Restoring Prosperity
The Greater Ohio Policy Center Blog
Earlier this week, HB675 was introduced in the Ohio House by Rep. Hillyer (R – Uhrichsville) and Rep. Swearingen (R – Huron). This legislation provides dedicated funding to the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund (CORF). CORF was highly successful, providing the state with a four-to-one economic return. CORF is recognized as a community-responsive tool for brownfield redevelopment efforts.
The Dispatch recognized GOPC for working to rebuild and rejuvenate Ohio’s “legacy cities” that have been hit hard by societal changes. “Cities like Sandusky and Marion and Hamilton don’t carry as great a burden as Portsmouth’s, but they too have struggled with the loss of manufacturing jobs and population. That makes the progress shown in the Greater Ohio Policy Center’s updated report especially encouraging.”
The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held the third hearing for HB168 last week. This hearing provided opportunity for opponent and interested party testimony. Earlier this year, HB168 was successfully voted out of the House Civil Justice Committee, and passed unanimously in the House.
HB168 incorporates into Ohio law the federal Bona Fide Purchaser Defense (BFPD) established under CERCLA, which provides prospective buyers of contaminated property with an option to establish a defense to environmental liability after completing the All Appropriate Inquires and proper due diligence.
As today marks Rep. Steven Arndt’s (R – Port Clinton) last day representing the 89th House District in the Ohio House of Representatives, the Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) thanks Rep. Arndt for his leadership as a champion for brownfield revitalization and his committed leadership and dedication to the 89th district and the state of Ohio. Over the past year, Rep. Arndt has been an active voice in the legislature to advance the conversation on brownfields. Through his committed leadership, Rep. Arndt championed HB168 which was unanimously approved in the House on May 30. HB168 will establish the bona fide purchaser defense, which will provide liability protection to potential purchasers of contaminated brownfield sites.
GOPC wishes Rep. Arndt well as he embarks on his retirement, and we thank him for his dedication to advancing brownfields as a vital piece to economic prosperity for Ohio’s communities.
