Re: [CPEO-BIF] Six blind men

["Trilling, Barry" <BTrilling@wiggin.com>]

Those of us who participated in the "facilitated" negotiations that produced the All Appropriate Inquiry regulations can testify to the value of frank but repectful dialogue among stakeholders who, as Lenny reminds us, were like the six blind men trying to describe the elephant. I support the idea of convening a similar panel of stakeholders representing divergent interests, with decision makers from appoprriate state and federal agencies and legislatve committees to address the issues raised in these recent postings, with the aim of building a consensus proposal for state and federal legislation.  Our AAI discussions took place at meetings at EPA HQ in DC over several months.  What are the impediments to following a similar path to achieve the objectives laid out in Lenny"s posting?

----- Original Message -----
From: brownfields-bounces@lists.cpeo.org <brownfields-bounces@lists.cpeo.org>
To: lsiegel@cpeo.org <lsiegel@cpeo.org>; 'Brownfields Internet Forum' <brownfields@lists.cpeo.org>
Sent: Fri May 01 16:11:31 2009
Subject: Re: [CPEO-BIF] Six blind men

Surely Lenny's viewpoint is one we can all support.  It is wonderful to
debate among ourselves, but what we really need is to include the
regulators who must assist  in determining the viability of the best of
our ideas and then push for regulatory and/or congressional approval.

Bruce

Bruce-Sean Reshen
p. 203-259-1850
c. 917-757-5925

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-----Original Message-----
From: brownfields-bounces@lists.cpeo.org
[mailto:brownfields-bounces@lists.cpeo.org] On Behalf Of Lenny Siegel
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 3:49 PM
To: Brownfields Internet Forum
Subject: [CPEO-BIF] Six blind men

Bill Walsh wrote,

> The original thrust of brownfields was not to clean up Brownfields
> sites, but to separate new development from liability and allow the
new
> developer to proceed with an economically beneficial endeavor.

The All Appropriate Inquiries Negotiated Rulemaking Committee often
compared ourselves to the Six Blind Men and the Elephant. For those who
don't remember their early education, this is a story (poem?) that
illustrates that where one stands depends upon where one sits.

Some people think the primary purpose of brownfields programs is
liability relief. Some think it's primarily property redevelopment. Some

think it's neighborhood revitalization. To others, it's environmental
cleanup. And yet others see it as an opportunity to practice their
professional skills.

I believe that we can develop brownfields policies that serve all those
goals. That is, we don't all have agree which of those objectives is
most important to work together to devise win-win brownfields
strategies.

I therefore propose that U.S. EPA convene a multi-stakeholder dialogue
to review the universe of cleanup programs to figure how to improve
disclosure and environmental response while still rewarding those who
seek to combine cleanup and redevelopment.

Lenny
--


Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
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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