Buffalo Ledger

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan has introduced legislation intended to expand New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program. The proposal seeks to include state-owned properties, which have structures contaminated by asbestos, lead, PCBs, and other hazardous materials, within the program's scope. This expansion aims to facilitate the redevelopment of such sites by covering remediation costs.

Senator Gallivan cites the West Seneca Development Center as a pertinent example. He noted, "The DDSO campus has been mostly vacant for years and many of the buildings on the state-owned property are dilapidated and in need of costly remediation because of asbestos, lead paint and other hazardous material." Private developers often avoid such properties due to the financial burdens associated with making them viable for redevelopment. Gallivan suggests that expanding the Cleanup Program could incentivize their reuse.

The Brownfield Cleanup Program's objective is currently to assist in the cleansing of private brownfield sites troubled by hazardous materials, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas. As the state continues to shut down mental facilities, prisons, and other state-owned properties, Gallivan urges action to ensure these environments are secure and available for new uses.

Senator Gallivan's legislative proposal has been forwarded to the Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee for further examination.