Section 1 Introduction

• Library: Environmental Law 2002 Supp Replacement chs

Brownfields redevelopment has evolved quickly from its introduction into the arena of environmental issues. It is of recent development, but it has been the subject of countless articles, treatises, and legislative enactments.

The term still refers to a number of local, state, and national initiatives designed to address social, economic, and environmental concerns associated with abandoned properties located primarily in the inner cities of the United States. Although perceived risks associated with contamination at these sites—the costs of cleanup and potential liability imposed by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601, et seq.,—are of concern to potential purchasers of Brownfields properties, numerous initiatives have been developed to alleviate those issues under the appropriate conditions. Despite these...