[CPEO-BIF] Urban Habitat issues policy paper on Brownfields and Environmental

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

[Sent by Charles L. Mason, Jr.]

BROWNFIELDS POLICY PAPER

This policy paper will 1) identify key environmental justice issues
present in the brownfields debate; 2) provide an overview of existing
laws, regulations, and policies that are currently in place to address
brownfields contamination and revitalization; 3) discuss the
effectiveness of these current strategies 4) discuss emerging and
potential innovative strategies for brownfields revitalization, and 5)
provide a set of “best practices” and resources that are being developed
nationally to address brownfields in low-income communities and
communities of color.

            Many factors have lead to the emergence of brownfields in
low-income and communities of color.  This has included land-use
decisions, racial and economic discrimination, and suburban sprawl.  The
current environmental protection apparatus tends to focus on removing
barriers to environmental liability as feared by developers, rather than
on environmental justice issues in communities affected by brownfields’
existence and redevelopment.  Most critical in the redevelopment of
brownfields is the onset of gentrification due to rising property
values, home prices, and rents, which invariably leads to the
displacement of low-income residents and people of color.  Current
policies do not address the minimization of displacement in the
redevelopment of brownfields or put mechanisms in legislation that
safeguard against the negative impact on low-income residents of
increased development pressures.

            There are a number of policy recommendations addressed in
this paper; however, the removal of health risks must be the main
priority of all brownfields action plans.  Policy requirements and
enforcement mechanisms to safeguard environmental health should be
strengthened for all brownfields projects located in these communities.
The assurance of the health of the community should take precedence over
any other benefits, economic or otherwise, expected to result from
brownfields redevelopment.

Redevelopment of properties remains the primary goal of brownfields
policies and regulations.  Also, the increase in community participation
components of policy and regulatory changes is critical to the
revitalization of communities scarred by brownfields.  Other
recommendations include the institution of anti-displacement measures in
the redevelopment of brownfields; preventing emerging brownfields;
supporting innovative redevelopment strategies; and, ensuring that
brownfields revitalization is on regional agendas.

            The environmental justice movement must set a clear policy
and advocacy agenda at the national, state, regional, and local levels
that includes innovative ways to improve capacity building.  Policy
changes should support efforts to expand opportunities for community
groups to purchase and redevelop properties in their neighborhoods, and
in partnership with state and private entities through existing
brownfields redevelopment programs.  Innovative institutional models can
be used to foster the creation of affordable housing and other
community-oriented uses on former brownfields sites.  Advocating for
linkage and/or impact fees for polluting industrial and commercial uses
that will go into a regional and/or municipal fund to finance
brownfields redevelopment activities that demonstrate clear community
benefits.  Finally, environmental justice movement leaders must be
encouraged to develop environmental justice criteria for Community
Benefits Plans (modeled after those employed successfully in union
organizing) in order to assess the desirability of any given brownfields
redevelopment project proposed for a community.

To link to entire paper go to www.urbanhabitat.org



Charles L. Mason, Jr.
Transportation and Housing Program Associate
Urban Habitat
436 14th Street, Suite 1205
Oakland, CA  94612
P 510 839-3716
F 510 839-9610
cmason@urbanhabitat.org
www.urbanhabitat.org

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