Brownfields properties are underutilized, economically abandoned properties where the redevelopment or reuse is hampered by the presence of hazardous contaminants.  Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off of “greenfields”, and both improves and protects the environment. 

EPA and State Brownfields Programs provide a mechanism for states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together to assess, clean up, and reuse these properties.  The Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002 expanded EPA's assistance by providing new tools for the public and private sectors to promote sustainable brownfields cleanup and reuse.

Duncklee & Dunham’s Brownfields Services Group is one of the strongest in the Southeast.  Our staff includes scientists who have direct experience in redeveloping environmentally impacted properties as a potential developer, experience as a DENR-HWS Brownfields Program regulator, and innovation using geographic information system (GIS) methods on EPA grant funded projects.  Within the past two years, our staff has performed Brownfields site services across the United States and Canada.

Our Brownfields staff includes  Ms. Daphne Olszewski, Program Manager of the Brownfields Services Group, with over 16 years of experience with the Brownfields Program and Hazardous Waste Section of NC DENR.  Ms. Olszewski has written dozens of brownfields agreements in North Carolina over the past three years and has been on-site at almost two dozen brownfields sites across the US and Canada in 2006 and 2007. 

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Through our experience working on several projects funded by US EPA Brownfields grants, our firm has established a solid reputation and working relationship with staff in the US EPA Region 4 Brownfields Program.  Our staff has the ability to understand brownfields transactions from not only a technical stand point, but also from land development and regulatory perspectives.

One of the most important benefits our experienced staff can provide is the knowledge to move a brownfields agreement through the process relatively quickly.  In most property acquisition transactions, time is one of the most important factors to a successful outcome.

The staff of our Brownfields Group on a daily basis effectively designs brownfield assessment and remediation programs that meet the needs of all stakeholders involved in the redevelopment. 

Where others see uncertainty, suspect, or actual contamination as a hindrance to development, Duncklee & Dunham sees a potential opportunity for our client.  Putting our knowledge to work for our clients manages the risk and conserves development capital. 

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