On May 19, 2021, Ohio State Senator Michael Rulli (Republican) announced the passage of Senate Bill 83, which requires the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to inventory the state’s brownfield sites.
The bill is part of a larger economic revitalization effort to clean up viable locations for new businesses and development.
“The first step in restoring these distressed properties is to have an accurate inventory of where they are located across the state,” said Rulli.
“Once we obtain that information, we can begin to do the important work of making Ohio a more business friendly state by ensuring they are clear of any hazardous materials and business ready—setting conditions for new jobs and opportunities for communities across Ohio,” he added.
The bill appropriates $150,000, to be used by the Ohio EPA and Ohio public universities to conduct the study and inventory.
Rulli is also sponsoring Senate Bill 84, which awards grants to municipalities and other public entities, such as counties and port authorities, for cleanup or remediation of brownfield sites.
The legislation is currently being considered in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
A brownfield site is an abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial, commercial, or institutional property where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by known or potential releases of hazardous substances or petroleum.
Photo of Senator Rulli touring Rico products, Inc. in Chagrin Falls, Ohio is copyrighted by Rob Abel Photography.
For more information on Senator Rulli’s efforts to revitalize brownfield sites, contact his office at (614) 466-8285 or email him at Rulli@OhioSenate.gov.