Many old factories, foundries, plants and other manufacturing facilities have been abandoned after outgrowing their usefulness, going out of business, or succumbing to offshoring. Often polluted, these underutilized properties are called brownfield sites. These sites are usually contaminated with low levels of hazardous waste or pollution such as solvents, pesticides, lead and asbestos. The concentrations of these pollutants are too low to qualify as a Superfund site but the cost of cleanup has prevented many local governments from doing so. Besides creating problems for the surrounding environment, these eyesores are blights on the landscape and obstacles for communities trying to redevelop inner city areas. It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfield sites in the U.S.

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act commits $21 billion to environmental remediation, including cleaning up Superfund and brownfield sites, reclaiming abandoned mine land, and capping orphaned oil and gas wells. However, this amount is insufficient for addressing all our Brownfield sites.

Pending Legislation: H.R.6438 - Brownfields Redevelopment Tax Incentive Reauthorization Act of 2023
Sponsor: Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ)
Status: House Committee on Ways and Means
Chair: Rep. Jason Smith (MO)

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