Events

Babst Calland joins the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for their PA Brownfields Conference, March 25-28, 2024.

Attorney Ben Clapp will be a co-panelist for “Path Forward for addressing PFAS at Brownfields under the Act 2 Program.” The rapidly developing regulatory, technical, and legal frameworks for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may seem overwhelming for Brownfield sites.  This panel will provide an overview of how to navigate complex PFAS issues using Pennsylvania’s Act 2 Program, including technical considerations for PFAS characterization, considerations for site redevelopment (effects on permits, soil management plans, etc.) and the legal implications that arise in property transactions.

Attorney Mackenzie Moyer will be a co-panelist for “PFAS Forever Chemicals and Brownfields – What you need to know.” PFAS regulations are evolving quickly and along with it so are impacts to Brownfields. Forever chemicals, also known as PFAS, are everywhere. It’s a local issue and a global issue. As the EPA puts forward new regulations, Brownfields are facing new challenges for due diligence and public engagement. This panel will share current PFAS information and how properties in our region are impacted. They will also discuss appropriate steps to take in due diligence, testing, risk assessment, communication of the risks, and the obligation of owners, property developers, and consultants.

Attorney Kevin Garber will be a co-panelist for “Intersection of Clean Energy Projects and Brownfield Sites.” Pennsylvania’s abundance of natural resources gives Pennsylvania the opportunity to play an important role in national energy production and positions us for unparalleled growth in the energy and manufacturing sectors. Many of Pennsylvania’s Brownfield sites, such as closed coal fired power plants and refineries, already have the needed infrastructure to be able to transition these sites into cleaner energy projects while addressing environmental issues. The question is what is available to do help Pennsylvania communities bring these sites back into productive reuse? The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Development (DCED) is providing technical and financial assistance to help redevelop these sites. In addition, the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) also provides significant tax credits that can be utilized for Brownfield sites in Pennsylvania.  This panel will provide insight into how the DCED and the Governor’s Office of Critical Investments can provide assistance to redevelop Brownfield sites. This panel will also discuss the practical considerations for permitting and construction of these facilities to enable a Brownfield site to effectively utilize the state and federal funding initiatives, while also successfully navigating the permitting and other challenges.

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