NBA GEORGIA

Chapter News

Voluntary Cleanup Program Introduced in Ga. State Senate

A bipartisan group of Georgia legislators has introduced a bill creating a voluntary remediation program in the state. Under SB-78, responsible parties would be allowed to enroll properties on the hazardous site inventory, as well as non-HIS sites, into the program. NBA member Scott Laseter of the environmental law firm Kazmarek Geiger and Laseter LLP writes, “This program would allow the responsible parties to conduct cleanups at a much faster pace…[and] would address a number of technical points that have impeded cost-efficient and timely cleanups under the existing HSRA [the Georgia Hazardous Sites Response Act] program. We believe SB-78 would provide a valuable way to make the most cost-effective use of cleanup funds, protect human health and the environment in Georgia, and preserve increasingly scarce resources.” Laseter calls the state’s current environmental cleanup statute “complex, confusing and expensive.”

Get Involved with NBA Georgia

The National Brownfield Association is always looking for individuals and organizations that are interested in advancing the brownfield market and encouraging green building on brownfield sites to be part of the Georgia Chapter.  Joining the NBA will connect you to a diverse network of members, including brownfield, green build and real estate industry professionals from the public and private sectors. You will gain access to information as well as training and events that bring stakeholders together to get deals done and make redevelopment projects happen in your state.  Shape policy legislation and technical standards, when you get involved.

There are several opportunities to get involved:

• An individual, representative of government or businesses can become a member. Sign up online
• Be nominated to serve on the Chapter Executive Committee
• As a member, you can choose to serve on a subcommittee – Communications, Events, Membership, Policy & Legislative, Technical or Transactions.
• Businesses and organizations can become chapter or event sponsors.

Who Should Join?

Developers • Investors • Property owners • Financiers and Insurance Professionals • Elected officials and representatives federal, state, county and local government • Real estate professionals • Attorneys, architects, engineers, building designers and land planners • Economic development experts

Since its inception on July 12, 2007, NBA Georgia has been very active in bringing educational and networking opportunities to its members. These updates are designed to inform chapter members about upcoming events, brownfield success story highlights and agency updates. Read on for more information!

Interested in joining NBA Georgia? Do you know a colleague who would be interested?
Please email membership@brownfieldassociation.org

If your company has an office in Georgia, tell them about our Group Membership.

"Eight-fold Path" and Brownfield Redevelopment
By Matthew Robbins, Regional Revitalization Coordinator, EPA Region 4; Executive Committee member, NBA Georgia Chapter

The visit of the Dalai Lama to Atlanta has had me thinking on many levels and, yes, on brownfields and redevelopment too. In Buddhism, the model of the "Eight-fold Path" is presented as a baseline for living. In a way, this Path can be extrapolated to consider how to handle clean up and subsequent revitalization of contaminated properties. For your consideration, I present these thoughts using that model. Read the full article.

Brownfields: Urban Redevelopment Opportunities and the Beltline
By Steven W. Hart, PG, Senior Consultant with Premier Environmental Services, Inc.

Atlanta’s ambitious and extensive Beltline Project is expected to revitalize currently distressed and underutilized parts of the city by providing new mass transit, streetscape improvements, affordable workforce housing, new parks and green space, and environmental cleanup. To realize these goals, the Beltline project proposes a 22-mile transit loop along historic railroad corridors circling downtown, 33 miles of pedestrian/bicycle trails, 1,300 acres of new green space, and 12 high-density Redevelopment Nodes. The Beltline Five-Year Work Plan (2006–2010) also includes $8 million for brownfield testing and remediation of key sites in target areas. Read the full article.

Limiting Liabilities at Hazardous Waste Facilities in Georgia
By Joan Sasine, Partner, Powell Goldstein, LLP and M. Lawrence Mattila, Associate, Powell Goldstein, LLP

The Hazardous Site Reuse and Redevelopment Act (HSRRA), also known as the Brownfield program, has become increasingly popular in Georgia. HSRRA provides broad liability protection to prospective purchasers of contaminated properties and for the cleanup of soil contamination and any source material. Provided that the statutory criteria are satisfied, prospective purchasers of certain "qualifying properties" can avoid liability to the state and third parties for various costs related to the preexisting release. Read the full article.