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BCRLF: Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund—Provides a pot of money from which loans are made to
cleanup eligible Brownfield properties at below market interest rates. As the loans are repaid, additional loans can
be made, thus revolving the loan funds.
Brownfield Pilot: One of the original Brownfields grantees when EPA started the program in the late 1990’s.
Brownfield: A Brownfield is a piece of real property (land) that is either abandoned or underutilized and has real
or potential contamination that is preventing the site from being redeveloped or put back into commerce. EPA’s
Brownfield Program provides funding to perform environmental assessments (grants) and cleanups (grants and
loans) for eligible applicants looking to redevelop Brownfield sites.
CAP: Corrective Action Plan—If soil and groundwater sampling reveal contamination that exceeds LDEQ’s
actionable levels, the Corrective Action Plan details how the contamination will be addressed/ cleaned up. Also
known as a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) or a Remedial Action Work Plan (RAW).
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency—see USEPA below.
ESA: Environmental Site Assessment
of Brownfield-related goals, objectives, and initiatives. LBA membership includes a wide variety of stakeholders,
including property owners; developers; local, State, and Federal agency representatives; urban and regional
planners; regulatory experts; community leaders; legal experts; financial and insurance industry representatives;
environmental professionals. LBA website
LDEQ: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality—LDEQ is the state regulatory agency that oversees Phase
II environmental investigations and cleanups. They also have Brownfield grant money for environmental
assessments through their Targeted Brownfield Assistance program, and for cleanups through their Brownfield
Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Program. LDEQ is also a technical resource. LDEQ Brownfields website
RECAP: Risk Evaluation/ Corrective Action Program—RECAP is an LDEQ program that regulates the minimum
remediation (cleanup) standards for present and past uncontrolled constituent releases (contamination at a site).
Environmental cleanups in Louisiana are performed under this program to ensure that minimum standards are met
to protect human health and the environment. After completing a cleanup under this program, LDEQ issues a
letter of no further action (NFA) stating that the clean up was completed according to the approved cleanup plan.
The cleanup plan is usually developed around the results of soil and groundwater sampling, which is based on the
environmental concerns noted in a Phase I environmental site assessment.
RPC: Regional Planning Commission—The Metropolitan Planning Organization for southeast Louisiana specifically
focused on the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany Parishes. RPC is a
Brownfield grantee with funding available for Brownfield assessments (grants). RPC website
TBA: Targeted Brownfields Assistance—LDEQ’s TBA program provides funding for environmental assessments.
Applicants must meet USEPA’s eligibility requirements for Brownfields funding and complete the TBA application. If
selected, LDEQ will notify their designated contractor to conduct the investigation. This funding is available for
both Phase I and Phase II environmental investigations.
USEPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency—USEPA provides funding for environmental assessments
and cleanups through their Brownfield Program. They are responsible for ensuring that the money is spent
properly and in accordance with the regulations, and are also a source of information and technical assistance.
Also abbreviated EPA. EPA Brownfields website
VRP: Voluntary Remediation Program—This is an LDEQ program to oversee more extensive assessments and
cleanups of contaminated properties. In exchange for more extensive sampling at a site, if a cleanup is completed
under the Voluntary Remediation Program, the applicant is granted a Certificate of Completion and a release of
liability for all past contamination at the site. The release of liability for past contamination at the site is
transferable to future owners of the site.
cleanup eligible Brownfield properties at below market interest rates. As the loans are repaid, additional loans can
be made, thus revolving the loan funds.
Brownfield Pilot: One of the original Brownfields grantees when EPA started the program in the late 1990’s.
Brownfield: A Brownfield is a piece of real property (land) that is either abandoned or underutilized and has real
or potential contamination that is preventing the site from being redeveloped or put back into commerce. EPA’s
Brownfield Program provides funding to perform environmental assessments (grants) and cleanups (grants and
loans) for eligible applicants looking to redevelop Brownfield sites.
CAP: Corrective Action Plan—If soil and groundwater sampling reveal contamination that exceeds LDEQ’s
actionable levels, the Corrective Action Plan details how the contamination will be addressed/ cleaned up. Also
known as a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) or a Remedial Action Work Plan (RAW).
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency—see USEPA below.
ESA: Environmental Site Assessment
- Phase I ESA—a research report on a property that details past and present sources for potential
contamination. Phase I ESAs under the Brownfield Program, or by a prospective purchaser to prevent future
liability if they purchase the site, must conform to USEPA’s All Appropriate Inquiry standards (ASTM E1527-
05). EPA All Appropriate Inquiries website
Phase II ESA—A Phase II ESA typically involves the collection of soil, groundwater, and/or soil gas samples
to determine if contamination exists at a site. Further sampling may be performed to determine the nature
(what type of contaminants are present) and extent (horizontal and vertical limits) of the contamination.
of Brownfield-related goals, objectives, and initiatives. LBA membership includes a wide variety of stakeholders,
including property owners; developers; local, State, and Federal agency representatives; urban and regional
planners; regulatory experts; community leaders; legal experts; financial and insurance industry representatives;
environmental professionals. LBA website
LDEQ: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality—LDEQ is the state regulatory agency that oversees Phase
II environmental investigations and cleanups. They also have Brownfield grant money for environmental
assessments through their Targeted Brownfield Assistance program, and for cleanups through their Brownfield
Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Program. LDEQ is also a technical resource. LDEQ Brownfields website
RECAP: Risk Evaluation/ Corrective Action Program—RECAP is an LDEQ program that regulates the minimum
remediation (cleanup) standards for present and past uncontrolled constituent releases (contamination at a site).
Environmental cleanups in Louisiana are performed under this program to ensure that minimum standards are met
to protect human health and the environment. After completing a cleanup under this program, LDEQ issues a
letter of no further action (NFA) stating that the clean up was completed according to the approved cleanup plan.
The cleanup plan is usually developed around the results of soil and groundwater sampling, which is based on the
environmental concerns noted in a Phase I environmental site assessment.
RPC: Regional Planning Commission—The Metropolitan Planning Organization for southeast Louisiana specifically
focused on the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany Parishes. RPC is a
Brownfield grantee with funding available for Brownfield assessments (grants). RPC website
TBA: Targeted Brownfields Assistance—LDEQ’s TBA program provides funding for environmental assessments.
Applicants must meet USEPA’s eligibility requirements for Brownfields funding and complete the TBA application. If
selected, LDEQ will notify their designated contractor to conduct the investigation. This funding is available for
both Phase I and Phase II environmental investigations.
USEPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency—USEPA provides funding for environmental assessments
and cleanups through their Brownfield Program. They are responsible for ensuring that the money is spent
properly and in accordance with the regulations, and are also a source of information and technical assistance.
Also abbreviated EPA. EPA Brownfields website
VRP: Voluntary Remediation Program—This is an LDEQ program to oversee more extensive assessments and
cleanups of contaminated properties. In exchange for more extensive sampling at a site, if a cleanup is completed
under the Voluntary Remediation Program, the applicant is granted a Certificate of Completion and a release of
liability for all past contamination at the site. The release of liability for past contamination at the site is
transferable to future owners of the site.
| Regional Planning Commission · Updated March 2010 |
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| 10 Veterans Boulevard · New Orleans, LA 70124 · 504-483-8500 · brownfields@norpc.org |
| Glossary & Acronyms |