When it comes to brownfield redevelopment, particularly here in the Deep South, the integration of smart growth and green remediation/infrastructure principles has (it's sad to say) been lacking. Ten points are given for "Environmental Benefits from Infrastructure Reuse/Sustainable Reuse" in the Brownfield Assessment Grant Criteria. Yet, because "green infrastructure" is not typically addressed in Comprehensive Plans in a majority of southern cities/towns/counties, southern Brownfield Grant Proposals suffer and the grants continue to be funneled to other areas of the U.S. It's time to think big picture and begin working green infrastructure principles into our Comprehensive Master Plans. EPA has drafted guidance on the subject. Here's a summary and link to the DRAFT framework.
In recent years, EPA has begun to embrace integrated planning approaches to municipal wastewater and stormwater management. EPA further committed to work with states and communities to implement and utilize integrated planning approaches to municipal wastewater and stormwater management in its October 27, 2011 memorandum “Achieving Water Quality Through Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Plans.” Integrated planning will assist municipalities on their critical paths to achieving the human health and water quality objectives of the Clean Water Act (CWA) by identifying efficiencies in implementing the sometimes overlapping and competing requirements that arise from distinct wastewater and stormwater programs, including how best to make capital investments. Integrated planning can also facilitate the use of sustainable and comprehensive solutions, including green infrastructure, that protect human health, improve water quality, manage stormwater as a resource, and support other economic benefits and quality of life attributes that enhance the vitality of communities. The integrated planning approach does not remove obligations to comply with the CWA, but rather recognizes the flexibilities in the CWA for the appropriate sequencing of work. The purpose of this framework is to provide further guidance for EPA, states and local governments in developing and implementing effective integrated plans. The framework identifies the operating principles and essential elements of an integrated plan.....
See Full DRAFT Document - http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/integrated_planning_framework%20_draft.pdf
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