LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) –  With nearly 300 potential brownfield sites in Lafayette Parish, the Acadiana Planning Commission is teaming up with the EPA to raise awareness about contamination.

Tuesday several residents, business owners, and government officials filed into the Lafayette Public Library to learn more about contamination and what it means to the growth of our community.

Brownfield sites include anything from rundown buildings to a landfill. EPA Region 6 Brownfield Coordinator Amber Howard said several cities want to expand and grow but are held back because of the threat of contamination.

“We work very closely with our local government partners and state partners to identify if there is any contamination on the property and if so what the next steps would be to get it cleaned up so we can get it re-developed.”

Acadiana Planning Commission CEO Monique Boulet said several properties along the proposed I-49 corridor route have been labeled as potential brownfields.

“What we are going to do is file a planning application and go in and really plan the area. Then we are going to come back and file for assessment money to turn some of those properties and get them back into commerce.”

Boulet said as of now there are roughly 200 potential brownfield sites along the I-49 route.