Bill easing toxic cleanup
becomes law

Star-Bulletin staff

Gov. Ben Cayetano today signed a bill aimed at development of Hawaii's "brownfields" -- contaminated properties idled by the high cost of environmental cleanup.

The bill establishes a "voluntary response program" within the state Department of Health to waive liability for toxic contamination in exchange for negotiated clean-up agreements.

Under current laws, landowners are responsible for toxic cleanups regardless of who did the polluting. That makes it difficult to sell contaminated property, or to find developers whose lenders would then assume cleanup liability.

As in other cities across the country, Honolulu is checkered with sites polluted by industrial or other activities. Among urban areas affected by the new program are Iwilei and the Honolulu waterfront -- heavily contaminated by leaking underground oil lines -- Kakaako, and Mapunapuna.

Superfund sites and properties under government penalty would not qualify for the waiver.

President Clinton last year signed a $2 billion tax incentive program for developers who buy and clean up brownfield sites.