Governor Rell: New Law Expands

      Protections for Brownfields Developers

Promotes Use of Green Technology In Remediation

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she has signed a bill that will help developers proceed more quickly with the clean-up of contaminated brownfields – idled industrial sites – and make it easier for them to recover clean-up costs from those responsible for polluting the property.

“Recycling these sites is not only good environmental policy but helps revive local economies through job creation and expanded community development. This law will help remove some of the hurdles for developers, who see great potential in these idled properties,” Governor Rell said during a ceremonial bill signing today in Norwalk. “This new law allows us to build on the successes of our brownfield remediation efforts and at the same time control sprawl and preserve open space.”

Under Governor Rell’s leadership, the state has dedicated more than $22.3 million for brownfield remediation and related development activities. The state also recently applied for $2.3 million in federal stimulus funds for brownfield redevelopment. The Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development has been an active partner in assisting numerous developers around the state.

“At the heart of brownfield redevelopment is vision — the vision to bring an old building back on line and entire communities back to life,” Governor Rell said. “My administration is committed to working with those that share this vision.”

The new law includes mandated deadlines for remediation. It also promotes the reuse of former mills and requires state agencies developing mill sites in flood plains to include green technologies when soliciting bids for remediation.

The legislation establishes a program protecting potential brownfield developers from the obligation to remediate contamination that escapes the site before they acquired it and is open to those developers who agree to remediate certain sites in accordance with state standards. The legislation also streamlines regulatory criteria for state agencies redeveloping contaminated mill sites in flood plains.

Reuse of mills, sometimes complicated because of their proximity to water, is critical to economic and community development efforts. The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently agreed to a series of new administrative reforms that will expand the activities allowed under the agencies’ general permit process more user-friendly and efficient for mill redevelopment projects.

Inclusion of these new activities, such as environmental remediation, dredging projects, structural rehabilitation of historic and residential buildings approved by this streamlined process will not be subject to the formal DEP floodplain certification process.

The new law, House Bill 6097, An Act Concerning Brownfields Development Projects, takes effect October 1, 2009.