How to Check for Contaminated Land Before You Buy

Recently I was working with a buyer who was looking for a piece of property at an absolute auction. After doing some due diligence and research we discovered that there used to be a gas station previously and tanks leaked. The land and water supply is now contaminated and clean up efforts are being made. The cleanup is estimated to cost around $400k. A deal quickly turned into a dud.

Use this map below to locate contaminated land. You can choose one or more search criteria:

Brownfields	Sites in this category are being cleaned up under Florida’s Brownfields Redevelopment Program. Brownfields are properties that are abandoned or underutilized due to actual or perceived contamination. This program provides legal and financial incentives to persons who voluntarily clean up and redevelop brownfield sites in accordance with the program requirements.
Petroleum	These are sites contaminated by discharges of petroleum and petroleum products from underground and above ground stationary petroleum storage systems. Many of these sites are eligible to be cleaned up by the DEP (in priority order) while others will be cleaned up by the party responsible for the contamination, under DEP’s direction.
Superfund	These are contaminated sites that are being cleaned up by the federal Superfund program under the direction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and in cooperation with the DEP.
Other Waste Cleanup	These are sites contaminated by non-petroleum chemicals that fall under one of the following five cleanup programs. Some of these sites are in the process of being cleaned up; others are on priority lists awaiting funding. Drycleaning: Sites contaminated with drycleaning solvents that are eligible to be cleaned up by the DEP Responsible Party: Sites that will be cleaned up by the party responsible for the contamination or by a party that did not cause the contamination but has accepted responsibility for cleanup State Funded: Sites that will be cleaned up by the DEP because there is no party identified that is responsible for the contamination or able to clean it up State-Owned Lands Cleanup: Sites on state properties (such as state parks or state-owned buildings) that will be cleaned up by the DEP Hazardous Waste: Sites at regulated hazardous waste facilities that will be cleaned up by the facility owner or operator in accordance with the federal hazardous waste program.

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