EPA Regional RCRA Reuse Projects
EPA's 10 Regional offices work with their state partners to oversee Hazardous Waste Cleanups, many of which support reuse and redevelopment projects. Check out some of them below.
On this page:
Region 1
The Region 1 RCRA Corrective Action mapping tool presents detailed facility level information for all 297 facilities on EPA Region 1’s 2020 Government Performance and Results Act RCRA Corrective Action baseline. It includes property boundaries, long term institutional and engineered controls, and additional links. This provides an easily navigable interface to learn more about Hazardous Waste Cleanup Program facilities around the region, the work that EPA and state partners have done at those facilities, and places where you can get more information about the facilities and cleanups.
For regulators and other interested users, this tool provides a visual display of the long-term stewardship obligations at each facility, helping to ensure that those obligations are continually met. Users can perform detailed facility geospatial analysis by combining the published RCRA data layers with other available geographic information system (GIS) data, such as flood plain maps or wildlife critical habitat, to learn more about the environmental settings of the facility.
Region 3
Region 3 and its state partners oversee 579 cleanups across the Region. Check out a Story Map of five of their successful reuse projects.
Region 5
Region 5 Redevelopment Success StoryMap: EPA Region 5 and States continue to address historic contamination at 49 former General Motors (GM) plants in five states working with the Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response (RACER) Trust. Since 2011, EPA has overseen cleanup at these properties, issuing Prospective Purchaser Agreements and comfort letters to potential buyers.
Video of Yankee Air Museum: The Willow Run Plant was formerly a World War II bomber manufacturing plant located on 321 acres. After the war, operations at the plant switched to the production of automobiles and operated until 2010. The facility was demolished in 2014/2015 with the exception of the southeast corner, which with the assistance of an EPA Prospective Purchaser Agreement, was redeveloped into the National Museum of Aviation and Technology at Historic Willow Run.
Video of Willow Run: In 2017, EPA issued a Prospective Purchaser Agreement to facilitate the purchase and redevelopment of the facility. The Willow Run Arsenal of Democracy Landholdings Limited Partnership purchased the majority of the facility and constructed a national Connected and Autonomous (CAV) research and testing facility. The CAV facility has a wide range of realistic road and weather scenarios for vehicle testing. The technologies developed at the CAV facility will increase safety and mobility and decrease energy use and emissions on a national scale.
M1 Concourse Video: This former GM automotive manufacturing and assembly plant operated from 1906 to 2005. EPA issued a Prospective Purchaser Agreement to assist with the sale and redevelopment of the property. M1 Concourse is redeveloping the property as a mixed-use commercial development targeting the large population of automotive enthusiasts in the Metro Detroit region, featuring a performance track, more than 250 private garages, and auto-focused restaurants, shops, and office and meeting spaces.
Region 6
Region 6 partners with its states to promote redevelopment opportunities at hazardous waste cleanup sites across the Region. The states and Region have leveraged an innovative tool, the Ready for Reuse Program, to encourage land reuse, where possible. Read more in our Guidelines for Preparing Ready for Reuse Determinations (pdf) .
Three Region 6 reuse success stories include:
Former England Air Force Base
After serving as a military base for over 50 years, the England Air Force Base in Alexandria, Louisiana, has undergone a remarkable transformation into a vibrant community hub and key employer. This change resulted from the joint efforts of a committed community and various federal, state, and local agencies. Much of the former base has been designated as "Ready for Reuse," allowing for the development of a medical facility, residential neighborhoods, a golf course, and the Alexandria International Airport, all of which contribute to the area's growth and attractiveness.
Read more in the reuse fact sheet for this site: Reuse at Air Force Base Maintains Prior Employment Levels; Strengthens Community (pdf) .
Fort Worth Federal Center
After five decades of functioning as a federal storage site, the Fort Worth Federal Center in Fort Worth, Texas, has transformed into an active municipal service hub. This change is the result of dedicated efforts among multiple federal agencies along with state and local governments. The newly established Fort Worth Service Center now accommodates a facility for law enforcement training, offices for city officials, and a maintenance hub for the city's vehicle fleet, marking a significant shift in purpose and community engagement.
Read more in the reuse fact sheet for this site: Partnership Key Component to Redevelopment Success in Fort Worth GSA Fort Worth Federal Center (pdf) .
Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant
The Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant in McGregor, Texas, has demonstrated a strong commitment to innovation and collaboration, resulting in a rapid cleanup process and several important milestones for the U.S. Navy. Notably, this includes Texas's first Post Closure Order issued to the Navy, as well as the Navy's inaugural non-BRAC determination confirming that the cleanup construction was both operating properly and successfully. Additionally, the site achieved its first Ready for Reuse designation. This success can be attributed to early and transparent communication, which fostered effective partnerships with local and state agencies, the U.S. EPA, and Congress. Together, they navigated challenges and worked towards facilitating the site's future use.
Read more in the reuse fact sheet for this site: Innovative Cleanup Leads to Navy’s First EPA Ready for Reuse Determination (pdf) .
Region 7
Map of Region 7 properties available for redevelopment: The website identifies properties addressed under a cleanup program (RCRA, Superfund, Brownfields, and Underground Storage Tanks) that EPA Region 7 considers to be ready for redevelopment. The map is intended to promote use/reuse of properties in a manner protective of human health and the environment and productive for the community. EPA is providing this map for use by the general public to provide information, so users can identify properties amenable to their particular development needs.