Environmental Update Briefs Available on Textiles Industry and Perchlorate Contamination Hazards
In June 2006, the center published downloadable electronic versions of two new Environmental Update factsheets. One describes typical contamination problems in the textiles industry, and the other deals with the threat of perchlorate.
2005 Semiannual Outreach Report Published
The HSRC community outreach program semiannual report for January-June 2005 has been published. It charts the progress of the Technical Assistance for Brownfields Communities (TAB) and Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) programs during this time period. Click here to download the report.
Quarterly TOSC/TAB Activities Report Published
The activities report for the TOSC/TAB program in this region for July to September 2004 is now available online. Click here to read it.
Factsheet on National Environmental Policy Act Available
The TOSC/TAB program has published a new factsheet that summarizes the basics of the National Environmental Policy Act and how it relates to the needs of communities. Click here to download a pdf version of the factsheet.
Overview of State Brownfield Programs Added to Web Site
The technical outreach site for HSRC now includes a link to an overview of state brownfields programs in EPA Region 4. States in this region include: Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Click here to download this overview.
Materials from Community Involvement Conference on Web
The Proceedings of the 2004 EPA Community Involvement Conference have been published online, including a variety of downloadable materials from the sessions. Click here to go to this site.
Factsheet Available on Quality Assurance/Quality Control in Brownfields Redevelopment Projects
The Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities (TAB) program at the HSRC/South & Southwest Center has published a factsheet to assist communities in using quality assurance/quality control procedures in brownfields redevelopment programs. Click here to read or download this publication. Follow this link to review other community factsheets published by TAB.
Center Publishes Two Community Fact Sheets
The HSRC/South & Southwest has published two community fact sheets on environmental topics:
- "An Environmental Update of the Petroleum Industry" provides a general overview of the processes involved and some of the potential environmental hazards associated with petroleum refineries. Click here to download it.
- "Guidelines for Getting a Contaminated Site Placed on the National Priorities List" describes the steps required for a location to become a Superfund site. Click here to download it.
Semi-Annual HSRC/SSW Outreach Report Available on Web Site
The South & Southwest HSRC's semi-annual outreach report is now available for download as a PDF file. To read it, click on "Publications" and choose it from the Summary Reports menu.
Official EPA Definition of "Brownfields Site" Changes with New Law
When the new brownfields legislation, "Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act," was signed into law January 11, the official definition of a "brownfields site" was modified. The new definition is:
"With certain legal exclusions and additions, the term 'brownfield site' means real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant."
For a list of the legal exclusions and additional information, please visit EPA's brownfield web site at
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/glossary.htm#brow
TAB Staff Member Gives Presentation on Environmental Audit Contacting
Corey Fischer, a staff engineer with the Technical Assistance for Brownfields (TAB) program, recently gave a presentation at the Region 4 EPA Brownfields Conference in Atlanta on how to request proposals from contractors for environmental audits. Click here to see her slide presentation and contact her at corey.fischer@gtri.gatech.edu or 404/894-8044 for further information.
New Factsheets Added to Series for Communities with Environmental Problems
The center's outreach staff has published two recent factsheets designed to help environmentally troubled communities. These publications are on the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and EPA's underground storage tank regulations.
Legislation Enacted to Remove Impediments to Brownfields Redevelopment
In January, Congress enacted Public Law 107-118, a significant piece of new brownfields legislation aimed at removing impediments to brownfields redevelopment. The law provides aid to states, local governments, and private governments to clean up thousands of abandoned sites that aren't heavily contaminated but are still not attractive candidates for redevelopment. Another section of the legislation clarifies some of the liability issues created in the original Superfund law so that innocent landowners and prospective property owners are freed of liability for certain contaminated sites.
You can learn more about Public Law 107-118 by reading a brief summary of how the new legislation was enacted, a full summary provided by EPA Region 4, a summary of the law's new benefits, and the full text of the U.S. House resolution.
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