As Chief Counsel for the Department of Environment Protection, Terry R. Bossert, Esq., was determined to help the state become a national model for innovative brownfields development.

Now, as head of the environmental practice at Post & Schell, P.C., Bossert is especially proud that his Bethlehem-based client, Lehigh Valley Industrial Park, Inc. is the recipient of the prestigious Phoenix Award for outstanding, environmentally-sensitive brownfield development on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel works.

"This is a great honor, for our client, LVIP, for Pennsylvania, the City of Bethlehem, and everyone involved in this extraordinary project," explains Bossert, a recognized authority on environmental law and one of the authors of Pennsylvania's highly acclaimed Land Recycling Program (better known as Act 2).

"To say the least, this was no ordinary environmental project and I was fortunate to have been involved with the program at its inception and to continue to be involved on the client side years later," said Bossert.

A brownfield project involves the redevelopment of a once thriving commercial or industrial site, such as Bethlehem Steel, by identifying and managing environmental risks.

Bossert, representing LVIP as environmental counsel, analyzed the risks and assisted LVIP in negotiating the environmental terms of the agreement by which 1000 acres -- once used for steel making for more than 100 years -- was purchased as a future industrial park (LVIP VII). LVIP bought the property and then sub-divided the 1000 acres to sell parcels to industrial/commercial businesses, four of which are already underway.

Bossert continues to assist LVIP in developing agreements with DEP and EPA and prospective buyers of these parcels.

"This is every environmental lawyer's dream," reflected Bossert. "Seeing all my work to get the statue passed, and getting the Act 2 regulations adopted and applied in the right way for such a great project, has been truly gratifying. On a personal note, I had an uncle who worked in that steel plant for 30 years and know how proud he'd be that the site is again providing meaningful employment for so many."

Bossert noted that Act 2 has facilitated other significant brownfield projects and economic growth for Pennsylvania. Post & Schell's client, Harley- Davidson, has been able to expand its manufacturing operations on a 250 acre, former Naval facility in York because of the Act 2 program.

The Phoenix Awards honor individuals and groups working to transform abandoned industrial areas into productive new uses.

Link: PA Brownfield Project Wins Phoenix Award at National Conference

12/29/2006