What is the Brownfields Initiative?
The Brownfields Initiative offers support to states and communities to clean and redevelop sites that have perceived or known contamination. The EPA’s efforts have focused on clarifying liability issues under Superfund, creating partnerships and outreach to other governmental agencies and the business community and establishing brownfields pilot projects throughout the country. In May, Vice President Al Gore expanded the federal commitment to Brownfields redevelopment and announced a federal partnership of more than 15 agencies to address brownfields issues. This represents a $300 million federal investment for brownfields redevelopment. The investment is expected to leverage from $5 billion to $28 billion in additional private investments to revitalize these properties. The most recent development in the federal program came on Aug. 5, 1997, when President Clinton signed the Brownfields Tax Incentive. The tax incentive is part of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and provides a three-ye
