BINGHAMTON, NY - The Broome County Environmental Management Council (EMC) will host an introductory public information session about Broome County's Brownfields Assessment Pilot Program on Tuesday, March 16th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Broome County Public Library, 185 Court Street, Binghamton, New York. This event will familiarize the public with the Program and the EMC's plan for citizen involvement. There will be opportunity for questions and answers. Refreshments will be served.

In late 2002, Broome County received a $200,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to environmentally assess local brownfields for redevelopment under their federal Brownfields Assessment Pilot program. Funding is to be used for site investigations only; cleanups must be pursued with different funds.

Brownfields are underused pieces of real estate, usually former industrial and commercial properties, where redevelopment is complicated by confirmed or alleged pollution. Owners of properties suspected to have environmental burdens are stigmatized, in addition to the property's surrounding community. Speculations about environmental risk and liabilities that a property poses may be inaccurate and potentially hinder local revitalization efforts. Characterizing the nature and extent of pollution in and around a suspected brownfield through a phase I and phase II environmental audit or assessment can confirm or disprove suspicions about a site's potential for productive reuse.

To establish a course of information exchange with citizens, community organizations, and public and private entities during the Program's implementation, the EMC will kick-off the Program's Draft Citizen Participation Plan. The Draft Plan outlines the EMC's proposed site selection methodology to identify and target properties for this investigative land-recycling program. In addition, the Plan highlights occasions for stakeholders to nominate sites and end-use ideas, to be informed of site selection, and to be involved in the review of site assessments.

Through this and future public participation activities, the EMC intends to establish and maintain open and effectual dialogues with stakeholders that will foster relationships, provide a forum to address concerns, and help develop and promote actions that minimize impacts on surrounding communities and environments.

The EMC is Broome County Government's citizen advisory board on local environmental matters, for more information on this and other environmental programs please call 607.778.2116.