Which of the following best describes the EPA brownfields count?

• A. All brownfields regardless of assessment
• B. Sites in urban areas
• C. Sites with provisional ESAs
• D. Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) completed sites

Answer: (D)

Understanding this metric helps: the EPA brownfields count reflects how many properties have undergone a formal Environmental Site Assessment and have a completed record of the assessment. An ESA is the documented process that reveals environmental conditions and potential contamination, giving a verified basis for counting a site as a brownfield within the program. Counting only sites with a completed ESA ensures the data represent properties that have been officially evaluated, not those that are unassessed or only tentatively reviewed. Options referring to urban-only sites or to all brownfields regardless of assessment would mix sites at different stages and wouldn’t provide a consistent progress measure. Provisional ESAs aren’t used as the counting standard; only completed ESAs count toward the metric.