Policy Trends from the Top Down

By Charlie Bartsch

The year 2005 has proven to be an active one in terms of brownfield policy. Members of Congress have moved forward with proposals to refine existing programs and make them better fit the realities of brownfield redevelopment. States and local governments continue to innovate, laying out programs and policies to link together the various components of brownfield revitalization more effectively and better respond to the evolving brownfield marketplace. Following is a roundup of key federal and local initiatives and trends.

EPA’s Brownfield Program

The president’s fiscal 2006 budget requested a total of $210 million for EPA brownfield programs, a figure that included $60 million to support state response programs. Congress approved the agency’s fiscal 2006 appropriation on August 2. Congress provided $165 million for the program, including $50 million for state programs — an amount relatively comparable to current year levels.