How are the demonstration projects selected and how do they meet the goal of the Initiative?
The Return to Use initiative has as its major goal removing barriers to reuse that are not necessary for the protection of human health, the environment, or the remedy itself. At the request of EPA Headquarters, Regional staff proposed sites with such barriers. EPA screened candidate sites by assessing the nature of the barriers, the interest level of the property owners and other local stakeholders, and the feasibility of reuse plans for the site. Stakeholders at each selected site then collaborated to: • analyze the existing barriers to reuse; • assess the task of removing the barriers to allow for reuse; • identify the necessary resources and who will pay for the activities required to remove the barriers; and • make the reuse of the site a reality.