DeWine signs law to shield brownfield developers from liability

A new state law strengthens legal protections for developers of brownfield sites. Gov. Mike DeWine has signed Ohio House Bill 168, which establishes an "affirmative defense" that allows a party looking to purchase a brownfield site to be shielded from liability for costs associated with investigation and remediation of the site. The bill was introduced by former State Rep. Steve Arndt, a Republican from Port Clinton. Generally, when a hazardous material is released on a site, the state investigates…