Date: 2008-06-24
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Governor David A. Paterson today announced an agreement with legislative leaders to reform the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program to better target incentives for the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites. “This legislation is an important step forward for improving both our environment and our economy,” said Governor Paterson. “If properly targeted, these tax incentives have the potential to turn Brownfields into economic engines, particularly upstate. This agreement balances the need to both clean up sites and spur development with the need to provide fiscal controls and prevent situations where developers received unintended windfalls.” The legislation agreed to today will: In some cases, will provide more than double the current tax incentives for site cleanup, up to 50 percent of cleanup costs. Limit redevelopment credits for non-manufacturing projects to $35 million or 3 times the cost of site cleanup, whichever is less. Limit redevelopment credits for manufacturing projects to $45 million or six times the cost of site remediation, whichever is less. Streamlines administration of the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program. Project applications that have been received prior to July 1, 2007 and applications that have been approved by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as of the date of the enactment of the legislation will continue to be eligible for current law tax credits. The current program has not achieved desired redevelopment in struggling areas, and has provided large windfalls for some projects that were not meeting the state's goals of assuring environmental cleanup while spurring economic development. That situation has caused Governor Paterson and the Legislature to pass a moratorium on the Brownfield Cleanup Program, preventing the state from accepting or rejecting any more proposed projects. That moratorium ends July 23; the legislative session is slated to end June 23. Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said: “This legislation reforms the State's Brownfields program to ensure that we continue to provide critical financial resources to clean up and redevelop abandoned Brownfields, and revitalize our urban areas all across this State. These reforms will ensure that this worthy program is more accountable to taxpayers.” Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said: “This measure is an important step in achieving economic revitalization in communities throughout New York. By encouraging a higher standard for cleanups, these reforms will better protect the environment and benefit all New Yorkers today, as well as, our children and future generations. In addition, the transfer of the Brownfield opportunity area program to the department of state will help streamline the administration of the program and ensure that communities have a role in planning their revitalization.” Senate Minority Leader Malcolm A. Smith said: “To clean-up contaminated sites for beneficial reuse is critical to creating new jobs and affordable housing. This reform will once again help to restore the heart and soul of our cities, villages and towns, providing not only an economic boost but increasing the self-esteem of communities. I thank Governor Paterson and my Senate colleagues for coming through on such an important issue for New York.” Senator Carl L. Marcellino, Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said: “New York State has always been a national leader in the environmental protection arena and we proved that in 2003 when we created a landmark program for the voluntary cleanup of Brownfield sites. That program began the process of removing contamination all across the State. Compromise is the only way to accomplish anything in the legislative game. While this bill does not contain everything I would like, it is positive step towards advancing our common goal of promoting the physical, economic and social revitalization of our communities.” Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst) said: “This significant legislation will lead to the cleanup of thousands of contaminated properties across New York. It will encourage new investment and redevelopment that will invigorate local economies. The program changes will help brownfields be an attractive development alternative to an undisturbed green field and help protect our environment.” Senator Antoine Thompson, Ranking Member of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said: “The Brownfield cleanup program is critical to the Upstate economy. Governor Paterson has listened to the concerns of business leaders and environmental advocates. Now it's time to clean up sites and create jobs," said Senator Antoine Thompson. "This is the ultimate recycling of urban eyesores being transformed into new, shovel-ready sites. This agreement protects environmental standards and keeps construction costs down.” DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis said: “So far, not enough cleanup money has found its way into the urban core of our cities, where thousands of Brownfield sites perpetuate blight, create public health risks and discourage needed investment. This agreement reforms the Brownfield cleanup program to make it smarter, more effective and more accountable to taxpayers.”
(Media-Newswire.com) - Governor David A. Paterson today announced an agreement with legislative leaders to reform the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program to better target incentives for the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites.
“This legislation is an important step forward for improving both our environment and our economy,” said Governor Paterson. “If properly targeted, these tax incentives have the potential to turn Brownfields into economic engines, particularly upstate. This agreement balances the need to both clean up sites and spur development with the need to provide fiscal controls and prevent situations where developers received unintended windfalls.”
The legislation agreed to today will:
In some cases, will provide more than double the current tax incentives for site cleanup, up to 50 percent of cleanup costs.
Limit redevelopment credits for non-manufacturing projects to $35 million or 3 times the cost of site cleanup, whichever is less.
Limit redevelopment credits for manufacturing projects to $45 million or six times the cost of site remediation, whichever is less.
Streamlines administration of the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program.
Project applications that have been received prior to July 1, 2007 and applications that have been approved by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as of the date of the enactment of the legislation will continue to be eligible for current law tax credits.
The current program has not achieved desired redevelopment in struggling areas, and has provided large windfalls for some projects that were not meeting the state's goals of assuring environmental cleanup while spurring economic development. That situation has caused Governor Paterson and the Legislature to pass a moratorium on the Brownfield Cleanup Program, preventing the state from accepting or rejecting any more proposed projects. That moratorium ends July 23; the legislative session is slated to end June 23.
Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said: “This legislation reforms the State's Brownfields program to ensure that we continue to provide critical financial resources to clean up and redevelop abandoned Brownfields, and revitalize our urban areas all across this State. These reforms will ensure that this worthy program is more accountable to taxpayers.”
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said: “This measure is an important step in achieving economic revitalization in communities throughout New York. By encouraging a higher standard for cleanups, these reforms will better protect the environment and benefit all New Yorkers today, as well as, our children and future generations. In addition, the transfer of the Brownfield opportunity area program to the department of state will help streamline the administration of the program and ensure that communities have a role in planning their revitalization.”
Senate Minority Leader Malcolm A. Smith said: “To clean-up contaminated sites for beneficial reuse is critical to creating new jobs and affordable housing. This reform will once again help to restore the heart and soul of our cities, villages and towns, providing not only an economic boost but increasing the self-esteem of communities. I thank Governor Paterson and my Senate colleagues for coming through on such an important issue for New York.”
Senator Carl L. Marcellino, Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said: “New York State has always been a national leader in the environmental protection arena and we proved that in 2003 when we created a landmark program for the voluntary cleanup of Brownfield sites. That program began the process of removing contamination all across the State. Compromise is the only way to accomplish anything in the legislative game. While this bill does not contain everything I would like, it is positive step towards advancing our common goal of promoting the physical, economic and social revitalization of our communities.”
Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst) said: “This significant legislation will lead to the cleanup of thousands of contaminated properties across New York. It will encourage new investment and redevelopment that will invigorate local economies. The program changes will help brownfields be an attractive development alternative to an undisturbed green field and help protect our environment.”
Senator Antoine Thompson, Ranking Member of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said: “The Brownfield cleanup program is critical to the Upstate economy. Governor Paterson has listened to the concerns of business leaders and environmental advocates. Now it's time to clean up sites and create jobs," said Senator Antoine Thompson. "This is the ultimate recycling of urban eyesores being transformed into new, shovel-ready sites. This agreement protects environmental standards and keeps construction costs down.”
DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis said: “So far, not enough cleanup money has found its way into the urban core of our cities, where thousands of Brownfield sites perpetuate blight, create public health risks and discourage needed investment. This agreement reforms the Brownfield cleanup program to make it smarter, more effective and more accountable to taxpayers.”