ITEP - Waste Management - Hazardous Substances - Emergency Planning, Management, and Response



Brownfields programs Brownfields programs are not just about restoring old buildings and cleaning up contaminated sites. These programs also provide technical assistance and funding for tribal capacity building. This capacity building is necessary in several areas. In order to develop an efficient Brownfields program, tribes need to hire and train staff, engage with the community, and prioritize efforts to cleanup, redevelop and/or reuse property. Resources available to Brownfields programs allow you to determine what risks may be present in your community, how to prevent future contamination, and provide you with strategies for developing outreach materials, writing ordinances, and identifying other sources of assistance and funding for your community’s environmental planning.

For examples of what tribes have used Brownfields funding and technical assistance for, go to the following link:
What can Brownfields funding be used for in tribal communities?


State and tribal response programs oversee assessment and cleanup activities at the majority of brownfields sites across the country. The depth and breadth of state and tribal response programs vary. Some focus on Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) related activities, while others are multifaceted, for example, addressing sites regulated by both CERCLA and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

The elements of a response program that a State or Tribe must include or take reasonable steps to include are:
These elements are further described within the training modules developed by the Midwest Assistance Program provided here.

Training Modules:
The Midwest Assistance Program has developed CERCLA 128(a) Tribal Response Program training modules and resources for:

    Establishing a Tribal Response Program and Enhancing a Tribal Response Program

    Alaska specific training modules for Establishing a Tribal Response Program and Enhancing a Tribal Response Program