Letter from AFI Environment Committee Chairman ro Rep. Gillmor re: Brownfields Discussion Draft

Letter from AFI Environment Committee Chairman to Representative Gillmor regarding Brownfields Discussion Draft

June 19, 2001

The Honorable Paul Gillmor
Chair, House Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials
1203 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Re: Brownfields, June 13, 2001 Discussion Draft

Dear Representative Gillmor:

I am writing on behalf of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) to commend you on your June 13, 2001, discussion draft of the Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2001. Without the necessary reforms to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), clean up and redevelopment opportunities are lost as well as new jobs, new tax revenues, and the opportunity to manage growth. NCSL's Environment Committee has made this a top priority and we applaud you for your leadership on this issue. In particular we support your efforts to:

Clarify the definition of a brownfields site.
Provide states an adequate level of deference prior to initiation of an enforcement action by the Administrator.
Require a respective Governor's concurrence on the listing of a facility on the National Priorities List.
Increase federal funding for the assessment and cleanup of state brownfields.
Streamline the federal permitting process. If states were ensured of this proposed administrative relief, it would make an increase in the match rate somewhat less objectionable.

We appreciate your efforts to bring forward a bill to further advance brownfields cleanup and redevelopment. We look forward to working with you on this issue. For additional information, please contact Molly Stauffer in NCSL's Washington, D.C. office at (202) 624-3584 or by email at molly.stauffer@ncsl.org.

Sincerely,

Representative Joe Hackney
Speaker Pro Tempore, North Carolina House of Representatives
Chair, NCSL Environment Committee