Talking Points

A good brownfields bill will…

• Eliminate public health and environmental risks;
• Create incentives for voluntary cleanup and redevelopment;
• Develop protective and consistent cleanup standards;
• Ensure full public involvement and public accountability in the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated property; and
• Ensure that those responsible for contamination of property are held accountable for their actions.

Public health problems are associated with brownfields.

• Contamination from brownfields will often migrate off-site or sink into the groundwater under sites.
• Children often play in brownfields that are contaminated with lead, arsenic, and other toxins.

Consistent brownfield cleanup standards are badly needed.

• A recent study by the group “Childproofing Our Communities” found that often times schools are built on brownfields that have not properly or adequately been cleaned-up.

Brownfields give rise to urban sprawl.

• Brownfields eat up space that could be used by other businesses. Because it is cheaper, developers seek out “greenfields,” undeveloped land usually located at the outskirts of town, to build on, which promotes sprawl.
• Brownfields act like a cancer in neighborhoods, giving rise to urban flight and the urban sprawl that goes with it.

Everybody wins with proper brownfields cleanups.

• Communities benefit.
• Health and safety hazards are eliminated.
• Eyesores are eliminated.
• New jobs and new investments are brought into communities.
• Productivity of the land increases.
• Property values and tax receipts by local and state governments increase.