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Quantifying Long-term Environmental Regulatory Risk for Brownfields: Are Reopeners Really an Issue?

Author

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  • Robert Simons
  • John Pendergrass
  • Kimberly Winson-Geideman

Abstract

Brownfields are potentially contaminated sites that often present economic development opportunities that require financing. State environmental voluntary clean-up programmes (VCPs) offer closure letters as a way for developers to obtain assurance that their clean-up was completed properly and is 'bankable'. However, there is still fear among lenders about the potential for these closed remediated sites to be reopened and therefore negatively affect the value of the real estate as collateral. While it is believed to be an infrequent act, there has been no comprehensive study of reopeners, and therefore of the effectiveness of VCPs available. This study seeks to quantify the incidence of reopeners in the USA through a systematic inventory of VCP administrators. The authors initially find that among the 46 states with VCPs, only 12 cases were reopened out of 11 497 closed environmental cases, a reopener rate of between 0.1% and 0.2%. However, reopener rates may increase with more vigorous enforcement and over the passage of time. This information means that brownfield deals can go forward with confidence, and that the risk of reopeners can now be quantified, allowing cheaper insurance and more assurance that negative outcomes can be avoided.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Simons & John Pendergrass & Kimberly Winson-Geideman, 2003. "Quantifying Long-term Environmental Regulatory Risk for Brownfields: Are Reopeners Really an Issue?," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(2), pages 257-269.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jenpmg:v:46:y:2003:i:2:p:257-269
    DOI: 10.1080/0964056032000070945
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    Cited by:

    1. David Adams & Christopher De Sousa & Steven Tiesdell, 2010. "Brownfield Development: A Comparison of North American and British Approaches," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 47(1), pages 75-104, January.
    2. Kai Hockerts, 2015. "A Cognitive Perspective on the Business Case for Corporate Sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 102-122, February.
    3. Hunter Bacot & Cindy O’Dell, 2006. "Establishing Indicators to Evaluate Brownfield Redevelopment," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 20(2), pages 142-161, May.

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