Brownfield Cleanups Succeed Across the Garden State
Cleaning up New Jersey's "brownfield"
sites is a reality today. At these vacant or underused
contaminated sites it is easier and faster than ever
before to effect successful reuse. Economic redevelopment
matched with environmental cleanup has resulted in
the rebirth of many industrial and commercial properties
and surrounding neighborhoods. Just look at the results
in Trenton. A new minor league baseball field is thriving
where a former steel plant once stood. A large office
and retail complex occupies the space where cables
for the Brooklyn and Golden Gate bridges were manufactured.
An innovative cleanup with significant community involvement
is underway at a former battery and ink manufacturing
plant. Such actions extend beyond the boundaries of
the state's capital. A major entertainment center
in Camden and a housing development in Newark have
already been completed. An expansive shopping mall
complex will be constructed on a former landfill in
Elizabeth when an ongoing cleanup ends. These are
just a few prime examples of the thousands of opportunities
that await municipal and county officials, developers,
businesses and residents of the Garden State.
Returning abandoned, contaminated
properties to viable, productive uses not only stimulates
economic growth, but also ensures protection of our
environment. This is the goal of New Jersey's revitalization
effort. To make this a reality, the New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) is moving forward
with numerous initiatives that help interested parties
along the path of reusing abandoned or marginally
productive contaminated sites - - the brownfields
of the state.
It is an ambitious effort to remove
or contain soil, ground water and surface water contamination
that threatens human health and the environment. DEP
and the State Legislature have put in place the tools
to make this happen at sites across the state that
have been tainted by chemical spills, discarded industrial
by-products and vacant buildings. These methods to
promote reuse include guidance for conducting investigations
and cleanups, funding to conduct the work, and clarity
as to liability for local officials, developers and
the lending community. DEP is sharing its Geographic
Information System with municipalities to assist
in planning actions at the local level by accessing
land use, contaminated site, demographic, wetland
and other pertinent data. Furthermore, communities
affected by brownfields need to be involved and have
a role in making redevelopment projects a success.
Recent action at the federal level
to encourage brownfield reuse is noteworthy for its
positive impact in New Jersey. A Trenton site is one
of several pilot projects around the country to receive
a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to move remedial action forward, and
similar grants have recently been approved for remedial
work at sites in the cities of Newark and Camden.
Also, a federal proposal to allow a tax deduction
for site cleanup costs in a single year could cut
capital expenses.
Addressing the reuse and redevelopment
of brownfields across the United States is fast becoming
a national priority. Clearly, with a more than century-old
industrial legacy, New Jersey's cities are prime candidates
for a brownfields revival. Throughout New Jersey there
are hundreds of abandoned properties and tax lien
holdings that were once thriving businesses, often
part of large industrial centers. However, reusing
these properties was proving to be a costly, time-consuming
and often frustrating experience for many.
That's why DEP's Site Remediation
Program has been focusing its efforts on "recycling"
former industrial and commercial facilities and land
abandoned because of potential contamination. A primary
objective is to help private parties through the cleanup
process in a timely and consistent manner and to provide
the certainty needed to quantify costs and make sound
economic decisions.
Process
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Overview
- Brownfield Cleanups Succeed
- Process
- Site Reuse
- Community
Needs
- Contacts
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