Press Release - Tuesday, September 13, 2005
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IEPA DIRECTOR SCOTT TESTIFIES ON BROWNFIELDS BEFORE CONGRESS
SPRINGFIELD --- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott today urged a U.S. House committee to provide additional resources to the states to reclaim brownfields---potentially contaminated and often abandoned industrial and commercial sites.
Illinois has one of the most successful brownfields programs in the nation that has accelerated under Governor Rod Blagojevich and his Opportunity Returns economic development initiative, Director Scott told the House Government Reform Committee, Subcommittee on Federalism and the Census.
But he noted that additional federal resources "to clean up and redevelop our brownfields sites will pay off in healthier and more stable communities."
"As both Agency director and a city mayor I have seen these funds catalyze brownfield cleanup and reuse," Scott said. "I believe strongly this funding will more than pay for itself in the long run by reducing sprawl and its accompanied transportation and other infrastructure costs."
Director Scott specifically endorsed federal legislation to authorize U.S. Housing and Urban Development block grant assistance for brownfields, federal tax credits for brownfields redevelopment and adequate funding to clean up Superfund sites.
He noted Governor Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns plans give a high priority to brownfield cleanup and redevelopment and IEPA grants and loans as well as overall site cleanups have significantly increased under his administration. In addition, there has been an increased emphasis on regional partnerships between local governments and the private sector working with IEPA and other state agencies.
Director Scott also urged Congress to authorize additional support for an innovative revolving loan program started in Illinois in 2004 that requires communities to repay the loan only if a brownfield redevelopment project results in increased local tax revenues.
Prior to becoming IEPA Director on July 1, Director Scott was previously involved in addressing brownfields as Mayor of Rockford, as a state legislator and as a city attorney. He also previously served as President of the Illinois Chapter fo the National Brownfields Association.
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