FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2012
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Senators Pileggi and Erickson to Introduce Environmental Remediation Legislation

Senator Dominic Pileggi (R-9) and Senator Ted Erickson (R-26) today announced plans to introduce legislation which will require that the owners of certain commercial properties conduct environmental remediation at those sites.

"In Delaware County, we are seeing dramatic changes in the way some very large commercial properties  - such as the refineries in Trainer and Marcus Hook  - are expected to be used," said Senator Pileggi. "Ideally, new owners will be found for those sites and they will continue to be used as refineries. But if that doesn't happen, and the owners significantly change the use of those sites, there should be strong environmental cleanup requirements."

"When the owner of a commercial property significantly changes the use of that site, or discontinues productive use of the site, it is good policy to require that owner to meet certain baseline environmental standards," said Senator Erickson. "This will help ensure that the site is left in a condition such that it can be redeveloped for productive use if the owner decides to sell or abandon the property."

Senators Pileggi and Erickson said the bill will require the owners of commercial properties to conduct such remediation when the use of the site changes significantly, including one or more of the following:

• A change which results in a workforce reduction of at least 65 percent.
• A change which involves the idling and/or removal of at least 65 percent of the equipment and/or machinery on the property.
• A change which results in the number of square feet of improved, enclosed space on the property currently in productive use being reduced by at least 65 percent.

This legislation will only impact properties with no ownership change. Existing law adequately addresses environmental remediation standards when a property is sold.

More information about state issues is available at Senator Pileggi's website, www.SenatorPileggi.com, and at Senator Erickson's website, www.SenatorErickson.com.

CONTACTS:

Erik Arneson (Senator Pileggi), 717-787-4712
Tom Golden (Senator Erickson), 717-787-1350