NACo seeks input about your brownfields redevelopment projects

Comments to NACo about brownfield reauthorization due no later than March 20

NACo has been approached by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee on brownfields reauthorization issues. The subcommittee wants to understand the role of counties in brownfields redevelopment, showcase innovative county brownfields projects or highlight challenges to brownfields redevelopment.

In the past several decades, local governments have grappled with how to clean up former industrial or commercial sites that may have environmental contamination. Called brownfields, these sites are often old sites of factories, warehouses, dry cleaners, hospitals, landfills or other facilities that used hazardous chemicals, but are now abandoned.

Brownfields can be found in both urban and rural areas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are over 450,000 existing brownfield sites in the United States. While local governments have successfully redeveloped brownfield sites, a number of challenges exist to transition these areas into vibrant community spaces.

NACo would like feedback on the following questions:

• What role does your county take in brownfields redevelopment? If your county takes an active role, how many brownfields redevelopment projects are in the pipeline?
• Brownfields often have the stereotype of being in populous urban areas, however, brownfields are found in rural areas. How does your county track the sites in your area?
• Has your county been the recipient of a brownfields clean-up grant? If so, could you give a brief synopsis of the project, including the county role in the effort and any relevant web links?
• Has your county completed an innovative, non-traditional brownfield project? For example, some local governments have repurposed brownfield sites as renewable energy facilities to power local government buildings. What types of challenges has your county faced during brownfield redevelopment projects? Has your county been concerned about liability issues surrounding brownfields redevelopment?

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Please send comments to Julie Ufner, associate legislative director for environment, energy and land use, at jufner@naco.org no later than Monday, March 20.