March 24, 2005

Environmental Advocates Applauds Brownfields Program Breakthrough
Leaders Sign Needed Memorandum of Understanding

Statement of EANY Regulatory Watch Program Director
Tim Sweeney

(Albany, NY) - Environmental Advocates of New York is pleased that Governor Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Bruno and Assembly Speaker Silver have reached agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) needed to implement New York’s landmark Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP). Environmental Advocates worked for over seven years to secure passage of the historic BCP program, destined to become a national model for the remediation of contaminated properties that are largely concentrated in urban and waterfront neighborhoods.

This agreement means that the $30 million appropriated in the last two state budgets is now available to begin the process of cleaning up the state’s brownfield properties. Included in the $30 million is funding for the Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) program, technical assistance grants, development of a statewide groundwater database, and staff for the brownfield program at the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Significantly, $20 million of the $30 million will go toward funding grants through the BOA program. The BOA program provides grants to municipalities and community based organizations to complete area-wide assessments of brownfields and develop plans for the remediation and reuse of those properties. To date, there have been 53 applications for BOA funding, with another request for proposals expected within the next few months. The BOA program is the heart of New York’s Brownfield Cleanup program – it is encouraging that this is reflected in the MOU agreement.

Environmental Advocates of New York applauds Governor Pataki, Senator Bruno and Assemblyman Silver for putting an end to the impasse that has stymied the Brownfield program for the last 18 months. We are, however, alarmed by the Senate’s removal of the $15 million Governor Pataki proposed for the BCP in this year’s budget. Environmental Advocates urges the Senate to restore the full $15 million in funding for the BCP in fiscal year 2006-2007. We also urge all three leaders to work for the timely execution of the next MOU needed to fund brownfield remediation.