CITY SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT ON BROWNFIELDS

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann today announced the establishment of a Brownfields program for the City and County of Honolulu and asked for the public’s kokua on identifying possible sites on Oahu.

Brownfields are properties that may contain hazardous substances, pollutants, petroleum, or contaminants that hinder their redevelopment.  Typical sites include closed gas stations, former industrial sites, dry cleaners, and landfills.

            The City has been awarded grants totaling $400,000 by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency to prepare an inventory of Brownfields sites on Oahu and conduct environmental studies on two to five of those sites that have the best potential for redevelopment.  The City Department of Community Services is managing the project in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Services and the project consultant, Environmental Resource Management.

            The City is seeking input from the public to identify properties that may be candidates for a Brownfields review.  Interested parties may obtain more information at: http://www.honolulu.gov/dcs/brownfields.htm

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann said, “Our Brownfields Program will help the City identify and rehabilitate useable sites that have been polluted.  This program will not only help us return property to productive uses in land-scarce Oahu, but enable the City to achieve our vision for a sustainable 21^st Century Ahupua`a.  I’m urging our residents to learn more about the effort and help us identify possible Brownfields.”

Brownfields sites are often eligible for additional clean-up and redevelopment assistance from the state government, as well as federal agencies.  The City also participates in a Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program that underwrites redevelopment.

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Contact:

Paul Kobata, 592-2293

Ernie Martin, 592-2291