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EPA Administrator Discusses Administration’s Commitment to Brownfields in Visit to Wexford, Pennsylvania

Release Date: 2/22/2002
Contact Information: David Sternberg, (215) 814-5548 & Steffanie Bell, (202) 320-7851

David Sternberg, (215) 814-5548 & Steffanie Bell, (202) 320-7851

PITTSBURGH – EPA Administrator Christie Whitman was in Wexford, Pa. today discussing the Administration’s commitment to revitalizing brownfields. At the Infrastructure Opportunity Forum sponsored by Congresswoman Melissa Hart, Whitman discussed legislation signed by the President and his plans to double brownfields funding in the upcoming fiscal year.

“Thanks to the law the President signed, significant new resources are being made available for brownfields restoration. In the President’s budget proposal announced earlier this month, we asked Congress to more than double – to $200 million – available funding for brownfields projects in the next fiscal year,” Administrator Whitman said.

“That’s our down payment on a five year commitment to make $1 billion available for brownfields reclamation.”

“But money alone won’t solve the problems facing America’s remaining brownfields,” Whitman continued, “That’s why the law the President signed last month is so important. It removes one of the most difficult impediments that has stood in the way – potential liability to new owners and redevelopers of brownfields.”

Brownfields are abandoned, lightly contaminated properties, often found in economically distressed areas that are returned to economically thriving, community hubs. Since 1993, the EPA has taken significant steps to clean up brownfields and return them to productive use, awarding more than $157 million in grants to cities, counties, tribes, states, non-profits and educational institutions nationwide.

In his FY 2003 budget, President Bush announced that he would more than double current brownfields funding to $200 million. This, coupled with new brownfields legislation signed by the President, speaks to the Administration's commitment to brownfields redevelopment.

According to an independent study conducted by the Council for Urban Economic Development, the revitalization of brownfields has created more than 22,000 permanent jobs, and leveraged $2.48 in private investment for every $1 spent by federal, state, or local governments.

In a recent study done by George Washington University, it was found that for every one acre of brownfields reused, 4.5 acres of green space is saved.

For more information about EPA's brownfields program go to: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/.