Number: 2001-05
WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are 450,000 vacant industrial properties across the country, known as brownfields, where the actual or suspected presence of contamination from previous uses impedes economic and community development; and
WHEREAS, many brownfield sites pose significant threats to public health and the environment; and
WHEREAS, comprehensive and effective brownfield programs that serve to revitalize our cities will also help stem the growth of sprawl development that often leads to wildlife habitat alteration or loss; and
WHEREAS, the revitalization of communities impacted by brownfields is stymied by the barriers to the clean up and reuse of these sites including high cleanup costs and uncertain liability; and
WHEREAS, it is not foreseeable that there will be enough public money available to remediate all brownfields, public policy must attract private capital to brownfield remediation and reuse and make it possible for community-based organizations, private developers and local governments to create new businesses, residences and civic amenities at brownfield sites; and
WHEREAS, public money needs to be targeted to accomplish what private capital cannot or will not undertake, (e.g. providing for missing or obsolete infrastructure, paying for reuses of brownfield sites for public purposes, making possible the meaningful community input, oversight and pro-active planning that will ensure that the reuse of brownfield sites will benefit surrounding communities); and
WHEREAS, the long term success of brownfield projects depends on community involvement in, and acceptance of, new development or reuse; and
WHEREAS, development pressures on open space can be reduced if the feasibility of developing brownfields is enhanced;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation at its Annual Meeting assembled April 4-6, 2001 in Washington, DC, encourages the adoption of policies and laws that will aid in the revitalization of communities blighted by the existence of brownfields through; 1) the use of incentives for the clean up and beneficial reuse of these sites, provided that these incentives do not include reduced liability standards for those parties responsible for any contamination, 2) meaningful community involvement in planning and decision-making, 3) programs that assure clean up standards that are clearly protective of public health and the environment, and 4) clear liability rules that encourage involvement by volunteer developers but do not reduce liability for those responsible for contamination at the site; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation encourages all levels of government to offer financial incentives and other benefits, such as tax credits, new infrastructure, planning mechanisms and cost sharing, that will serve to make brownfield development competitive with greenfield development.