing grant application strategies
• Navigating the grant application process
• Assisting with the community outreach/education requirements of the grant application process
• Site assessment and cleanup
• Reviewing environmental reports and documents
• Assisting with requests for proposals
• Selecting and working with consultants
• Interpreting regulations, communicating with regulators
• Assessing cleanup options
• Providing information on new technologies

These are just some of the ways TAB can be of assistance. Contact the TAB office to inquire about obtaining help with your specific brownfields issue or challenge.