The site is 1.7 acres in a dense urban area that formerly housed an automobile dealership. As such it was determined to be petroleum impacted, which was identified during a Limited Site Characterization Study (SCS) which conforms to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality\'s Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) Regulations. LEED Reference Guide 2.2 states that a brownfield is "documented as contaminated by means of an ASTM E1903-97 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment or a local Voluntary Cleanup Program." The PST regulations are not as stringent as the ASTM Site assessment however; the SCS satisfies most of the Phase II requirements. We have test results indicating contamination is present, and we will be conducting cleanup to address the contamination. Are the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality\'s Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) Regulations along with the voluntary clean-up and assumed liability as required in the DEQ\'s PST "Step in Shoes" program sufficient to meet the intentions of the brownfield credit?
Yes, based on the information provided above it appears that the project has met the intent of the credit. The site meets the definition of a brownfield, as hazardous contamination was identified during the Limited Site Characterization Study. The SCS performed meets the objective of documenting the site as contaminated by means of a local Voluntary Cleanup Program. Appropriate remediation must be completed to meet the credit requirements. Ongoing monitoring of the site for the identified contaminant is also recommended (but not required for LEED Certification) to ensure that contamination problems do not return. Please see NC v2.0 & 2.1 CIR dated 6/16/2006 which also covers petroleum contaminated soil. Applicable Internationally.