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Rhode Island

Brownfields Program

Agency Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
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The Site Remediation Program of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) says it supports the redevelopment and reuse of contaminated sites through the Brownfields program. DEM defines brownfields as "real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant." DEM's office page lists brownfields under both its Site Remediation Program and its Superfund and Department of Defense Program, and says its remediation staff oversee the remediation of brownfield sites and the State's Brownfield Bond.

In a Phase I ESA

The pages read link no separate list of brownfield sites. DEM's List of CERCLIS and State Sites says it includes Brownfield sites, and DEM explains five brownfield codes for that list. This handbook pairs those entries with the state brownfield records that ASTM E1527-21 lists as a standard source; that pairing is the handbook's reading. The general reading of a brownfields listing is on the Brownfields page.

Code DEM's explanation
TBA Targeted Brownfield Assessment
SUBC Targeted Brownfield Assessments funded by 128(a) program
BSA Brownfield Site Assessment
BRF Brownfield Pilot Program
RLF Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund

What the programs fund

DEM's Technical Assistance page describes two state programs.

  • Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) Program. DEM says it is open to local, state or tribal governments and to non-profit organizations, funds Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments and Remedial Planning Reports, and is available year-round, though funding is limited. DEM's brownfields history page says the program uses funding that the U.S. EPA awards through a competitive process. Where a listing carries the TBA or SUBC code, ask whether the assessment reports are in the file.
  • Brownfields Remediation and Economic Development Fund. DEM says the fund offers competitive reimbursement grants for site assessment and/or remediation costs. It is open to any party that legally controls (owns) a brownfield, and DEM says it provides assistance for remedial investigation, redevelopment, remedial design, construction of remedies and other associated work. DEM's Site Remediation Program page lists Brownfields Bond Fund Regulations among its regulations, and the fund's page is titled RI Brownfields Bond Fund. That page links the 2025 grant awards and says the next round is coming in 2026.

To see how a cleanup at a brownfield ended, ask for the documents listed on the Site Remediation Program page.

Where to look a site up

  • The List of CERCLIS and State Sites is posted as a PDF and an Excel file on DEM's Site Inventories page. This handbook did not open the files.
  • The Site Remediation Program page links pages on a number of specific remediation and brownfields sites, and yearly lists of response actions planned and completed.
  • General inquiries go to DEM.SiteRemInfo@dem.ri.gov.

Getting the file

DEM's Site Remediation Program page sends requests to review its site files to the file review route; see DEM File Reviews. The File Reviews page lists those files under CERCLIS. Submit DEM's Request to Inspect and/or Copy Public Records form. DEM says file reviews are scheduled within 10 business days after the request is received, and gives the mailbox Dem.filereview@dem.ri.gov to schedule one.

Sources

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management pages, read October 13, 2026:

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