[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 6, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ENCOURAGING BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Miller of Florida). Under the Speaker's 
announced policy of January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. 
Visclosky] is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to 
join me in promoting an effective way to encourage the redevelopment of 
abandoned, idled or underutilized commercial and industrial sites known 
as brownfields. Nationwide, brownfields are often overlooked for 
redevelopment because of real or perceived contamination. As a result, 
developers frequently turn to undeveloped greenfield sites. This 
creates a vicious cycle of lost tax revenues and job opportunities for 
local residents, while the brownfields are not cleaned up.
  There is wide bipartisan support for measures that would encourage 
the redevelopment of brownfields. Although the specifics have not yet 
been worked out, I am pleased that the recent budget agreement contains 
a brownfields initiative to assist cities in cleaning up contaminated 
sites as part of a broader economic redevelopment strategy.
  Effective brownfield redevelopment must create jobs, clean the 
environment and generate economic activity in our urban areas. However, 
we must not start a race to the bottom where cleanup standards are 
sacrificed on the altar of brownfield renewal. We must ensure that 
brownfield redevelopment does not become a back door to let polluters 
off the hook. A final product that does not meet these reasonable 
standards falls short of a readily achievable goal.
  In March, I introduced the Brownfield Cleanup and Redevelopment Act, 
H.R. 1206. This legislation would establish a process whereby States 
with EPA-certified voluntary cleanup programs would be authorized to 
make final decisions regarding the cleanup of low- and medium-priority 
brownfield sites. To date, roughly three dozen States have implemented 
or are in the process of implementing voluntary cleanup programs. While 
these programs have been popular, the benefits of State cleanup 
programs will be significantly enhanced in the context of a Federal 
system that, first, encourages Federal-State partnerships; second, 
provides legal finality to the cleanup process; and, third, removes 
Federal requirements for certain procedural permits for cleanups 
conducted under certified voluntary State programs.
  My bill would expedite the clean up of eligible brownfield sites 
while protecting human health and the environment and creating jobs. 
H.R. 1206 is designed to encourage the cleanup of brownfields by 
providing certainty and finality to owners or prospective purchasers 
that the EPA will not require additional cleanup after an EPA-approved 
State voluntary cleanup has occurred.
  My bill makes clear that if State voluntary cleanup programs meet 
certain criteria and are certified by the EPA, then approved cleanups 
conducted by certified State programs could proceed in lieu of 
Superfund. However, under H.R. 1206, the EPA administrator would 
certify State voluntary cleanup programs based on several criteria 
including, first, adequate opportunities for meaningful public 
participation in the development and implementation of cleanup plans at 
eligible facilities; second, the provision of adequate technical 
assistance, resources, oversight and enforcement authority; and, third, 
certification from the State that the cleanup of an eligible facility 
is complete. In addition, certified State programs could modify Federal 
permit requirements for eligible facilities to expedite their cleanups.
  However, this bill is narrowly targeted to address only sites that 
are not Superfund sites that are not included on the national 
priorities list or subject to enforcement actions. Further, under H.R. 
1206 the EPA explicitly retains its authority to gather information on 
any brownfield site. If it is discovered that the site is contaminated 
in such a way that it would not be considered a low- or medium-priority 
brownfield, it will no longer be eligible as a facility under the 
legislation, and EPA would retain full enforcement authority under 
Superfund.
  I also want to briefly highlight another bill I have introduced. It 
is H.R. 1462 which would authorize $20 million over 3 years to 
establish a pilot revolving loan fund for State voluntary cleanup 
programs. Because of their experience in administering targeted loan 
assistance programs, States are in a good position to use Federal funds 
to support local cleanup and redevelopment projects. Under H.R. 1462 
States would provide a 20-percent match and begin repaying loans within 
5 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to sponsor these bills which will 
build upon existing redevelopment efforts. By creating a distinct 
beginning and end to the voluntary cleanup process, businesses and jobs 
will be more attracted to unproductive brownfields as opposed to 
undeveloped farmland and other greenfield sites.

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