Nevada's first Brownfields Conference set

Nevada will host its inaugural Brownfields Conference in Reno on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the Eldorado Hotel Casino.

Sponsored by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, the conference will help participants learn how to finance and manage Brownfields projects to clean up polluted properties in their communities and convert them back to productive use.

The term "Brownfields" is commonly used to describe abandoned, idled or underused property with a real or perceived risk from environmental contamination. In the early 1990s, the problems associated with blighted commercial and industrial properties gained national attention, with more than 600,000 properties identified as abandoned or underused due to suspicion of hazardous substance contamination. The Environmental Protection Agency responded by creating this program that is locally based, encourages strong public-private partnerships, and promotes innovative ways to turn the land into productive property.

"Our goal is to create partnerships that improve the lives of Nevadans, enhance our economic climate and improve the quality of our communities," said Connie Lewis, manager of the Nevada Brownfields Program.

The conference will feature speakers from state, regional and national agencies. Subjects will include tips on preparing loan and grant applications; management of projects; and legal, financial and insurance requirements.

Lewis expects that more than 100 members of local governments, redevelopment agencies, quasi-government agencies, regional councils, development companies, real estate firms and nonprofit entities to attend.

Registration fees are $75 for representatives of public agencies and $125 for those from private businesses, if received before Friday. Afterward, the fees increase to $100 and $150, respectively.

An optional field trip to Lake Tahoe and the historic Thunderbird Lodge on Aug. 28 is free to the first 100 people that register.

To register, log on to www.nvbrownfieldsconference.com. For specific questions, contact Simone McKnight at (775) 689-7800.

The Brownfields Program was established to provide funding and technical assistance at the local level for site assessment, clean-up and redevelopment, as well as a support system for obtaining further funding.

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