Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Rocky Neck State Park is also closed until further notice due to a brush fire. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Brownfields in Connecticut

former Gilbert and Bennett Wire FactorySites, once used for industrial, manufacturing, or commercial uses, have been abandoned or underutilized due to known or suspected contamination from past uses. Unknown environmental liabilities have been preventing communities, developers and investors from restoring these properties to productive use and revitalizing impacted neighborhoods.

The Connecticut Remediation Standard Regulations establish standards for the cleanup of contaminated sites including brownfields.  The Voluntary Remediation Program, Property Transfer Program, and various brownfields liability relief programs provide a mechanism by which property owners can assess environmental conditions at their properties and ensure that cleanups will meet state standards.  In some cases, funding for State Brownfield Programs may be available to assist with assessment and/or remediation of Brownfield sites.  The State offers a number of liability relief programs that limit the liability of non-responsible owners or prospective purchasers who make a good faith effort to remediate and redevelop brownfields.

Brownfield Grant Availability
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce the availability of funding under DEEP’s CERCLA 128(a) Grant Program, Round 2, and is inviting applicants that are municipalities or non-profit entities to apply.  Applications will be accepted until noon on Friday, November 22, 2024 and awards will be announced in January 2025.

Top Brownfields Resources

The Connecticut Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development (OBRD), in the Department of Economic and Community Development, provides financing and technical resources for cleanup and redevelopment of Brownfields.  OBRD works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), DEEP, the Office of Policy & Management (OPM), the Department of Housing, the Department of Transportation and other organizations. These agencies have formed a strong partnership to promote remediation and redevelopment of brownfields.Redevelopment of brownfield sites has social and economic benefits, as well as benefits to human health and the environment, such as:

  • reducing or eliminating public exposure to pollutants,
  • cleaning up sites that otherwise would not be cleaned up for decades, 
  • reducing environmental impacts associated with industrial sprawl by returning abandoned and underutilized sites to productive use,
  • creating the potential for new tax revenue for municipalities and the State,
  • utilizing existing infrastructure, thereby minimizing the expansion of new infrastructure into undeveloped areas,
  • reversing urban decay and revitalizing our cities, and
  • creating short-term construction and longer-term jobs.

Contact Information and Other Sources of Brownfields Information

Content Last Updated September 18, 2024