On February 14, 2008 Councilman Matt Zone, Ward 17, testified before the United States House of Representative Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on behalf of the National League of Cities and the City of Cleveland.  

Councilman Zone’s testimony addressed the need for an increase in Federal funding for the EPA Brownfield Programs through raising the cap on assessment grant amounts, whether site-specific or community-wide, and an increase in technical assistance offered to communities.  His testimony further urged Congress to enact legislation addressing and resolving the disincentives created by the potential liabilities associated with brownfield redevelopment by providing a waiver, a definitive limitation or an elimination of liability for non-contributing local governments coming into title of previously contaminated properties involuntarily. 

“Local governments rightly approach brownfield redevelopment as an economic development activity.  Strategically redeveloping these contaminated properties means correcting the environmental injustices unduly thrown upon those living in our impoverished neighborhoods that are host to a disproportionate share of brownfields,” said Councilman Zone.  “It means protecting our first responders by eliminating enclaves of criminal activity and structures of high fire risk.  For Cleveland, it means protecting Lake Erie and our streams and rivers.  It also means creating a more sustainable future by promoting urban infill rather than urban sprawl and incorporating more environmentally-friendly design and building stock in our existing urban fabric.”

The EPA Brownfields Program is vital for local governments in aiding their redevelopment efforts.  The City of Cleveland has had a successful partnership with the EPA Brownfields Program in redeveloping our urban landscape.  Since 2004, Cleveland has received $800,000 in EPA brownfields assessment grant funds that led to the cleanup of nearly 100 acres.  Assessment dollars are critical to local governments, as they support the first, and most risky, phase of a redevelopment project. Assessment funds granted by the EPA Brownfields Program assist local governments in evaluating the extent of contamination and potential costs for remediation. The City of Cleveland has successfully used these grants to leverage over $15 million.  Without these funds many projects would not have gone forward and much more remains to be accomplished.

Councilman Zone’s full testimony is available here.

The National League of Cities is available here.