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May 9, 2002 THIS WEEK:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brownfields Weekly welcomes your organization's press releases and industry conference announcements. Write to the Editors: Editors@Brownfields.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RER Testifies Before Congress for
Brownfields Tax Deductions WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Real Estate Roundtable (RER) May 1st urged Congress to make permanent a temporary tax code provision that allows property owners to deduct environmental cleanup costs in the year they are incurred. Testifying before a House Ways and Means subcommittee, Roundtable member Timothy Brazell expressed real estate's strong support for legislation that would permanently extend Section 198 of the tax code (now scheduled to expire in 2004). "Enacting this legislation will facilitate and motivate the investment of new capital into areas blighted by abandoned brownfields properties, stimulating job creation where unemployment is high and easing pressure to develop beyond the fringes of communities," said Brazell, tax manager of Los Angeles-based real estate firm Lowe Enterprises, Inc. Bills H.R. 2264 and S. 1082 also would broaden the Section 198 definition of "hazardous substances" to include petroleum products and pesticides; and repeal the requirement that any deductions taken under Section 198 be "recaptured" as taxable income upon sale. Expensing helps real estate owners and developers manage the high cost and risk of redeveloping contaminated properties, leading to new economic investment, jobs and tax revenue in blighted communities. The U.S. Conference of Mayors has estimated that brownfields cleanup and redevelopment can generate up to 550,000 new jobs and up to $2.4 billion in new tax revenues for cities across the country. For every dollar that federal, state and local governments target for revitalizing brownfields, almost $2.50 is generated in private investment, according to the Council for Urban and Economic Development. Also testifying in support of permanent brownfields cleanup cost deductibility was the sponsor of H.R. 2264, Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL), and Acting Assistant Treasury Secretary Pamela F. Olson. Ten additional real estate groups support the legislation, including The American Institute of Architects, The Associated General Contractors of America, and the International Council of Shopping Centers. EPA Grants $21.5M for Revitalization
in 17 States FARMINGTON HILLS, Michigan - In a ceremony May 3rd in Oakland County, Michigan, EPA Administrator Christie Whitman announced $21.5 million in Brownfields grants to clean up and revitalize blighted communities in 17 states. The grants are awarded under EPA's Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program to capitalize state and local programs that provide no- interest or low- interest loans to businesses to carry out cleanup activities at Brownfields properties. The state governments awarded grants include Alabama ($1 million), Arkansas ($1 million), Colorado ($800,000), Hawaii ($2 million), Kansas ($1 million), New Mexico ($1 million), South Carolina($900,000) and Washington state ($800,000). Local governments awarded grants, in addition to Oakland County, Michigan ($1 million), include: Coralville, Iowa ($1 million); El Paso, Texas ($1 million); Kenosha, Wisconsin ($1 million); Milwaukee, Wisconsin ($1 million); Madera County, California ($1 million); Santa Rosa, California ($1 million); Monroe, Michigan ($1 million); Taylor, Michigan ($1 million); Montgomery County, Pennsylvania ($1 million); Southern Windsor Regional Planning Commission, Vermont ($1 million); Springfield, Ohio ($1 million); and Worcester, Massachusetts ($1 million). To date, EPA has awarded 143 Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund grants to 39 states and the District of Columbia, totaling almost $91 million. For every dollar of federal money spent on Brownfields cleanup activities, cities and states produce or leverage $2.48 in private investment. Earlier this year, President Bush signed bipartisan legislation that will encourage the cleanup and redevelopment of old industrial properties. The President's fiscal year 2003 budget request doubled the funds available through the EPA in fiscal year 2002 -- from $98 million to $200 million -- to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize brownfields sites. Register Now for Houston's 4th Annual
Brownfields The Houston Mayor's Office of Environmental Policy is pleased to announce the 4th Annual Brownfields Redevelopment Workshop for all brownfields stakeholders across the United States. The Workshop will provide opportunities to learn from and talk to individuals directly involved with the successful risk-based cleanup, financing, insurance, transfer, and redevelopment of Houston's local brownfields. Mark your calendar and make plans to attend the plenary session, breakout discussions, a keynote address during lunch, an awards ceremony, and a bus tour of several local brownfields. For more information on this workshop, contact Dawn Moses, Brownfields Program Coordinator, phone (713) 437-6552; email dawn.moses@cityofhouston.net; or visit the workshop web site: http://www.houstonbrownfields.org. Roberts Appointed EPA Region 8 Administrator DENVER, Colorado - Robert E. Roberts, Executive Director of the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) for the past seven years, has been appointed by Administrator Christie Whitman to be Administrator of EPA's Region 8, based in Denver, which is responsible for Agency matters in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. "Robbie Roberts has a broad background and demonstrated leadership in dealing with environmental matters at the state and local level. He will bring to EPA's western regional operation a clear understanding of government, policy, and the importance of teamwork in getting things done," said Whitman. ECOS is the national, non-partisan, non-profit association, established as a clearing house of information for state and territorial environment commissioners and to articulate state positions to the Congress, federal agencies and the public. Roberts was the first Executive Director. From 1990 to 1995, Roberts was Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, a cabinet level position in South Dakota. In that position, he served on two national EPA advisory groups dealing with the impact of environmental programs on small towns and local government. He is a member of the National Environmental Policy Commission, established by the Congressional Black Caucus in 2001 to address environmental justice, public health and economic development issues. Roberts, 59, was an Air Force officer from 1967 to 1990, retiring with the rank of Colonel, after serving as base commander for the largest operational base in the Strategic Air Command. He graduated with distinction from the Air Command and Staff College and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and a masters degree in public administrator from Auburn University. House Approves Military Environmental
Exemptions, WASHINGTON, D.C. (ENS) - The House Armed Services Committee voted Wednesday May 1st to exempt many U.S. military activities and lands from two of the nation's most important environmental laws. With a 57 to one vote, the committee passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (HR 4546), which specifies funding for all branches of the U.S. military. The bill also includes provisions that would exempt the military from regulations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The Defense Department sought relief from the restrictions of the ESA, MBTA, Clean Air Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Superfund, and other environmental laws. The House declined to give the military exemptions from all but the ESA and MBTA, charging that the military did not give legislators enough lead time to consider to requests. The military inserted the provisions into its appropriations request on April 19, just three days before the initial subcommittee hearing on the issue. A recent Zogby poll found that 85 percent of Americans believe that the Defense Department should have to follow the same laws as everyone else. In a hearing on April 25 before a House Armed Services subcommittee, Defense Department officials argued that the U.S. military needs blanket exemptions from environmental laws for almost all military activities in order to protect national security. In other environmental news, the $383.4 billion Defense bill would provide $4 billion for environmental programs including natural resource protection and environmental cleanup. A separate $20 million fund would support projects that clean up and sink obsolete Navy ships as part of an artificial reef program. Two provisions would set aside land near military installations to preserve natural resources and reduce the impact of urban encroachment on military installations and endangered and threatened species. One provision would allow the Defense Secretary to support the efforts of private conservation organizations to acquire land or conservation easements near military installations to limit commercial development. The second provision would allow the military branches to turn over military lands to state or local governments or nonprofit conservation groups for permanent preservation as natural reserves. |