2013 CPEO Brownfields List Archive

From: Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:52:44 -0800 (PST)
Reply: cpeo-brownfields
Subject: [CPEO-BIF] Florida "Brownfield loophole won't get tightened this year"
 
Brownfield loophole won't get tightened this year

By Sandra Pedicini
Orlando Sentinel (FL)
February 12, 2013

It looks like Florida businesses will still be able to get pollution- related tax breaks for building on land even where there is no proof of contamination.

Despite concerns raised about the practice, proposed bills filed in the Legislature (HB 415, SB 554) tweaking the state's brownfield program make no substantial changes to the definition of a brownfield.

When local governments declare land a brownfield so businesses can get tax breaks, there doesn't have to be any actual contamination - just the perception of it. Companies such as Publix have taken advantage of that to build on land with no evidence of pollution.

Under the proposed legislation, "local governments would still be able to designate just about any piece of land as a brownfield," said Dan Krassner, executive director of incentives-watchdog group Integrity Florida, in an email. "What benefit does the brownfield designation have for communities other than the offer of taxpayer handouts to corporations?"

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-brownfield- bill-florida-20130212,0,292060.story

--

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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