East Palo Alto Mayor Myrtle Walker told a U.S. Senate subcommittee Tuesday that legislation is needed to support the cleanup and redevelopment of industrial brownfields.
Walker testified on behalf of the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals in support of Senate Bill 350, introduced by a bi-partisan group of senators including U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, (D-California).
SB 350 seeks to clarify brownfields liability and increase state involvement in brownfields cleanup and federal funding for assessment, cleanup and redevelopment.
Brownfields are abandoned, idle or underused properties where expansion or redevelopment is hindered by contamination, real or perceived, according to a NALGEP spokesman, who said there may be as many as 500,000 brownfield sites across the country.
"The cleanup and revitalization of brownfields represents one of the most exciting, and most challenging, environmental and economic initiatives in the nation," Walker told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's Superfund, Waste Control and Risk Assessment Subcommittee.
Walker said legislation was necessary to clarify liability so that more public and private agencies would be willing to get involved in cleanup and redevelopment efforts, and to increase federal funding and participation.
In addition, she suggested that future legislation expand the definition of brownfields and extend federal assistance to areas contaminated by petroleum, lead or asbestos.<
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LittleFoot said:
Good luck. There is no more selfish + ugly community than Burlingame.
CA Is Burning said:
Dirk van Ulden said:
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