HAZARDOUS DISCHARGE
SITE REMEDIATION FUND
PURPOSE OF FUNDING
To provide grants to public entities (municipalities,
counties, and redevelopment entities) for 100% of the
costs of the investigation and a portion of the costs
(25% to 75% depending on the end use) of the cleanup
of contaminated sites identified as areas specifically
in need of redevelopment. To provide grants to
public entities for 75% of the costs to cleanup contaminated
sites specifically located in a designated Brownfield
Development Area (BDA). To provide loans to public
entities (individuals, corporations, businesses, etc.)
for the cleanup of contaminated sites in need of redevelopment.
To provide various grants and loans to private entities
for the investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites.
SOURCE OF FUNDING
A $40 million special appropriation was made in August
2003 to the Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation
Fund (HDSRF) program. A constitutional amendment
approved in November 2003 reallocated $50 million
from the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Remediation,
Upgrade, and Closure Fund to the HDSRF program and
increased the overall funding allocated to the program
each year. This equates to a stable source
of HDSRF funding in the range of $15 million to $20
million per year.
STATUTORY CITATION
N.J.S.A. 58:10B-4.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
Grants: Public entities
that either hold a tax sale certificate for a property,
have acquired a property through foreclosure or other
similar means, or have passed an ordinance or resolution
indicating their intent to acquire a property by voluntary
conveyance are eligible for 100% of the costs to complete
Preliminary Assessment (PA), Site Investigation (SI),
and Remedial Investigation (RI) activities. Public
entities are eligible for an additional 75% of the
costs of the Remedial Action (RA) if the property is
located in a designated BDA. Public entities
that own the contaminated property are eligible for
25% of the costs to complete an RA by using an approved
innovative technology or by achieving a limited restricted
use or unrestricted use No Further Action (NFA) designation. Public
entities that plan a recreation/conservation use for
a property are eligible for 75% of the costs of the
RA and for affordable housing are eligible for 50%
of the costs of the RA. Private entities
that meet the criteria of an “innocent party” as
defined in N.J.S.A 58:10B-6 are eligible for 50% of
the costs to complete PA, SI, RI, and RA activities. Private
entities with a net worth of less than $2 million are
eligible for 25% of the costs to complete an RA by
using an approved innovative technology or by achieving
a limited restricted use or unrestricted use No Further
Action designation.
Loans: Public
entities that elect to complete an RA at a property that
they own are eligible for loan funding. Private
entities that perform a voluntary cleanup and can not
obtain funding from a conventional lending institution
are eligible for 100% of the costs to complete PA, SI,
RI, and RA activities.
QUALIFICATIONS
Public entity applicants are required to provide documentation
indicating the need for redevelopment at the subject
property through a comprehensive plan or resolution. Public
entity applicants are required to provide proof of
ownership or ownership interest documentation, with
the exception of properties located in a BDA. Information
pertaining to a suspected discharge at the property
must be provided (e.g. former use of property, previous
environmental investigations conducted at property)
and the applicant must enter a memorandum of agreement
(MOA) with the NJDEP for the remediation. Private
entity applicants are required to enter an MOA with
the NJDEP and provide all necessary documentation as
requested by the HDSRF program for the applicable grant
and/or loan.
FUNDING LIMITATIONS
Public entities: Funding
is available to public entities up to $3 million per
calendar year and an additional $2 million per calendar
year is available if the property is located within
a BDA. Matching grants for an RA using an innovative
technology or an RA for a limited restricted use/unrestricted
use NFA designation are capped at $250,000 per project.
Private
entities: Innocent party grants are
available for up to 50% of the costs of the remediation
up to $1 million. Matching grants for an RA using an
innovative technology or an RA for a limited restricted
use/unrestricted use NFA designation are capped at $250,000
per project. Loans are available for 100% of the
remediation costs up to $1 million per calendar year.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applications are available online or may be obtained
by request from the NJDEP, Division of Site Remediation
and Waste Management, Office of Brownfield Reuse. The
administrative and technical aspects of the application
are reviewed by the NJDEP. The New Jersey Economic
Development Authority completes a review of financial
eligibility, property ownership and site control
documentation.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
None.
NOTIFICATION DATE
Not applicable.
FOR INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST
AN NJDEP APPLICATION, CONTACT
Timothy Bartle, Chief
NJDEP,
Office of Brownfield Reuse
401
East State Street
PO
Box 420
Trenton,
NJ 08625-0420
Telephone:
(609) 292-1251
timothy.bartle@dep.state.nj.us
APPLICATION LINK: www.nj.gov/dep/srp/brownfields/obr |
