U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith representing Virginia's 9th Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith representing Virginia's 9th Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Environment recently conducted a hearing focused on the redevelopment of brownfield sites. The session, chaired by U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith from Virginia, was titled "Maximizing Opportunities for Redeveloping Brownfield Sites: Assessing the Potential for New American Innovation."
Duane Miller, Executive Director of the LENOWISCO Planning District Commission and a native of Scott County, provided testimony at the hearing. He highlighted the positive impact of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields Program in rural coal communities. LENOWISCO has been instrumental in attracting new industries to Southwest Virginia, facilitating job creation and cleaning up abandoned sites.
Griffith emphasized the potential for revitalizing former mine lands through economic development during his opening remarks. Miller also delivered an opening statement about the Brownfields Program and responded to questions from Griffith.
The LENOWISCO Planning District Commission operates within Lee, Wise, and Scott counties as well as the City of Norton. The Brownfields Program aims to empower various stakeholders to collaborate on preventing, assessing, safely cleaning up, and sustainably reusing brownfield sites. These are properties where redevelopment may be hindered by hazardous substances or pollutants.
A notable project involving LENOWISCO is sponsored by Virginia Tech. It focuses on training local dislocated workers, veterans, and those affected by the coal industry's decline to clean up brownfield sites.
Over the past decade, approximately 15 grants from the Brownfields Program have been awarded to projects in Virginia's Ninth District.
Alerts Sign-up