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COMMON GROUND VOL, 10 NO. 4 MAY /JUNE 1999 ,,qq\ D�: :<J ` ' � .T'" t - - :Y 7 _51� �..{,�� Y��t ' �.-1 '2[ry iH+4 :fi t l -�y,{ L '.Y. '• :4.! 'th. © '. 1 • eA F�'f ..1 '�i .'.. H i:to �f `Hl Sr1S . "F41' :^,,)"' , :IF"+ .r ^� S_ .S ry 1"•"+ 7�1 - ' .` M'�n'r`w '•'. 6, .us } ,�'. - c sy' `�r {X X . Ki ' _ "5 ) '.-<'- - .' L.,- �f ._ ,�;n- �� .. , 3l-;z�. , Y� • .+.-.�-.:... ,,,� ,''ti.r- ` •+ p . ' `Pj 'Tl;� ,-� - a�u ' :i R�. ,jwi.�y,�� r BetterThe Better America Bonds program identified a lack of capital as the leading proposed by the Clinton administration barrier to the reuse of brownfields . Better communities with a new tool to America Bonds will supplement existing America provides preserve open space, protect water and revi- brownfields cleanup funding with bond pro- Bondstalize blighted urban areas . ceeds . Development of brownfields will take The program will enable state, tribal and pressure off green space at a time when we local governments to issue $9 . 5 billion in are losing 700 acres per day of open space bonds without paying imterest , Instead, and farmland to sprawl . investors who buy the 15-year bonds will re- State, tribal and local governments ceive tax credits equal to the interest, a total can work alone or with nonprofits to acquire of $700 million. Communities also can wait title or conservation easements for park cre- 15 years before paying back the principal . ation, preservation of suburban green space The program is a critical element of the and protection of farms and wetlands . administration' s " Livability Agenda, " which ® Rivers ; lakes; coastal waters, stream- observes two key principles : side zones and wetlands can be restored or ® Communities know best . Better protected . Land also can be acquired to America Bonds is not a "big government" reduce * polluted runoff or protect drinking program that micromanages local decisions . water sources . = 10 Local officials will make land use decisions . The administration has proposed Better The federal government will not add a America Bonds to help reinvigorate the past L square inch of land to its inventory . —a past when vibrant cities and towns kept is published bimonthly as a service to the conservation ® The federal government should commerce and culture efficiently centralized community by inform, not dictate, patterns of growth . rather than hurtling ever outward . The Conservation Fund Government can supply resources to help If our towns and cities are to thrive in Patrick F.Chairman Noonan citizens envision different land use strate- the 21st century, we need to make them John F. Turner gies . Government can provide incentives for more livable . We need to create communi- President communities to cooperate in addressing ties that are good for our families, our envi- Mike McQueen challenges of growth and development . ronment and our businesses . Better America Editor The bonds may be used in three ways : Bonds will help achieve these goals . Jack Lynn ® Communities will have a new source —Carol M . Browner Editorial Consultants of flexible funding to finance brownfields The author is Administrator of the U. S . Envi- Meg West cleanup . The U . S . Conference of Mayors ronmental Protection Agency Art Director For address corrections and information, contact: Sally Biggs Circulation Manager The Conservation Fund 1800 N. Kent St., Suite 1120 Arlington, VA 22209 703 /525-6300 sbiggs®conservationfund . org COMMON GROUND routinely � r grants permission for reprints. Address editorial correspondence l �� and reprint queries to: ' '( r ` I ' COMMON GROUND 940 Stillwater Lane Earlysville, VA 22936 804/ 973=7324 coground®aol.com LL J COMMON GROUND is available J i on the World Wide Web at httpo //www.conservationfund. org Printed on recycled paper. 40 � r WI77I `SAVE � � v THE WOLF ' AND WERE SOLI CITING PONA77ONS OF SMALL pOht 6ST/C AN/MACS. . ." o