Brownfield Environmental Issues

Words: 1115
Pages: 5

Climate is basically the “normal weather" of a location. It includes patterns of temperature, rain, humidity, wind and seasons. Climate patterns play an important role in shaping natural ecosystems, and the human economies and cultures that depend on them. Our climate is rapidly changing with disruptive impacts, and that change is progressing faster than it has in the last 2,000 years here on Earth. Rising levels of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere have warmed the Earth and are causing wide-ranging impacts. Such as rising sea levels; melting snow and ice; more extreme heat events, fires and drought; and more extreme storms, rainfall and floods. Scientists project that these trends will continue and in some cases …show more content…
The actual presence of contaminants on this property must be determined by a carefully planned investigation known as an environmental site assessment. Brownfields are abandoned, closed or under-used industrial or commercial facilities. Examples are an abandoned factory in a city’s old industrial section, a closed commercial building, or warehouse in a suburban setting. Brownfields, however, can be located anywhere and can be quite small. Dry cleaning stores and gas stations produce high levels of subsurface contaminants during their operation and are also brownfields. Redevelopment of these brownfields is definitely key to creating jobs, expanding the tax base, and revitalizing the economy of communities. I have ideas to assist in cleaning up brownfield sites and aid in redeveloping them for productive use. I suggest programs that provide technical assistance, regulatory guidance, liability protection, tax incentives, loans, as well as funding for ESAs, job training, and cleanup for these brownfield sites. I believe by mandating that all levels of government input information and restrictions on any site greater than acres will be effective way to help fix brownfield sites and promote businesses.(88) Making it easier for brownfield sites to be used for businesses boosting economic growth, jobs, and the the tax base (92). The federal government is the institution that is responsible for these environment problems and their changes. “This perception has perhaps led to a “first mover” advantage for federal leadership, with federal legislators having long been perceived as the place to turn for responses to environmental problems.” (93) The broad support for environmental protection can also help influence government to help. “With polls consistently revealing broad-based support for environmental