Federal Report In the Hopper Senators Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Jim Jeffords ( I-Vt.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), have introduced legislation to assist communities in redeveloping brownfields. The Brownfields Redevelopment Assistance Act of 2003 would expand the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration’s …

Event: Brownfield Economic Development Initiative funding begins in 1999 supplementing EDI grants and enhancing HUD’s Section 108 Loan Programs and Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs), the first dedicated HUD grant program. Action: Makes HUD think creatively to use existing resources and reapply them toward Brownfields raising …

Event: New Republican administration takes office in unusual election; economy turns from prosperous to sluggish, corporate accounting scandals and bankruptcies increase and America experiences major terrorist attack. Action: National security, the economy, the falling stock market and rising unemployment concerns rise in priority …

Congress had good intentions when, on January 11, 2002, it reformed parts of Superfund (CERCLA) by enacting the Small Business Relief and Brownfield Revitalization Act and its amendments. Congress attempted to start brownfield investment by providing funding for brownfield redevelopment and by exempting from liability new owners of contaminated sites, otherwise known as “bona-fide prospective purchasers” or “BFPPs”, as long as they satisfy the, and do not impede the performance …

State brownfield program initiatives continue to evolve and mature, in the face of turbulent economic times, even as their basic goals remain the same. States are struggling with significant budget pressures, and trying to balance the need to do things like offer incentives to attract investment to brownfield sites—recognizing the return they can bring—with the obligation to provide basic services. 2003 should mark the completion of the transition of the brownfield regulatory …

Event: The state of Michigan first to adopt new legislation (Part 201 of the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act) that replaces strict liability in Michigan law with causation liability. Action: Makes polluters responsible and liable …

Event: ASTM RBCA Standard is passed, Cherokee establishes first brownfield opportunity Fund, Brownfield News magazine goes into production and many other events take place. Action: Rash of activity occurs on multiple fronts. Connection: Government awakens the private sector to a new market opportunity as a new wave of public and private sector entrants migrate to the brownfield industry. Capital, public awareness, flexible cleanup standards, information and the political will came together in 1996 …

Event: In 1997 the Oxford English Dictionary was the first dictionary to define the word brownfield. Action: Establishes a common definition for practitioners to use and build upon when shaping policy and law. Connection: Brings confidence and credibility that this is a sustainable …

Event: The EPA provides Stamford, Conn. with $500,000 to capitalized their revolving loan fund program. In November Stamford makes a loan to the first private firm to help fund cleanup. Action: Brings attention to the problem of capitalizing cleanup and the need for government and private sector sources of high-risk capital that can fund predevelopment activities so that properties can be repositioned. Connection: Shows how government has to think creatively and be …

As part of an effort to evaluate innovative approaches for cutting environmental investigation costs at brownfield sites, the EPA’s Triad Approach was recently used at two brownfield sites that are part of the Assunpink Creek Greenway Project in Trenton, N.J. The Triad Approach combines systematic planning, dynamic work plan preparation, …

Site name: South Side Works Location: Pittsburgh Owner: Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Lot size: 123-acre riverfront site Number of buildings: 28 total, not all are completed Current zoning: Mixed-use Past use/Reuse: Industrial-steel plant, water company, lumberyards, manufactured gas operations Redevelopment opportunity: URA …