Brownfield Cleanup Programs
Georgia’s brownfield cleanup program encourages cleanup and reuse of brownfield locations by leveraging federal and private funding for cleanups. The laws limit the liability of eligible land purchasers and provide tax breaks to offset the cost of cleanup. There important responsibilities of any landowner seeking protection under the brownfield cleanup program. It’s important to consult an environmental professional in your state to ensure you’re eligible for the program.
While there are various laws and incentives that have promoted the re-use of brownfield sites, these key pieces of legislation are most notable for encouraging investment in brownfield remediation.
Georgia Brownfield Tax Credits
Brownfields Tax Incentive (1994) – Mandates that environmental cleanup costs are fully deductible in the year they take place. In 2006, this tax incentive expanded to include petroleum cleanup.
Brownfield Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act (2002) – Provides grants that support work on brownfield sites including inventorying, characterizing, assessing,remediation and planning.
Georgia Brownfield Act (2014 Amendment)– Expands limited liability to leasehold tenants, secured lenders, easement holders and licensees provided that they did not contribute to a preexisting release and a corrective action plan has been submitted and approved. Properties under the Georgia Brownfield Act will also be eligible for ad valorem tax abatement up to the approved costs of brownfield remediation. This amendment allows for a 30 day grace period after the property has been acquired and also permits the limitation of liability benefits to be transferred to any subsequent parties.
Florida Brownfield Tax Credits
Brownfield Redevelopment Act– If your property is located in a designated Brownfield area you may be eligible for annual tax credits on cleanup costs, grants for ESA assessments, Contact our Jacksonville, FL headquarters for more information about eligibility and voluntary clean up.
Learn More
If you are purchasing or recently purchased an eligible property it is important that you contact an environmental consultant immediately as benefits are time sensitive. To learn how these pieces of legislation can help you on your upcoming project, contactGOS.