The North Carolina Brownfields Program (NCBP) was established under the Brownfields Property Reuse Act of 1997. The statute authorizes the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to work with prospective property owners or developers that have not caused or contributed to contamination at a property. The NCBP is designed to promote the safe redevelopment of underutilized properties that have real or perceived environmental impacts.

Headwater is highly experienced in all aspects of environmental assessment, management, and Brownfields redevelopment. Our team works seamlessly within the NCBP to develop cost-effective assessment and management strategies for you, and we have achieved successful agreements on some of the most complex and transformative Brownfields projects in North Carolina.

During Brownfields redevelopment, the prospective developer enters into a Brownfields Agreement with the DEQ. The NCBP is focused on encouraging redevelopment that may not otherwise occur due to environmental concerns.

A successful Brownfields Agreement will provide, at a minimum, the following benefits:

  • Strong liability protection from the DEQ in the form of a covenant not to sue for pre-existing contamination on the site

  • Land use covenants and site-specific risk-based cleanup standards that align with proposed redevelopment and reuse to protect the safety and health of workers and occupants

  • A significant reduction in property taxes over 5 years after redevelopment occurs

Considering the benefits of the Brownfields program? Have questions about the liability protection and tax incentive application? Let Headwater help guide you through the process. Contact us—we’re here to help.