[CPEO-BIF] California Brownfields MOA

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

> Dr. Alan Lloyd, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency today announced an agreement to improve coordination and oversight of Brownfields cleanup.
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> The agreement, between the State and Regional Water Quality Control Boards, the Department of Toxic Substances Control and Cal/EPA will eliminate overlap between state agencies with brownfields cleanup programs.  Brownfields are properties where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse is complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances or contaminants.
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> Cleanup and reinvestment in these properties takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and improves and protects the environment.  "This agreement will remove a significant, longstanding Brownfields impediment in California. It will allow our agencies to focus on getting Brownfields cleaned up and redeveloped quickly, while ensuring that these cleanups meet California's protective standards.  Addressing these sites quickly protects and preserves California's environment and returns them to our tax rolls as economic assets.  This is a key step toward meeting the Governor's goals for Brownfields cleanup," said Dr. Lloyd.  "The Agreement allows Cal/EPA to better manage our resources and ensure that the agency with the most appropriate regulatory tools and expertise is assigned lead oversight responsibility on a site-by-site basis."
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> The agreement requires the Water Boards and DTSC to:
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> ·        Designate a single state lead agency for each Brownfields site;
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> ·        Use a single, uniform site assessment procedure for assessing contamination at Brownfield sites;
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> ·        Require cleanups to meet remedial goals of both agencies;
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> ·        Provide opportunity for public involvement in cleanup decisions;
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> ·        Commit to specific review timeframes; and
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> ·        Commit to coordination and communication on Brownfield site cleanups.
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> Copies of the agreement and additional information about the agreement can be found at Cal/EPA's Web site at
> http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Brownfields/MOA/.
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> Cal/EPA's regulatory boards and departments play an essential role in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect public health and the environment. For more information go to Brownfields program at http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Brownfields/ 

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Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org
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