Interface Between Sustainability, Public Health, and Environment: Indicators for Measuring and Tracking Impacts of Brownfields Redevelopment

This manuscript provides an overview of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s Action Model and Action Model Toolkit. Through a simple 4-step brainstorming process, the Action Model engages a diverse array of community members, the Development Community, in community revitalization plans. The Action Model’s fourth step results in community-driven indicators associated with redevelopment. This manuscript discusses the consolidation of over 200 Action Model indicators from 40 communities, resulting in the Action Model Toolkit. The Action Model Toolkit highlights 69 redevelopment indicators common to 20% or more of the communities. The indicators are in nine categories: built environment, community involvement, economy, education, environmental improvement, environmental resources, housing, physical health, and safety and security. Example indicators from a redeveloped former United States Air Force base are featured. Any community may use the Action Model Toolkit to implement their own Action Models and encourage the selection of common indicators or to derive their own unique indicators through sustainability, public health, and environmental lenses.