[CPEO-BIF] City of Houston Deploys New Brownfield Inventory System

For Immediate Release
MEDIA CONTACT:

Adam Horowitz, 800-352-0050

City of Houston Deploys New Brownfield Inventory System

Fast access to environmental data and site research improve efficiency and insight for Houston's redevelopment team.

MILFORD, Conn., May 05, 2009 – Environmental Data Resources, Inc. (EDR) announced today that the City of Houston has deployed a customized EDR brownfield inventory system to make its efforts to remediate and redevelop environmentally contaminated properties more efficient.

Houston's new environmental research platform streamlines formerly labor-intensive tasks relating to site information retrieval and updates. The new system gives the city's brownfields professionals the ability to swiftly access information about a property, including current government records and historical-use records such as aerial photographs and Certified Sanborn fire insurance maps from EDR. The system also enables Houston's brownfields team to research specific properties or screen an area for properties that might meet criteria to be included in the brownfields program.

“The platform that EDR created enables significant improvements in process,” said Houston's Brownfields Manager, Shannon Teasley. “This tool is essential in our day-to-day operations and helps us make informed business decisions on which properties should and should not be included in our brownfields program. A single piece of information delivered at the right time can mean the difference between a smart brownfield investment and a poor one.”

The EDR system also monitors the environmental risks associated with neighboring sites that may impact a property. Environmental data is mapped and linked to complete detail about each piece of data. The user can select a street-map view, aerial-photo view, or hybrid view that combines the street-map information and visual detail from the aerial photography. Because the system is Web-based, it can be accessed easily from multiple locations and by multiple authorized users and departments. Additionally, project-related documents can be archived within the system.

“Brownfields redevelopment is an important part of the Obama administration's agenda," said EDR Managing Director Jon Walker. "Forward-looking cities such as Houston are redoubling their efforts to identify viable brownfields projects, create opportunities and revitalize neighborhoods."

About EDR:

Environmental Data Resources, Inc. is the leading provider of environmental risk information services and related workflow applications in the United States. As the innovator of the most comprehensive database of environmental and historical land use information, the company provides reports, subscription services and other solutions to help its customers assess and manage environmental risk. EDR customers include commercial and residential real estate professionals, environmental consultants, lenders, corporations, attorneys and government agencies. Established in 1991, EDR is headquartered in Milford, Connecticut with regional offices located throughout the United States. EDR is wholly owned by DMG Information Inc., the business information division of Daily Mail and General Trust, plc (DMGT).

For more information, visit http://edrnet.com/.

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