Short Shorts
          Susan Bodine Confirmed
          GAO Studies EDA-Funded Remediation
          U.S. Conference of Mayors Approves Brownfield Resolution
          Environmental Professional Compensation Study Available

Susan Bodine Confirmed
Susan P. Bodine has been confirmed to be the Assistant Administrator of the EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER). She was nominated by President Bush in the summer of 2005. Her new responsibilities began January 3, 2006. The EPA brownfields program is housed under OSWER, along with the Superfund, Emergency Response, RCRA and UST programs.

GAO Studies EDA-Funded Remediation
The GAO released a report on October 27, 2005, that found that remediation activities conducted at Economic Development Agency-funded brownfield sites appeared to be incidental to the purpose of the overall project. The GAO estimates that EDA used $4.8 million, or about 1.4 percent, of its grant funds to pay for remediation activities. Read the report at www.gao.gov.

U.S. Conference of Mayors Approves Brownfield Resolution
A brownfield resolution introduced by Chicago mayor Richard Daley at the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ summer meeting was unanimously approved by the Conference. The resolution urged Congress to enact legislation in 2005 to make the Brownfields Tax Incentive permanent, or, failing that, extend the current Brownfield Tax Incentive beyond 2005 so that it will continue to be available.

The Conference also urged Congress to enact legislation to expand the universe of brownfield sites or the types of costs eligible for the Brownfields Tax Incentive. Also urged was to enact the proposed Brownfields Tax Credit Program to help fund the costs of demolition and remediation at brownfields.

Environmental Professional Compensation Study Available
Professionals who conduct Phase I environmental site assessments enjoy high job satisfaction and job security, particularly among senior staff, according to a survey conducted by Environmental Data Resources. Salaries for consultants in this $500 million niche of the environmental industry are increasing at nearly double the rate of inflation, and access to benefits like medical insurance and profit sharing is well above U.S. averages.

The survey also found that environmental companies could face difficulty attracting and retaining qualified staff in the coming year. Strong demand for environmental due diligence, along with All Appropriate Inquiries, which establishes qualifications for environmental professionals, could create a shortage of qualified staff. BFN