The City has a strong interest in the redevelopment of contaminated and underutilized property.  By creating the first municipal Brownfield Cleanup Program in the nation, the New York City Brownfield Cleanup Program (NYC BCP), NYC will ensure that brownfield sites with light to moderate levels of contamination are cleaned up under governmental oversight utilizing remedies that are protective of human health and the environment.  The benefits communities will receive as a result of environmental cleanup and brownfield redevelopment will include neighborhood revitalization, job creation, and an increase in local amenities.

Some States rely on tax credits to encourage cleanup.  Although this is an attractive incentive for many, these tax credits cannot be used by not-for-profit developers.  Other developers do not have a regulatory cleanup program for which they are eligible and thus proceed with cleanups that they do not receive necessary liability protection for.  OER addresses both of these problems by providing preferred investigation and cleanup grants for not-for-profit developers and by administering the NYC BCP so that light to moderately contaminated properties can participate in government regulated cleanup programs.  On successful completion of the NYC BCP, enrollees will obtain a Notice of Completion and liability limitation against future environmental claims on the property, which will provide lenders with assurances that these properties have been cleaned up under government oversight to a standard that is protective of human health and the environment.

Download the following documents to more information about the NYC BCP:

 NYC Brownfield Cleanup Program Report (PDF)

 NYC Brownfield Cleanup Program Final Rule (PDF)