In addition, the administration is supporting a permanent extension of the brownfields tax credit. The brownfields bill is among the top environmental priorities of the Bush administration. The compromise measure clarifies the federal role, mainly the Environmental Protection Agency, in requiring cleanup after state officials have certified that projects have been finished. The agreement would require EPA to consult with state officials before using its limited authority to reopen a site because of environmental or health threats. The new version allows one-fourth of authorized funds to be used to clean up sites polluted by petroleum.
Current law prohibits Superfund money to be spent cleaning oil spills.
Bill supporters are pushing for Senate passage before the April recess. The House plans to work on a separate bill that would strengthen the liability provisions. The report also features in-depth case studies of regional development organization efforts to raise awareness of brownfields, help local governments and businesses conduct site assessments, clean up properties and redevelop industrial sites into productive facilities. The report is the culmination of a second year of expanded research under a cooperative agreement with EPA to evaluate the involvement of small metropolitan and rural communities in brownfields activities. The NADO Research Foundation wishes to thank NADO members for their support and input.