An Examination of Two of New York State's Brownfields Remediation Initiatives: Title V of the 1996 Bond Act and the Voluntary Remediation Program

Over the past two decades, the advent of federal and state environmental laws and the accompanying fear of liability for clean-up has led to a reluctance on the part of developers to purchase former industrial or commercial sites. These abandoned sites in which redevelopment is complicated by fear of contamination are known as brownfields. This article explores the utility of Title V of the New York State Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996 and the State Voluntary Clean-up Program in creating incentive for developers to remediate these sites in New York State. This incentive gives developers a reason to 'recycle' these once contaminated and presently barren lands