Recent Articles

Outlook for Brownfields Redevelopment in 2009

Joel Bolstein
December 30, 2008 18:22

Like all sectors of our economy, brownfields redevelopment has been adversely effected by the current economic crisis.  Over the last 10 years since I returned to private practice after helping develop the Act 2 program, I've worked with a large number of brownfield redevelopers...

Marcellus Shale is Hot Topic in PA Environmental Law

Joel Bolstein
October 07, 2008 23:09

A few years ago, if you asked Pennsylvania environmental lawyers to identify hot topics, they would never have mentioned oil and gas law.  Yes, there were a handful of practitioners handling the limited oil and gas law work floating around, mainly relating to...

PA LEGISLATION PROVIDING ADDITIONAL BROWNFIELD FUNDING ADVANCES TO HOUSE

Joel Bolstein
August 01, 2008 20:18

The Pennsylvania State Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 1062, the Brownfields Redevelopment Act, which was sponsored by Senator Rob Wonderling.   The bill next will be taken up by the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, chaired by Rep. Camille (Bud)...

PADEP Secretary McGinty Resigns

Joel Bolstein
July 16, 2008 19:48

On July 11, 2008, Governor Ed Rendell announced the resignation of PADEP Secretary Katie McGinty.   Her resignation is effective on July 18.To her credit, Secretary McGinty recognized that PA's Act 2 program was one of its most successful programs and she built on that...

All Quiet on UECA Front

Joel Bolstein
June 13, 2008 20:59

I apologize to all my readers for the recent lull in postings, but it's been all quiet on the UECA front.  It's still a subject of conversation in every meeting that I have with clients and with my friends at PADEP, but things are definitely in a holding pattern since the initial flurry...

An Interview with Troy Conrad on the Future of Act 2

Joel Bolstein
May 01, 2008 17:16

I had the chance to speak today with Troy Conrad, the Director of PADEP's Land Recycling Program.  On the same phone call, I spoke with Jill Gaito (Deputy Secretary, Office of Community Revitalization and Local Government Support) and Tracey Vernon (director of the brownfield action...

PADEP Posts New Q&A on UECA

Joel Bolstein
April 23, 2008 12:50

Last week, PADEP posted some "frequently asked questions" on the UECA section of its brownfields webpage.  Since that time, I've held my fire, trying to understand what it all means for brownfield redevelopment in Pennsylvania.  As noted in previous postings, I had...

Act 2 Update at PBI Forum Addresses UECA

Joel Bolstein
April 11, 2008 13:03

Those hoping to gain some new insight into PADEP's interpretation of UECA during the annual PBI Environmental Law Forum were given just a small glimpse during the Act 2 Update, which included Louise Thompson, the Regional Counsel in the SE Regional Office, and Terry...

Deputy Secretary Gaito Says "No Backsliding" on UECA

Joel Bolstein
April 07, 2008 16:14

Earlier today, Jill Gaito, PADEP's Deputy Secretary for Revitalization and Local Government Support, reached out to me regarding the Department's implementation of UECA.   According to Deputy Secretary Gaito, she intends to ensure that the...

Unintended Consquences of UECA

Joel Bolstein
April 07, 2008 12:48

In my continuing efforts to understand the potential impact of the Uniform Environmental Covenenats Act (UECA) on brownfields redevelopment in Pennsylvania, I have now spoken with a former PADEP Chief Counsel who was involved in Pennsylvania's enactment of the Act.  He...