FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         ENR
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1997                           (202) 514-2008
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                                 
   EPA, JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROPOSE POLICY TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR
         INVESTORS TO CLEAN UP AND REDEVELOP BROWNFIELDS


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A new federal proposal will make it easier
for real estate owners and developers to identify, cleanup and
redevelop lightly contaminated property - so-called "Brownfields" -
under state voluntary cleanup programs, the United States announced
today.

     Financial and real estate investors are sometimes reluctant to
redevelop property with low levels of contamination because they
are concerned about potential liability under the federal Superfund
law.  The draft guidance addresses this concern by assuring
property owners that except under limited circumstances, the
federal government generally will not become involved in cleaning
up such sites or seeking to recover cleanup costs, as long as the
property is cleaned up under a qualified state voluntary cleanup
program. 

     Under the draft proposal, entitled Guidance for Developing
Memoranda of Agreement Language Concerning State Voluntary Cleanup
Programs, property owners can move quickly to assess and clean up
areas of low contamination under state voluntary cleanup programs
that meet minimum federal criteria.  The proposal will also help
property owners and state agencies identify the level of
contamination at sites and determine whether or not it poses a
significant risk to human health and the environment.

     In states that enter these memoranda of agreement with EPA,
property owners will have greater incentive to clean up and develop
Brownfields because of the federal government's agreement not to
intervene except under limited circumstances.  The EPA-state
agreements should encourage the cleanup and redevelopment of
Brownfields, returning them to productive commercial use that will
bring economic benefits to distressed communities.

     "The guidance promotes leveraging of federal and state
resources that will result in cleanup at more sites and a greater
overall environmental benefit," said Steven Herman, Assistant
Administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance.
     "The guidance removes a perceived obstacle to redeveloping
property with low levels of contamination that can contribute to
the economies of our nation's cities," said Lois Schiffer,
Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Justice Department's
Environment and Natural Resources Division.

     The guidance represents an opportunity for states and EPA to
enhance the potential for more communities to revitalize blighted
areas.  "This guidance acknowledges the success of State Voluntary
Cleanup programs and is an assurance of EPA's continuing commitment
to the redevelopment of Brownfields," said Timothy Fields, Jr.,
Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response. 

     The proposal provides guidelines to the EPA regional offices
to negotiate agreements with state environmental agencies to
specify state and EPA roles and responsibilities over the clean up
of lightly contaminated property under qualified state programs. 
To qualify, state voluntary cleanup programs must meet certain
minimum criteria, including community involvement in site cleanup
planning, ensuring that the plans protect human health and the
environment, and making sure cleanup plans are properly
implemented.

     The U.S General Accounting Office has estimated that there are
approximately 450,000 Brownfields sites currently in the United
States.  Generally, these sites are not highly contaminated and do
not need to be brought into the conventional federal Superfund
program.  Many states have established voluntary cleanup programs
representing alternative approaches to cleaning up and redeveloping
these Brownfields sites.

     The state voluntary cleanup programs allow property investors
to identify and clean up property with low levels of contamination
through streamlined administrative procedures that do not
compromise the quality of the cleanups.  In some cases, these
investors can obtain some relief from future state liability for
past contamination.

     The draft guidance will be published in the Federal Register. 

     Copies of the draft guidance can be accessed electronically
through EPA's homepage at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields.  Copies
can also be obtained by calling the EPA RCRA/Superfund Hotline at
(800) 424-9346 or (703) 412-9810.
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