Brownfields and Legal Responsibility

The recent economic downturn has left many of our country's industrial properties not only vacant but also bankrupt or foreclosed.  These realities present unique challenges for redevelopment. Our speakers will discuss redevelopments involving tax-foreclosed and bankrupt automobile and other manufacturing plants.  Using case studies, they will discuss lessons learned, successes achieved, and challenges overcome.

The 112th Congress presents new opportunities and challenges for brownfield projects.  Hear from Washington insiders how the new Congress will deal with cleaning up properties and revitalizing communities.  Learn who matters on the Hill and their plans for funding, taxes, regulations, and earmarks.  New members and reorganized committees changed the political dynamic in Washington—this is your chance to hear how it is playing out.

As brownfield redevelopment continues, many challenges remain in the implementation of land-use institutional controls.  Join experts in the field of institutional controls and long-term stewardship practices in comparing and debating the evolving trends of stewardship.  The discussion examines continuing obligations under CERCLA, promotes understanding of potential roles of locals in stewardship, and highlights economic considerations for financing these activities.

This session explores critical considerations in cost recovery, including historical insurance, CERCLA, and claims pursuit against PRPs.  The session examines not only litigation strategies but also important tactics to use in the early stages of assessment and cleanup.  Using fact patterns from actual cases, the presenters place attendees in the context of real decisions, providing the benefits of interesting discussion, incorporation of real-world factors, and ability to see actual outcomes.

Explore a broad perspective on how regulatory programs function in support of brownfield redevelopment.  This session places particular emphasis on recent changes in and improvements to regulatory oversight privatization in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey and government program innovations in New York City and Pennsylvania.  Conducted in a facilitated question-and-answer format, this session emphasizes what is really working in the marketplace, including the ground lease program in California, and features ample opportunity for dialogue between

Environmental testing is done in the ordinary course of business every day, from due diligence for property sales to environmental auditing.  However, the results of that testing are frequently kept from the view of regulators or the public.