#GOPCThread: Taking a look at House Bill 168 and Brownfield Redevelopment in Ohio

Brownfields are found in every county throughout the state, in both rural and urban communities. These blighted sites discourage investment and create barriers to job creation and economic development. 

on June 18, GOPC posted our second #GOPCThread on Twitter focused on HB168 and brownfield redevelopment in Ohio.

Not on Twitter, the thread is archived online, as well as below.


Greater Ohio Policy Center Read on Twitter

#Brownfields are found in every county throughout the state, in both rural and urban communities. These blighted sites discourage investment and create barriers to job creation and economic development. #GOPCThread

Redeveloping #Brownfields often involves more time and increased costs, and the environmental contamination increases liability to purchasers and developers. Because of this, their redevelopment is often passed over. #GOPCThread

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While incentives are needed to offset the costs, GOPC and stakeholders have advocated for regulatory reforms to encourage redevelopment. House Bill 168 is one such regulatory reform, which was signed by @GovMikeDewine this week. 

HB168 passed UNANIMOUSLY out of the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, and is recognized as a bill to boost Ohio’s economy by putting underutilized, contaminated #brownfields into productive use. #GOPCThread

Thanks to @OhioEDA, Wagenbrenner Development, @OHMuniLeague@OhioMayors@LaBellaAssociat, and @Voryslaw for providing testimony in support of HB168!

HB168 is a crucial tool for economic recovery in the state – now more than ever as the state faces economic uncertainties. Here, we see a groundbreaking at the remediated New Boston Steel Mill site. GOPC completed an economic impact analysis for the project. #GOPCThread

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#Brownfields are often passed over because they are timely, expensive projects – HB168 provides developers with an alternate pathway to Ohio’s Voluntary Action Program (VAP).

HB168 establishes the bona fide purchaser defense (BFPD) into Ohio law, which is an affirmative defense provided to purchasers at the federal level through USEPA’s CERCLA program. #GOPCThread

HB168 better aligns Ohio law with federal law, and will encourage developers to remediate lightly contaminated #brownfield sites. Heavily contaminated sites, such as former industrial facilities, will likely still follow the EPA’s VAP.

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HB168 will place Ohio on equal footing with neighboring states. #GOPCThread

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HB168 will encourage #brownfield redevelopment by offering a more cost-effective means for returning brownfields to productive use.

HB168 will become effective law on September 14. Visit GOPC’s FAQ page for more details on the BFPD.

Last month, HB675 was introduced by Reps. Hillyer and @DJSwearg89OH. This legislation would direct funding to the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund ( #CORF).

Stay tuned for a #GOPCThread next month, as GOPC will share details on CORF and HB675.