Today Governor Maura Healey signed legislation extending the eligibility deadlines for the Massachusetts Brownfields tax credits program by five years. The legislation had been included in the budget bill, which had recently been passed by the Massachusetts House and Senate. 

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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced four appointments to new and existing leadership positions with DEC's Executive and Regional teams.

"I am excited to announce key DEC leadership additions and changes that are critical to sustaining the success of New York's environmental protection policies and programs," Commissioner Seggos said.

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On April 17, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) published its final Environmental Justice rules (EJ Rules). The EJ Rules stem from New Jersey’s first-of-its-kind Environmental Justice Law (EJ Law), enacted in September 2020 (N.J.S.A. 13:1D-157 et seq.). 

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Today Governor Maura Healy signed legislation extending the eligibility deadlines for the Massachusetts Brownfields tax credits program by five years. The legislation had been included in the budget bill, which had recently been passed by the Massachusetts House and Senate.

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August 9, 2023

Contact Information

Stephen McBay (mcbay.stephen@epa.gov)

(212)-637-3672

NEW YORK - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public comment period for its proposed changes to address contaminated soil and debris at the Woodbrook Road Dump Superfund site in South Plainfield, New Jersey to September 13, 2023. EPA held a public meeting at the South Plainfield Township Courtroom on July 27, 2023, to explain the proposed changes to the public. 

The proposed changes that are being announced today document that the estimated cost of the selected cleanup rose from $45.4 million in 2018 to $70 million in 2023 due in part to inflation and increased construction costs. In addition, in 2021, New Jersey created the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preserve which includes the Woodbrook Road Dump site.

In 2020, EPA reviewed the selected cleanup plan for the site. The results of EPA’s review, carried out in coordination with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, confirmed that the 2013 selected cleanup plan remains the best option.

EPA’s cleanup plan for the site was originally documented in a 2013 Record of Decision and modified in a 2018 Explanation of Significant Differences. The cleanup plan includes:

• Removing an estimated 4,000 cubic yards of soil and debris that contains capacitors, capacitor parts and PCB-contaminated soil and debris with PCB concentrations greater than 100 parts per million (ppm) to an approved off-site disposal facility.
• Removing an estimated 143,000 cubic yards of soil and debris that contains PCBs at concentrations greater than 1.1 ppm to an approved off-site disposal facility.

Written comments on the proposed Explanation of Significant Differences may be mailed or emailed to Diane Salkie Sharkey, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Email: salkie.diane@epa.gov.

For additional background and to see all of the changes in the proposed Explanation of Significant Differences, visit the Woodbrook Road Dump Superfund site profile page.

By Niki Bajracharya, NJEDA Brownfields and Sustainable Systems

Taking a major step towards revitalizing brownfield sites throughout New Jersey, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) launched the inaugural application round for its Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program (BRIP) in June. The BRIP is designed to support remediation costs and incentivize developers to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites throughout the state, transforming old, vacant, or underutilized contaminated properties into local community assets. 

The BRIP is a competitive tax credit initiative with a budget of $300 million designed to incentivize environmental remediation, abatement, and demolition activities, opening doors for commercial, retail, and mixed-use development or expansion on brownfield sites. Under the BRIP, eligible brownfield sites can receive a one-time tax credit award up to 60 percent of the remediation costs, depending on their location, with a maximum award up to $8 million per project. Importantly, these tax credits are transferable and can be sold. The credits can also be combined with other NJEDA funding initiatives such as Aspire and the Historic Property Reinvestment Program, providing developers with additional financial support.
 
In addition to administering financial incentives, the Brownfields & Sustainable System team at the NJEDA has created materials to assist potential applicants. The Authority’s website provides an Eligibility Self-Assessment Tool, an Application Checklist, and Frequently Asked Questions, all of which can be invaluable resources for applicants seeking to understand the program's criteria and application process.
 
Applications for the BRIP are due by 5:00 p.m. EDT on September 21, 2023, and can be found here. Developers interested in revitalizing brownfield sites in New Jersey should consider this program as a valuable resource. By leveraging the financial incentives and technical support available through the BRIP, developers can transform abandoned, contaminated properties into thriving community assets.
 

Eight environmental leaders are pressing Maryland energy regulators for more transparency on how the state’s renewable energy program is handled — and how the state hands out financial credits for entities that generate renewable energy.

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A new landmark Environmental Justice (EJ) law is now effective in New Jersey following a lengthy rulemaking process surrounding the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Administration Order (AO) No. 2021-25. It is the first rule of its kind and the strongest EJ regulation in the nation.

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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced eight meetings to provide progress updates for communities participating in the statewide Community Air Monitoring Initiative launched in 2022. The meetings will provide information to help DEC target strategies to reduce air pollution in these communities, including the greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change, to help achieve the goals of the State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (leaves DEC website). This next round of meetings will continue DEC's efforts to gather community input in targeting emission sources and future strategies to reduce air pollution. 

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York Analytical Laboratories, Inc. announced today the company was approved by NELAC and received NJDEP certifications to analyze PFAS in New Jersey. York now has comprehensive PFAS capabilities in N.J. that include certifications for:

• EPA Method 533 & 537.1 for PFAS analysis in drinking water.
• EPA (draft) Method 1633 for PFAS analysis in non-potable water and soil.

The approval accelerates the build and grow plan for York’s new facility in Toms River, NJ, acquired in January with the purchase of Precision Analytical Services, Inc. and Precision Testing Labs, Inc.

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