events 2009

Panel Discussion on Brownfields Showed Development the U.S. Projects and Possible Applications for the Czech Republic

Setember 25, 2009 — On September 17 the U.S. Embassy Commercial and Cultural Sections coordinated in the American Center a panel discussion on “Environmental Remediation and Brownfields Development  Projects and Possible Applications for the Czech Republic“. The panelists Martin Nawrath, Coordinator, Program Prostory, Partnership Foundation Brno - Revitalization and Public Spaces; Jan Naxera, Consultant, Regional Development Agency of Pilsen Region; Robert Spáčil, Director of Environmental Section, Strategy Department, Ministry of Transport; and Ivana Vavrova, Specialist, Section of Technical Protection of Environment, Ministry of Environment, presented experience from a three-week International Visitor Leadership Group Program in the U.S., on which they participated in February, 2009.

The program was moderated by Emil Chochole, Ecological Development Projects s.r.o. in Pilsen, who was on the International Visitor Program on ecological issues in 1994. As the Czech Republic is preparing a large tender that should finally clean the sites contaminated during the communist period, brownfields redevelopment is an important topic. Among invitees there were representatives of regional, municipal and local departments of responding competence, university professors and representatives of U.S. companies active in the Czech market. 

At the beginning panelists showed in their presentations on individual examples what policies, regulations, technologies and initiatives are used and how citizens and community organizations are involved in environmental remediation and brownfields redevelopment in the U.S.  In responses to questions from the audience panelists pointed out approaches that could be followed and those that should be avoided. At the conclusion Mr. Chochole summarized substantial pieces of presented information, e.g., funding from various revenues in a strict consent with legislature; beneficial industry-university linkages in working out projects; a high percentage of public involvement in a justification and implementation of revitalization projects and their considerable role in realizing projects; in general less bureaucratic barriers to brownfields redevelopment. 

Related links:

Institute for Sustainable Development of Settlements

Institutu Udržitelného Rozvoje Sídel — IURS ...

Agentura pro ochranu životního prostřed
http://epa.gov/brownfields/