[CPEO-BIF] PR: Senate Approves Brownfields Bill

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jeff Neal 
Wednesday, April 25, 2001 202/224-6167 
SENATE APPROVES BROWNFIELDS BILL 
Chafee Hails Bipartisan Compromise on Complex Environmental Issue 

WASHINGTON, DC -- The United States Senate today unanimously approved
legislation -- the Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration
Act of 2001 (S. 350) -- to encourage the cleanup of lightly polluted sites
called "brownfields." 

The bill was introduced by Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) -- along with
Senators Bob Smith (R-NH), Harry Reid (D-NV), and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on
February 15, 2001. S. 350 authorizes $250 million per year, over fiscal
years 2002-2006, for the assessment and cleanup of brownfields sites. The
bill also provides legal protections for innocent parties involved in
redeveloping brownfields sites. 

Chafee, the bill's primary sponsor, called the passage of S. 350 a victory
for bipartisanship in the Senate. "Passage of this brownfields bill is a
victory for both the environment and for bipartisanship in the Senate.
Brownfields legislation is a top environment priority for Democrats,
Republicans and the Bush administration alike. I hope that this bipartisan
accord can serve as a model for future environmental legislation." 

"This bill will help thousands of communities across America. Brownfields
redevelopment will bring vibrant industry back to the brownfield sites that
currently host crime, mischief and contamination. City tax rolls will
burgeon; schools will be invigorated; new homes will be built; green spaces
will flourish; and community character will be restored." 

Chafee also noted the leadership of Senator Smith, Chairman of the
Environment and Public Works Committee. "This bill wouldn't have happened
without the support of Senator Smith. Bob Smith has worked tirelessly to
engineer the compromise that allowed S. 350 to come to a vote on the Senate
floor. Everyone who supports environmental protection and revitalization
owes Senator Smith a debt of gratitude." S. 350 will provide funding for
brownfields assessment and cleanup. 

Specifically, the bill provides $200 million per year, for fiscal years
2002- 2006 for grants to local and state governments to assess and cleanup
contaminated brownfield sites. S. 350 also authorizes $50 million per year
over the same period for grants to local and state governments to establish
and enhance brownfields cleanup programs. 

The bill also resolves some of the liability issues surrounding
brownfields. Specifically, S. 350 provides legal protections for innocent
parties, such as contiguous property owners, prospective purchasers and
innocent landowners. Removing these liability concerns will spur
redevelopment of brownfields by individuals and companies that would
otherwise fear entanglement in cleanup liability. 

S. 350, which garnered over 70 cosponsors, has been endorsed by the Bush
Administration. 
###

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To read CPEO's archived Brownfields messages visit
http://www.cpeo.org/lists/brownfields

If this email has been forwarded to you and you'd
like to subscribe, please send a message to
cpeo-brownfields-subscribe@igc.topica.com 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

==^================================================================
EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://igc.topica.com/u/?aVxieR.aVGyPL
Or send an email To: cpeo-brownfields-unsubscribe@igc.topica.com
This email was sent to: cpeo-brownfields@npweb.craigslist.org

T O P I C A  -- Learn More. Surf Less.
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
==^================================================================