6261-S

AN ACT Relating to providing state funding assistance to local brownfield revitalization efforts; amending 1995 2nd sp.s. c 16 s 306 (uncodified); creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:

(1) The cleanup of toxic contamination of land long devoted to industrial uses, commonly referred to as "brownfields," and the reuse of such lands for new income-producing uses has multiple benefits for residents in or near these lands and for the people of the state of Washington generally;

(2) These benefits include enhancing the protection of public health of residents in these areas and improving the area's environmental quality. Additionally, the economically productive reuse of such lands will provide jobs for nearby residents and assist in increasing the incomes of the community generally. These economic benefits improve the quality of lives of such residents generally and also contribute to improved public health;

(3) Brownfield cleanup and redevelopment also enables new businesses to take advantage of the existing infrastructure for transportation, water and sewer services, electrical power, and other services, at less expense than in locating in existing rural or suburban "greenfield" areas;

(4) Despite these multiple benefits of brownfield redevelopment, there are many barriers to speedy cleanup and reuse, including the complexity of the regulatory laws and programs relating to cleanup, the complexity of site contaminants and uncertainty over the extent and nature of contamination, the many parties involved through ownership or interests in properties throughout a brownfield area, and the concerns and expectations of residents in brownfield communities;

(5) To address and overcome these barriers many communities are pursuing area-wide strategies that involve all significant interests in the area and that combine resources to address difficult regulatory and technical issues. These groups seek explicitly to put aside strict enforcement approaches to achieving cleanup of contaminated sites, instead seeking solutions with broad community support; and

(6) It is in the state's interest to encourage community-based strategies, consistent with adopted growth management comprehensive plans and local zoning regulations, for brownfield cleanup and redevelopment and to assist such efforts through state financial assistance and technical assistance.

Sec. 2. 1995 2nd sp.s. c 16 s 306 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY

Local toxics control account (88‑2‑008)

$1,000,000 of the appropriation in this section shall be expended by the department of ecology as grants to assist local governments in developing and implementing area‑wide strategies for the cleanup and reuse of industrial lands. The department shall provide a priority to funding activities by local governments that were developed with and facilitate the active participation of property owners, businesses, and residents in the area, and that address industrial areas with one or more sites ranked highly under the state's hazard ranking system.

Reappropriation:

Local Toxics Control Acct--

State...................... $ 29,538,197

Appropriation:

Local Toxics Control Acct--

State...................... $ ((~~42,467,860~~))

43,267,860

Prior Biennia (Expenditures).... $ 81,326,814

Future Biennia (Projected Costs) $ 201,245,135

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TOTAL................. $ ((~~354,578,006~~))

355,378,006