1. EPA Staying Flexible: Adaptive Management Approaches for Superfund Redevelopment An Enforcement Perspective Helena Healy Branch Chief Office of Site Remediation Enforcement U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Conference November 15, 2006

2. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 2 November 15, 2006 Enforcement’s Role in Promoting Site Reuse – Defining Liability Liability uncertainty causes property owners to want government involvement in real estate transactions Since the late 1980s, EPA has been issuing enforcement discretion policies to address liability uncertainties Generally successful in reaching broadest audience

3. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 3 November 15, 2006 Goal: To maximize cleanup and the redevelopment of contaminated properties Strategy: Use enforcement discretion policies so that private marketplace can work without EPA involvement in vast majority of real estate transactions Continue to adapt our tools to effectively facilitate contaminated property transactions when EPA involvement is critical

4. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 4 November 15, 2006 Addressing Liability Uncertainties Contaminated Aquifer Property Owners Residential Property Owners Secured Creditors Local Government Involuntary Acquisitions De Minimis Waste Generators De Micromis Waste Generators Municipal Solid Waste Generators Ability to Pay Settlors Prospective Purchasers Contiguous Property Owners Innocent Landowners State Voluntary Cleanup Programs

5. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 5 November 15, 2006

6. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 6 November 15, 2006 New Tools for Sites Where Direct EPA Involvement Can Help Reasonable Steps Comfort / Status Letters Windfall Lien Comfort / Status Letters Model Windfall Lien Resolution Agreements Prospective Lease Agreements BFPPs Doing Work Agreements Ready for Reuse (RfR) Determinations Top 10 Questions to Ask When Buying a Superfund Site

7. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 7 November 15, 2006

8. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 8 November 15, 2006 MDI Site (Houston, TX) Windfall lien resolution agreement could be made available for BFPPs who want to resolve concerns over a potential lien.

9. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 9 November 15, 2006 Ohio River Park Site (Pittsburgh, PA) Robert Morris University was able to complete a purchase less than 2 weeks after EPA Region 3 issued a “reasonable steps” comfort letter.

10. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 10 November 15, 2006 To help promote a more sustainable future, EPA in collaboration with federal, state, public, and private partners will identify, develop, and deliver enforcement incentives to help facilitate environmentally responsible redevelopment and reuse of contaminated properties.

11. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 11 November 15, 2006 Empire Canyon (Park City, UT)

12. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 12 November 15, 2006

13. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 13 November 15, 2006 Institutional Controls (ICs) and Reuse ICs are critical to ensuring protective reuse. Synergy: ICs allow for reuse, and appropriate reuse can help protect remedy Effective use of ICs requires (at a minimum): Early consideration of ICs and land reuse in remedy selection and design Understanding lifecycle costs and strengths/weaknesses Clear identification of roles and responsibilities for implementation, monitoring and enforcement Active coordination with local and state government, land owners, community, PRPs, developers, etc.

14. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 14 November 15, 2006 For more information: Helena Healy Branch Chief Office of Site Remediation Enforcement (202) 564-5124 healy.helena@epa.gov www.epa.gov/enforcement/cleanup