Action 3

The federal government, working with state and local governments and the private sector, should provide incentives to capture the air quality benefits of compact development. A recent EPA study demonstrates that developing infill sites rather than greenfield sites on the fringe of developed areas results in lower vehicle-miles traveled because people live closer to work, schools, shopping, and other services.36 This translates into lower emissions increases. Cities and states should be able to capture these benefits where possible and apply them to requirements under the Clean Air Act. EPA, working with other federal and state agencies, should coordinate and expand existing pilot projects such as the Clean Air Brownfields Partnership Pilot and the Urban Heat Island Reduction Initiative. Also, methodologies for capturing the benefits of urban redevelopment under the Clean Air Act should be identified and ways to replicate those methodologies determined.

Sustainable Market Mechanisms Action 5

Significantly relevant, but outdated and restrictive in the way this action is stated. Would not confine the benefits of compact, efficient development to air quality benefits, but reference the fully array of benefits that can result from energy efficient community-scale development, whether air, water, waste-related. Compact, high density, mixed-use, transit-oriented community develop can result in significant environmental benefits and increased energy use optimization if systemic energy and environmental approaches can be integrated into community land-use planning and development and urban design.
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