Brownfield redevelopment gets boost from legislature

(June 7, 2007) On the final day of the regular legislative session, the Senate followed the House in passing HB-7369, a bill that will foster more investment in brownfield redevelopment in Connecticut.

CBIA strongly supported this bill after working closely with the state’s Brownfields Task Force during its deliberations last fall and winter.  While the bill does not contain all the recommendations contained in the task force’s February 2007 report to the legislature, it does move the state in the right direction. 

What’s more, the bill calls for the task force to continue and to provide further recommendations in time for consideration during next year's legislative session. 

To make investment in brownfield redevelopment more attractive in Connecticut, the bill makes changes to both the current financial tools and administrative procedures that are currently associated with these projects.

Specifically, the bill expands the Office of Brownfields Remediation and Development (OBRD) and authorizes the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to offer new financing tools.

In an effort to further streamline the state’s involvement in brownfield projects, the bill requires the commissioners of DECD, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the executive director of the Connecticut Development Authority (CDA) to define and agree on each of their respective responsibilities with respect to the activities of the brownfields redevelopment office. It also establishes certain timeframe limitations for DEP audits of cleanups and modifies the state’s covenant-not-to-sue program.

While much more needs to be done to make Connecticut an attractive place for investors interested in brownfield development, CBIA congratulates Commerce Committee Chairs, Rep. Jeff Berger (D-Waterbury) and Sen. Gary LeBeau (D-East Hartford) for their significant leadership on this important bill and we look forward to working with the task force over the coming months to develop important additional recommendations. CBIA also appreciates the efforts of Commerce Committee ranking members Sen. Dan Debicella (R-Shelton) and Rep. John Stripp (R-Weston) for ensuring strong bipartisan support for the proposal.

For more information on brownfield issues in Connecticut, contact Eric Brown at 860-244-1926 or browne@cbia.com

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