Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, January 11, 2002

1 407 York Rood, Suit* 304 Lulh*rvill*, Morylood 21093 Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. NEWS FROM Second Congressional District of Maryland 315 Cannon Нои»* Office Building Wcuhington, D.C 20515 1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, January 1 1 , 2002 CONTACT: Henry Fawell 202/225-3061 Statement from Congressman Ehrlich Regarding Enactment of Brownfields Revitalization Bill WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bob Ehrlich (MD-2) praised President Bush today for signing legislation into law that protects small businesses from unnecessary liability associated with brownfields revitalization costs. As a member of the House Subcommittee on the Environment and Hazardous Materials, Congressman Ehrlich played a key role in congressional consideration of this legislation. Congressman Ehrlich stated, "Baltimore deserves an improved brownfield system that places accountability for a site’s cleanup on those primarily responsible for its contamination. Under this bill, the big polluters will pay for cleanup so that small businesses are not needlessly dragged into lawsuits in an effort to get more money for settlement." H.R. 2869, The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, ensures that businesses will not be subject to frivolous litigation or brownfield site cleanup costs if they have no or marginal responsibility for pollution. Current law often punishes small businesses that operate near brownfield sites, but who contribute little to brownfield contamination. H.R. 2869 will have wide-ranging benefits for communities like Baltimore with multiple brownfield sites. Specifically, this legislation invests $150 million into brownfield site clean-up efforts, thereby helping to prevent potential health and environmental threats, creating new jobs, and protecting nearby open spaces, parks, and farmland. Congressman Ehrlich continued, "The clean up and redevelopment of brownfield sites will give our local economy a sorely-needed shot in the arm by attracting new businesses and jobs to the Baltimore region. President Bush’s decision is a victory for both our environment and the economy." ###