Regional Leaders Push Brownfield Reform

June 11, 2008

Urge Buffalo Niagara get fair share of funding

New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program has racked up a billon dollar bill and very little of that money has made its way to Buffalo Niagara.

Standing together at a brownfield site on the border of Erie and Niagara counties, Erie County Executive Collins, Buffalo Mayor Brown, Niagara County Legislature Chairman Ross, Niagara Falls Mayor Dyster, as well as other elected officials called on New York State to responsibly reform New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program and to insure Buffalo Niagara gets its fair share.

While the state is currently committed to spending one billion dollars, only $100,000 or one tenth of one percent of that spending is going to Niagara County and only 25 million or less than three percent is going to Erie County. To make matters worse, 11 projects in Erie and Niagara County which have applied for brownfield tax credits totaling approximately 50 million dollars have been blocked from acceptance by a moratorium imposed by the state earlier this year. Those projects are expected to generate over 300 million dollars in private spending to cleanup and redevelop sites.

"As our community continues to transition from our industrial past to our place in the new global economy, brownfield redevelopment will be central to our efforts," said Erie County Executive Chris Collins. "We need to do everything we can to encourage business owners to locate or expand their company in the Buffalo Niagara region, as we work across county and city lines to grow our economy. Currently, the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program is not helping to accomplish this critical mission. Our leaders in Albany need to act and reform this program before the end of the Legislative session."

"Brownfield remediation and redevelopment is essential to my Administration's efforts to revitalize the City of Buffalo's economy," said Mayor Byron W. Brown. "In order to continue the momentum we have achieved in Buffalo by bringing on line over 400 acres of remediated, shovel-ready former brownfields, it is imperative that the Brownfield Cleanup Program reforms are achieved now. I urge the State Legislature to pass this bill and Governor Paterson to sign it into law."

The former Remington Rand Plant in North Tonawanda, the site of a proposed $14 million project stalled by the moratorium served as the backdrop for the afternoon press conference.

Joined by North Tonawanda Mayor Soos, Niagara County Legislature Chairman Ross explained, "the Niagara County Legislature views brownfield remediation and redevelopment as a key economic development priority for stimulating growth in Niagara County. Niagara County is now poised to finally begin benefiting from the New York State Brownfields Cleanup Program with two proposed projects representing a $254 million investment and 274 jobs. It is critical that the State Legislature and Governor Patterson act immediately to reinstate this program.'

A proposed $240 million ethanol facility project, looking to create over 100 new jobs in Niagara Falls has also been blocked. "Niagara Falls needs this program and this investment," stated Niagara Falls Mayor Dyster. "We need the jobs and we need to replace the brownfield with new green industry."

The state's failure to free up the brownfield dollars also impacts construction industry and building trades' jobs.

Erie County Legislature Chairwoman, Lynn Marinelli added, "Economic development is the top priority of our citizens. Our work on their behalf is to keep projects moving. The entire Erie County Legislature supports these efforts and calls on the state to assist us in expediting the process. Removing delays will gain quicker results."

"Brownfield remediation in Erie County and Western New York is essential to creating shovel ready-sites that will help to spur desperately needed economic development in our region," stated Erie County Legislator Tim Kennedy. " Any barriers that stand in the way of Western New York's economic revival must be removed! As such, I am proud to stand together with my partners in government in our call for removal of the 90 day moratorium which is a barrier to economic development in its own right."

Joining the elected officials were Erie County Commissioner of Environment and Planning, Holly Sinnott, Niagara County Economic Development Commissioner, Sam Ferraro, as well as a number of other local economic development officials and business leaders.

The Niagara County Legislature, the Erie County Legislature, the City Council of Niagara Falls, and the North Tonawanda Common Council have all passed resolutions calling for reform and for the lifting of the moratorium.