WASHINGTON – In a Senate floor statement today, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), expressed his strong support for the Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2001. The bipartisan legislation, introduced today by Senator Robert Smith (R-NH) and Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will provide authorizing legislation for the EPA Brownfields Program and increase the funding level; help define the state and federal government roles in the cleanup of these properties; remove the threat of lawsuits for contiguous landowners, prospective purchasers, and innocent landowners; and provide additional grants for the inventory, assessment and cleanup of brownfields.

"As Co-Chair of the Senate Smart Growth Task Force, I believe brownfields redevelopment is one of the most important ways to revitalize cities and implement growth management," said Levin. "The redevelopment of brownfields, is one fiscally-sound way to bring investment back to neglected neighborhoods, cleanup the environment, use infrastructure that is already paid for and relieve development pressure on our urban fringe and farmlands."

Levin will add his name as a cosponsor of S. 350, the brownfields legislation, when the Senate reconvenes on February 26th.

Levin's Senate floor statement follows:

Mr. President, brownfields are abandoned, idled, or under-used commercial or industrial properties where development or expansion is hindered by real or perceived environmental contamination. Businesses located on brownfields were once the economic foundations of communities. Today, brownfields lie abandoned -- the legacy of our industrial past. These properties taint our urban landscape. Contamination, or the perception of contamination, impedes brownfields redevelopment, stifles community development and threatens the health of our citizens and the environment. Redeveloped, brownfields can be engines for economic development. They represent new opportunities in our cities, older suburbs and rural areas for housing, jobs and recreation. Today, Senator Smith, Senator Reid, Senator Chafee and Senator Boxer introduced the Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2001. I support their efforts to address this issue and I will co-sponsor the legislation.

As Co-Chair of the Senate Smart Growth Task Force, I believe brownfields redevelopment is one of the most important ways to revitalize cities and implement growth management. The redevelopment of brownfields, is one fiscally-sound way to bring investment back to neglected neighborhoods, cleanup the environment, use infrastructure that is already paid for and relieve development pressure on our urban fringe and farmlands.

The State of Michigan is a leader in brownfields redevelopment -- offering technical assistance and grant and loan programs to help communities redevelop brownfields. This legislation will complement state and local efforts to successfully redevelop brownfields. The bill provides much needed funding to state and local jurisdictions for the assessment, characterization, and remediation of brownfield sites. Importantly, the bill removes the threat of lawsuits for contiguous landowners, prospective purchasers, and innocent landowners. Communities must often overcome serious financial and environmental barriers to redevelop brownfields. Greenfields availability, liability concerns, the time and cost of cleanup, and a reluctance to invest in older urban areas deters private investment. This bill will help communities address these barriers to redevelopment. Finally, the bill provides greater certainty to developers and parties conducting the cleanup, ensuring that decisions under state programs will not be second-guessed. Public investment and greater governmental certainty combined with private investment can provide incentives for redeveloping brownfield properties and level the economic playing field between greenfields and brownfields.

I believe the Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2001 will do much to encourage commercial, residential and recreational development in our nation's communities where existing infrastructure, access to public transit, and close proximity to cultural facilities currently exist. America's emerging markets and future potential for economic growth lies in our cities and older suburbs. This potential is reflected in locally unmet consumer demand, underutilized labor resources and developable land that is rich in infrastructure. In Detroit, the Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that there is a $1.4 billion retail gap (the purchasing power of residents minus retail sales). In Flint, HUD estimates the retail gap to be $186 million and in East Lansing, $160 million. The redevelopment of brownfields will help communities realize the development potential of our urban communities. It is a critical tool for metropolitan areas to grow smarter – allowing us to recycle our Nation's land to promote continued economic growth while curtailing urban sprawl and cleaning up our environment.