In the past, anyone who dared to buy and redevelop an industrial site would have been liable for cleanup costs if it was later discovered to be contaminated. Rather than taking a chance, many business people took their startups or expansions to undeveloped land in outer areas - often contributing to suburban sprawl and further complicating land management in the process. The Great Lakes governors are supporting federal legislation, sponsored by U.S. Reps. The governors are concerned that, under federal law, the Environmental Protection Agency still could claim some oversight of projects, casting doubt on developers' waivers of future liability. The legislation would ensure that states have ultimate control over the cleanups and prohibit Washington from second-guessing.
Supporters contend that cleaner, occupied sites are better than polluted abandoned ones.
This is cleanup.