Abandoned or underused industrial sites, know as brownfields, are found in virtually every community across the country. While state and local governments have created successful programs to stimulate development of brownfield sites, more needs to be done to cleanup the 450,000 brownfields sites nationwide. To provide additional critical funding, I introduced the State and Local Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2000 . The bill authorizes $100 million annually to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct brownfield remediation and restoration at publicly-owned brownfield sites that are tied to waterways and watershed ecosystems. I believe this authority will contribute to the revitalization of a significant number of brownfield sites nationwide.
This proposal is not as new as it sounds because the Corps currently conducts pre-remedial activities at a large number of brownfield sites. Unfortunately, the Corps is limited to conducting activities for which EPA will provide reimbursement. I believe that current funding levels are insufficient to address the large number of brownfield sites that exist today. Providing funding to the Corps to pay for work it is already doing successfully in cities such as Kansas City, Providence, and Stamford, Connecticut will stimulate economic development and environmental protection, while mitigating urban sprawl.
I am pleased that the Clinton Administration included a brownfields provision in its WRDA 2000 proposal similar to my State and Local Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2000. The undeniable economic, environmental, and social benefits of brownfields redevelopment demand that we utilize all tools at our disposal and I believe the Corps is an effective tool. I look forward to working with members of this subcommittee and the Administration to ensure that the Army Corps of Engineers continues to play a valuable role in the revitalization of our communities.