Rep. Toohil’s abandoned manufacturing site registry part of “Energize PA” bill package

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Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) revealed this week a bill to establish a registry for abandoned manufacturing sites as part of the “Energize PA” bill package.

House Bill 1104, of which Toohil is the prime sponsor, would require the Department of Community and Economic Development to create a registry for abandoned manufacturing sites that lists the contact information of the property’s owner and the site’s current condition.

“Many of these sites are brownfields – abandoned properties where redevelopment can be complicated because of ground contamination,” Toohil said. “But these unused and forgotten sites from the past have great potential as major contributors to Pennsylvania’s economic future. We want to dust the rust off our part of the Rust Belt, and say, ‘Welcome to Pennsylvania, we’re open for business.’”

House Bill 1104 has been referred to the House Commerce Committee for consideration.

House Republicans introduced the Energize PA bill package, which contains eight bills and aims to encourage business growth and private reinvestment in Pennsylvania, this week.