If enacted, this legislation will provide critically needed funding to both assess and clean up abandoned and underutilized brownfield sites in Maryland and throughout the country left behind by closed factories. Additionally, the legislation will attempt to encourage developers to purchase and develop these sites by granting them legal protections. Developers have been reluctant to purchase these abandoned sites because of the uncertainty regarding the extent of contamination, the extent of their potential liability, and the potential costs of cleanup.
Current law provides funding only for brownfields assessment.
This legislation addresses broader concerns by providing federal funds for assessment and cleanup, as well as increased funding to enhance state cleanup programs. It also provides legal protections through Superfund liability relief for parties not responsible for the contamination, such as contiguous property owners, prospective purchasers, and innocent landowners. This is not just a Maryland problem, it's also a national problem. Instead, we must work together to ensure that these properties are rehabilitated and returned to productive use so Marylanders can benefit from them. By working to redevelop these sites, we are not only expanding business and job opportunities for our residents, but helping to improve and protect the environment.