According to the EPA, there are presently over ______ brownfields in the United States, but this number only includes sites for which an Environmental Site Assessment has been conducted.

• A. One Million
• B. Half a Million
• C. Hundred Thousand
• D. Ten Thousand

Answer: (B)

Brownfields are properties where redevelopment is hindered by real or perceived contamination. To identify these sites, an Environmental Site Assessment is typically performed. The EPA has estimated there are over half a million brownfields in the United States, and this figure counts only sites that have undergone an ESA, meaning the total number could be higher if sites without assessments were included. Among the options, half a million best matches the EPA’s commonly cited estimate, while the other numbers are either too large or too small to align with that figure.