[CPEO-BIF] Florida laws "clamp down on 'brownfields' designations"

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Bills clamp down on 'brownfields' designations after reports
Reports indicate sites without contamination got tax breaks

Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
May 24, 2013


Two bills signed by Gov. Rick Scott within the past week will restrict the designation of "brownfield" redevelopment sites that are eligible for state tax credits.

Brownfields are described in state law as property for which development, expansion or reuse may be complicated "by actual or perceived environmental contamination." As of a year ago, Florida had 312 designated brownfield areas (some containing multiple sites) in 119 communities, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

In 2012, the Orlando Sentinel reported that companies such as Darden Restaurants and Publix were among those receiving as much as $11 million in brownfield economic development tax breaks without having to show there was contamination.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=32999863

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Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope Street
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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