| Abstract |
In February 1998, EPA issued its 'Interim Guidance for Investigating Title VI Administrative Complaints Challenging Permits' for public comment. This guidance is intended to assist EPA's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in processing complaints filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, alleging discriminatory intent or effect based on race, color, or national origin resulting from the issuance of pollution control permits by State or local governmental agencies that receive EPA funding. Brownfields stakeholders asserted that the guidance would stifle redevelopment in inner-city areas where discriminatory effects could be alleged. In response to this criticism, EPA Administrator Carol Browner promised to undertake case studies of Brownfields Pilots as a first step in determining whether or not the guidance in fact hinders redevelopment of the nation's brownfields. This report details the findings of case studies conducted at seven EPA Assessment Demonstration Pilots in January and February of 1999. Section One, Background, provides a history of the guidance and case study process, including the criteria used for selecting the case study Pilots and the stakeholders interviewed. Section Two, Overall Findings, provides a summary of the results of more than 50 interviews at the selected Pilots. Section Three, Findings by Question, is a cross-Pilot detailed examination of stakeholder responses to EPA's case study questions. Section Four, Conclusions, provides concluding statements derived from the findings of the report. The appendices are intended to provide further background and a more detailed explanation for the procedures associated with the case study effort. |
