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The Dirt on Brownfields
Bridgeport State Rep. Lee A. Samowitz (D-129) is house chairman of the General Assembly's Commerce Committee, which next session will review proposed legislation pertaining to brownfields.
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Business New Haven
11/22/1999
By: Michele Beck
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What are brownfields?
Brownfields are basically underutilized properties that are environmentally contaminated - locations where mills and factories used to sit. Now the land sits in limbo because it costs a lot of money to assess how much it will cost to clean it up. Once they are assessed, we can assess the risks. Developers don't want to take on brownfields because then they would be responsible for whatever is on the land. There are brownfields developers who are willing to restore properties, though. Developers are basically concerned with their personal liability. Whoever takes over subsequently does not want to be liable for what's on the land.
What's the recent history of brownfields legislation in the state?
About two years ago we changed the rules of the game. The press ignored it because brownfields aren't sexy. The Department of Environmental Protection {DEP] was doing its job and being very prudent. The state of Connecticut has done nothing. I guess the problem just hasn't hit the radar screen yet. Before, in the 1960s, people were polluting and not even thinking about it. We are paying the price for the Industrial Revolution. But it does cost money to clean everything up.
What type of legislation is presently on the table? Connecticut is over-extended in its bonding. Our plan uses tax credits. Before you use the tax credits, you have to guarantee that the revenue will exceed the tax credits used. There are waterfront properties in New Haven and Bridgeport that could go to better use. Michigan has legislation, Section 201, [which says that] anyone with a remediation plan in effect can convey property to a developer. Then the developer is not responsible for what is on the land. This type of solution is worthy of looking at. Another glitch we are hitting is the question, 'Who's going to pay for it?' That's a $60 million question. New York has already spent $200 million and Connecticut has done nothing.
Are many brownfields hazardous to local residents' health? Most of the time they are not, depending on what the contaminates are. Most of the time it's just heavy metals. It's not the known we're worried about; it's the unknown. The problem is that not all the property has been assessed. Then at least you know the risks. Now it's like throwing craps. There is no excuse for the state to be at phase I on all properties. Most of the properties have watershed problems. New Haven and Bridgeport all have city water, not wells. The DEP and [Environmental Protection Agency recognize the standard for use. Unless you know what the property is going to be used for, you don't know how to clean it up.
What is the next step? Well, we're going to session next year. We'll propose bills that deal with remediation, the Michigan model, and we'll encourage financing.
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