The New York City Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) recently announced the creation of the NYC Affordable Housing Cleanup Fund (AHCF) to help remediate and support affordable housing projects in disadvantaged communities. Unlike the OER Brownfield Incentive Grants (BIG) program which are funded from appropriations, OER will be using $1.8MM in EPA Revolving Loan Fund […]
OER Launches NYC Affordable Housing Cleanup Fund Read More »
The NYC Office of Environmental Remediation just announced that it has a little over $100K to award for petroleum assessments this summer. The source of the grant money is the brownfield revolving loan fund that was awarded by EPA to OER under section 104(k) of CERCLA. The federally-funded grant may be used for phase 1 or
OER Grants Available for Petroleum Assessments But Need to Move Quickly Read More »
In June, the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) completed uploading into its Buildings Information System (BIS) approximately 200 Restrictive Declarations (RD) that can impose certain environmental obligations relating to hazardous materials. This action means that parties seeking building permits and certificates of occupancy for sites subject to RDs will have to demonstrate they have satisfied
Environmental Restrictions Now Fully Enforceable by NYC DOB Read More »
[Updated] A month after Governor Cuomo proposed sweeping reforms to the Brownfield Cleanup Program, the New York State Senate proposed its own BCP amendments. The bill (S. 6359—C) is available at here. The legislation includes a number of the changes proposed by the Governor’s bill including extending the BCP tax credits to 2025, extending the hazardous
NY Senate Introduces It Own BCP Reform Package Read More »
The New York City Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) has proposed rules that would amend its Brownfield Incentive Grant (BIG) Program. The proposed rule will continue the BIG Program at reduced appropriations. In addition, OER is proposing additional changes to the BIG program to increase the program’s value for developers remediating brownfields across the city.
OER Proposes Amendments to Brownfield Incentive Grant Program Read More »
When Mathy Stanislaus departed New York to take the helm of EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), he told the New York brownfield community that one his primary goals was to reform the EPA Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program so it could better support affordable housing on brownfield sites. Changing long-standing agency
EPA Modifies RLF Policy To Facilitate Affordable Housing Protects on Brownfields Read More »
Earlier this week, Governor Cuomo sent his sweeping BCP reforms to the State Legislature. Under the state Constitution, the Governor has 30 days to make technical amendments to his budget legislation without involving the legislature. Despite vociferous complaints by brownfield developers, environmental lawyers and affordable housing advocates about the severe curtailments to the categories of projects
NY Governor Sends Revised BCP Reform Bill to Legislature Read More »
[Note: This post will be periodically updated as new information becomes available about the proposed legislative changes ] Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled his budget legislation today. As expected, the legislation proposed sweeping changes to the state Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP). The proposed legislation adopts the recommendations of the New York State Tax Reform and Fairness Commission
Governor Cuomo Proposes Sweeping Amendments to Brownfield Program Read More »
We previously discussed that the New York City Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) Brownfield Incentive Grant (BIG) program had become fully subscribed meaning that all of the funds appropriated for the program have been committed to projects. OER has been working on obtaining additional appropriation to fund new BIG applications. The good news is that OER has recently
New OER Brownfield Incentive Grant (BIG) Program To Be Limited By Project Size Read More »
One of the key challenges facing purchasers of contaminated property is that the Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser, Contiguous Property Owner and Innocent Purchaser liability protections that are available under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) and similar state laws are self implementing. While EPA may occasionally enter into a
NYC OER To Issue Environmental Review and Assessment (ERA) letters Read More »