The US EPA announced its Environmentally Responsible Redevelopment and Reuse (ER3) initiative in the April 22, 2005 Federal Register (Volume 70, Number 77) on pages 20901 – 20902. ER3 is a new initiative by the agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) that focuses on the development of working relationships with organizations and individuals with expertise in sustainable development.

The purpose of ER3 is to encourage the reuse and development of contaminated and previously-contaminated property in an environmentally responsible manner, incorporating concepts such as green building design, construction, and operation. OECA wants to encourage those redeveloping such properties to incorporate sustainability concepts into their projects. OECA’s encouragement is taking the form of a US EPA network of governmental and non-governmental partners.

Third Leg Consultants is qualified to be among other non-governmental partners who are available to developers of formerly contaminated properties. Importantly, OECA does not endorse any such partner nor provide any type of financial cooperative agreement. Such agreements would be arranged privately between the developer and the partners.

Third Leg Consultants has submitted a statement of interest to OECA that identifies:

• the areas of its expertise with respect to the ER3 concepts (including green building design, construction, and operation)
• the manner in which it can assist entities with incorporating sustainability concepts into the redevelopment and reuse of contaminated or formerly-contaminated property
• examples of relevant projects in which it has participated, along with its role in those projects.

Third Leg Consultants has directed OECA to its internet webpage www.thirdlegconsultants.com that provides contact information and information about the organization.