WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush recently signed H.R. 2869, the Brownfields bill into law at the Millennium Corporate Center in Conshohocken, PA. The bill is a combination of a $250 million brownfields reform measure and a Superfund small business relief legislation.

The Brownfields bill is designed to encourage brownfield cleanups and exempt certain businesses from liability under the Superfund law. State and local governments would be provided with $150 million annually from fiscal year 2002 through 2006 to assess brownfield sites, accompanied by $50 million in grants for state cleanups. Furthermore, an additional $50 million for cleanup of brownfield sites contaminated by petroleum would be authorized.

Brownfield sites (abandoned factories or industrial facilities) can be safely cleaned by removing or storing any contaminants and can then be used as parks, playing fields or green spaces.