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WHITMAN PRAISES HOUSE PASSAGE OF BROWNFIELDS LEGISLATION

Release Date: 12/20/2001
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Environmental News

    FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, DEC. 20, 2001

    WHITMAN PRAISES HOUSE PASSAGE OF BROWNFIELDS LEGISLATION

    Dave Ryan 202-564-7827 / ryan.dave@epa.gov




    EPA Administrator Christie Whitman today praised the House of Representatives for its passage of bipartisan Brownfields legislation. “Brownfields is exactly the kind of program that can bring new investment into a local economy. This bill (H.R. 2869) authorizes funding to assess and cleanup abandoned industrial sites that are environmental eyesores. Returning these sites to productive use can bring needed jobs and also will improve the tax base of many communities,” said Whitman.

    “This bipartisan legislation will remove barriers to brownfields cleanup and reduce litigation by differentiating between large contributors of toxic waste and small businesses who disposed of only small amounts of waste or ordinary trash, and should not be considered responsible parties,” said Whitman. “The measure contains several provisions that are high priorities for President Bush. It gives increased funding and flexibility to state and local governments for cleanup of brownfields. It also gives prospective redevelopers assurances that the federal government will not come after them for past pollution at the redevelopment site, and has small business liability reform. This bill will bring much needed clarity to the liability section of the Superfund law.”

    R-250 ###