Brownfields

Associate director:  susan Westa

WRC Brownfields Committee: click here

WRC Brownfields Meeting Schedule 2024: click here

Brownfields are land and buildings whose expansion, redevelopment, or reuse
may be complicated by the presence or potential presence
of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

The Windham Region Brownfields Reuse Initiative (WRBRI) was established in 2000 with funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since that time we have been working hard to promote vibrant communities by facilitating brownfields redevelopment.  

All together this funding has brought a total of $4.72 million dollars in federal brownfields funds to the region for assessment and cleanup of brownfields sites. This successful program has been instrumental in helping revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from underutilized properties to productive business and community use.

Brownfields Committee Schedule

The Brownfields Committee meets bimonthly on the second Wednesday of the month at 4:00 PM.

Applications are due by 4:00 PM of the Monday of the week prior to the meeting (except for the June meeting, since that Monday is Memorial Day). If you have any questions about the application process, contact Susan Westa, WRC Brownfields Program Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The meeting schedule and application due dates for 2024 are as follows:

Meeting Dates

Application Due Dates

February 14 February 5
April 10 April 1
June 12 June 3
August 14 August 5
October 9 September 30
December 11 December 2

New Brownfields Funding Available for Assessment and Cleanup Work

The Windham Regional Commission has been awarded $500,000 for brownfields assessment work and $2 million for cleanup from the US Environmental Protection Agency. This funding is critical to support the work of the Windham Regional Brownfields Reuse Initiative (WRBRI). Assessment funding is used to determine if there is contamination by hazardous materials or petroleum products and the extent of that contamination. Once the contamination issues are clearly identified, a cleanup plan is developed. Property owners, public and private, can then apply for cleanup funding to make sites safe for redevelopment. The State of Vermont is also supporting brownfields work with $50,000 for assessment work. Together this funding will enable redevelopment throughout the Windham Region.

If you are interested in learning more about this funding, please visit our website at http://www.windhamregional.org/brownfields or contact Susan Westa, Associate Director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Updates

Active Assessment Site Update, February 2024
• Phase I – determines likelihood of potential contamination
• Phase II – determines extent of potential contamination
• ABCA – Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives/cleanup planning
• CAP – Corrective Action Plan/cleanup planning
• ECAA – Evaluation of Corrective Action Alternatives

SITE UPDATE
0 Bridge Street
Bellows Falls
Phase I underway.

Bellows Falls Bike Project
Bellows Falls
ECAA/CAP complete. Working with state on next steps.

Brattleboro Basketville/Daley Shoe Building
Brattleboro
Vapor Intrusion Study Complete. Determinded additional work needed.

CF Church
Brattleboro
ECAA/CAP & Pilot testing underway.

The Garage
Bellows Falls
Offsite Vapor Plume Delineation underway

McNeil's Brewery
Brattleboro
Phase I underway

Penta Wyman Flint
Bellows Falls
CAP - awaiting work plan from Stone. 

South Newfane Store Buyout
Newfane
Phase II Underway.

TLR
Bellows Falls
CAP & Pilot Testing - awaiting work plan from Stone. 

WW Building Supply
Wilmington
Phase II underway.


Active Revolving Loan Fund/Cleanup Site Update, February 2024

SITE UPDATE
Bellows Falls Train Station
Bellows Falls
Waiting on land lease and building sale completion before finalizing grant loan agreement for abatement work - probably June.

New England Youth Theater
48 Elm Street, Brattleboro
Final sandblasting complete. Working on closing out project.

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