Bills that would extend liability protection for the clean up of contamination sites known as “brownfields” are moving through the House and Senate.
Bill supporters, including the Florida Brownfields Association, also are asking the Legislature to boost a $5 million annual tax credit for cleanups to reduce or eliminate what was a $14.7 million backlog of applications in 2013.
Brownfields are described in state law as property for which development, expansion or reuse may be complicated “by actual or perceived environmental contamination.” Florida in fiscal year 2012-13 had 341 designated brownfields covering 234,499 acres, according to a Florida Department of Environmental Protection report.