Which statement best differentiates brownfield from greenfield sites?

• A. Brownfield land is new; greenfield is previously developed
• B. Brownfield land is industrial; greenfield is residential
• C. Brownfield land is previously developed and often derelict, possibly contaminated; greenfield is undeveloped
• D. Brownfield land is always contaminated while greenfield is never contaminated

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is whether land has been developed before and what condition it’s in. Brownfield sites are land that has been used for development in the past and are often left derelict, with the possibility of contamination that may require remediation before reuse. Greenfield sites, on the other hand, are undeveloped open land that hasn’t been built on before. So the statement that best differentiates them is that brownfield land is previously developed and often derelict, possibly contaminated, while greenfield land is undeveloped. It’s important to note that contamination isn’t guaranteed on brownfield sites and can occur on greenfield sites as well, which is why those nuances aren’t the defining feature. The other descriptions—suggesting brownfield is new, or tying brownfield to industrial use, or claiming contamination is always present on brownfield and never on greenfield—don’t fit the established distinction.