News Release
For Immediate Release
July 28, 2009
Contact:
Aaron Zappia
(215) 657-7700
Greenleaf Bill Protecting Redevelopment agencies from Environmental
Liability is Signed into Law
Yesterday, Governor Rendell signed into law Senator Greenleaf's
legislation protecting economic redevelopment agencies and their nonprofit
corporations from environmental liability while they temporarily hold title to a
property for the purpose of site rehabilitation and hazardous waste removal.
"Before a former industrial site is redeveloped, often
rehabilitation must take place which includes the removal of hazardous
materials," said Senator Greenleaf. "The local redevelopment agencies and their
non-profit organizations may be held liable for damages resulting from the
removal of hazardous waste. This lack of legal protection has delayed or
prevented many worthwhile projects such as the redevelopment of industrial sites
and brownfields both locally and across the Commonwealth."
"Many of these sites are found in former industrial centers
suffering from long term economic decline and would greatly benefit from
redevelopment that would mobilize the local economy," said the Senator. "The
sites that contain hazardous waste like asbestos have become local fixtures
threatening the environment and public health. My bill is going make it easier
for these places to get cleaned up in a timelier manner."
The legislation will not expand the scope of environmental
liability protection in Pennsylvania, but will bring it in line with the way
environmental remediation is being funded in the state and to make it clear that
liability protection extends to any nonprofit corporation created and controlled
by a redevelopment authority to carry out its statutory purpose.
The Redevelopment Authority of Montgomery County proposed this
legislation to facilitate its remediation of brownfield properties. The
legislation will protect redevelopment authorities which sometime only hold
title to assist in obtaining State funds that may be used in the removal of
contamination from brownfield sites.
Jay Ochroch, Vice Chairman of the Redevelopment Authority of
Montgomery County, said, "With the passage of this legislation, many projects
which have been delayed can now move forward prior to transferring the title to
a third party for development of the property."
Jerry Nugent, Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority,
said, "We would like to thank Senator Greenleaf for working with the
redevelopment authority in getting this important legislation through the
legislature and signed into law. It's a step in the right direction for
economic development in Pennsylvania."
