Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast Brownfield Industry News

Free “forever chemical” testing, financial assistance for remediation available for Ulster County residents

Michael Lazo — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:22:22 GMT

Ulster County residents who get their drinking water from private wells can now apply for free PFAS testing and, if contamination meets state thresholds, rebates to help pay for treatment or a public-water hookup, through New York State’s new Private Well PFAS Testing and Mitigation Rebate Pilot Program. Applications are open in Ulster County, one of six counties included in the pilot.

State PFAS Legislation in 2026: Hundreds of Bills Across 23 States

Michael Lazo — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:24:39 GMT

The introduction and passage of legislation addressing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been a priority for states across the country for the last several years (read all of our past coverage of PFAS).

Hidden Helpers: Pittsburgh’s Industrial Past Might Hold the Key to a Cleaner Future

Michael Lazo — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:23:37 GMT

Pittsburgh has reinvented itself from a steel powerhouse to a hub for health care and education. But the city’s industrial past left a hidden legacy: toxic compounds like benzene and toluene in the soil. While most life can’t survive such a contamination, some microbes adapted to use the pollutants as food.

Contaminated Site Remediation & Redevelopment (CSRR)

Michael Lazo — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:23:28 GMT

The Department adopted the Indoor Air Notification Area (IANA) in February 2026, establishing a new institutional control called an “Indoor Air Notification Area,” which addresses the indoor air/vapor intrusion exposure pathway. Regulatory citations applicable to Indoor Air Notification Areas are in the Administrative Requirements for Remediation of Contaminated Sites (ARRCS) at N.J.A.C. 7:26C-7.5 and the Technical Requirements for Site Remediation at N.J.A.C. 7:26E-5.7.

ARRCS at N.J.A.C. 7:26C-7.5 explains how an IANA serves as notification to the public, that air inside a building on a site is above the applicable remediation standards, and that it requires mitigation and monitoring to ensure that any occupants of the building are protected. Similar to a Classification Exception Area (CEA), the IANA is part of the Remedial Action Permit (RAP) and a Geographic Information System (GIS) layer for the IANA will be mapped on the Department’s website. An IANA requires data evaluations, mapping, and notification to ensure that people in a building are aware that there is a potential exposure risk if an engineering control is not being operated or maintained. When the Person Responsible for Conducting the Remediation (PRCR) or permittee (if in an approved RAP) proposes or revises an IANA, the PRCR or permittee must notify municipal officials, health departments, county planning boards, and nearby real property owners, tenants, and occupants.

N.J.A.C. 7:26E-5.7 requires the PRCR to include the indoor air notification area, which reflects current site conditions for the area of the indoor air contaminated by a discharge at the site, in the remedial action report submission. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26C-7.5, the Department may revise or reestablish an IANA at any time to more accurately reflect indoor air conditions using any relevant data, as the duration of the IANA is indeterminate.

Contact the Bureau of Remedial Action Permitting (BRAP) at (609) 633-6801 with any indoor air RAP questions.

Contact the BEMSA ICU case manager (or the BCM case manager for traditional oversight and certain direct oversight cases) with IANA questions.

https://dep.nj.gov/srp/guidance/iana/

Maryland congressional delegation enters the fray over massive Potomac sewage spill

Michael Lazo — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:17:19 GMT

Congressional lawmakers from Maryland and Virginia are pushing for a “rigorous” environmental remediation plan, public briefings and continued bacteria monitoring in the wake of last month’s spill of millions of gallons of sewage into the Potomac River.

Is a New Haven island too contaminated for a proposed park?

Michael Lazo — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:25:07 GMT

New Haven recently unveiled design plans for a proposed public park on Ball Island in the Mill River district.

However, the city has not yet acquired the property, which is the site of the decommissioned English Station power plant that is highly contaminated with heavy metals, asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs. While the rendered images of the proposed park depicted a scene of families picnicking, teens enjoying basketball and children learning to swim in the aquatic education center, the current site is far from that.

House Caucus Highlights Transformation From Nuclear Remediation to Renaissance

Michael Lazo — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:21:23 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) Assistant Secretary Tim Walsh recently joined U.S. Reps. Chuck Fleischmann and Susie Lee for the first U.S. House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus event of the year, where they highlighted how EM and its federal, state, local and industry partners are helping shape the American nuclear renaissance through remediation, restoration, redevelopment and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). Walsh is pictured at top-center speaking, Fleischmann is shown at top right and Lee is pictured at bottom-right shaking hands with Walsh.

During the event, Walsh noted that the mission of EM begins with the contractors conducting the ongoing work at the cleanup sites, leading to economic development and vitality. He also discussed the near- and long-term plans across EM sites to transform liabilities into assets and streamline efficiency to allow the nuclear renaissance to be affordable and available.

Participants also focused on the cleanup program’s bold approach to implementing the use of AI across EM sites to help accomplish the goals of the Trump administration.

The well-attended event was hosted by the Energy Facility Contractors Group, Energy Technology and Environmental Business Association and Nuclear Energy Institute.

-Contributors: Jordan Anderson, Carly Howard

https://www.energy.gov/em/articles/house-caucus-highlights-transformation-nuclear-remediation-renaissance

Developer seeks IDA sales tax exemption on River Street brownfield cleanup

Michael Lazo — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:20:08 GMT

ELLICOTTVILLE — A local developer is proposing a brownfield cleanup involving one of the last large parcels of undeveloped land in the city of Olean.

A limited liability corporation, 1641 River Street LLC, is proposing a $6 million brownfield cleanup of a 24.7-acre parcel bounded by River Street, Homer Street and Interstate 86.

Middletown begins environmental testing at Return to the Riverbend sites

Michael Lazo — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:29:03 GMT

MIDDLETOWN — Environmental testing along the shoreline is expected to continue through the spring as part of Middletown's plan to clean and stabilize the riverfront, officials said.

The city is using part of a $12 million Community Investment Fund grant it received in 2022 to begin the geotechnical and design work needed to clean up a trio of River Road properties.

Scranton Army Ammunition Plant gauges public interest in serving on panel

Michael Lazo — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:26:36 GMT

The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant seeks to gauge public interest in whether to establish an advisory board for possible environmental remediation at the historic complex that has manufactured ammunition since 1953.

EPA to Reexamine Eight Superfund Sites in 202

Michael Lazo — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 18:27:51 GMT

Boston, MA (STL.News) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will initiate formal five-year reviews at contaminated sites in Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, and Massachusetts to confirm that past remediation efforts continue to protect human health and the environment.

Rutland City voters resoundingly back bond for downtown infrastructure projects

Michael Lazo — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:55:57 GMT

RUTLAND CITY — Marble City voters signed off on a $3.9 million bond for city infrastructure upgrades, laying the groundwork for a hotel project and other development downtown.

A sweeping 85% of Rutland voters approved the bond during the special vote held Tuesday, with 1,190 ballots cast in favor and 213 against, according to an unofficial tally released by the clerk’s office.

Harckham, Legislators and Labor Leaders Urge Signing of Brownfield Prevailing Wage Bill

Michael Lazo — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:55:01 GMT

Montrose, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham, several state legislators and labor leaders called today for the signing of a brownfield prevailing wage bill at a press conference held here at the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) 137 Training Center.

4 Connecticut cities to receive DEEP grants for environmental assessment, remediation

Michael Lazo — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:53:58 GMT

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — $750,000 in grants for brownfield remediation have been released to four Connecticut cities Wednesday, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

These grants, released during round two of DEEP’s Brownfield Grant Program, will support the assessment and remediation of contaminated sites in four cities in Connecticut. The four sites total approximately 27 acres of land.

Laborers, lawmakers urge governor to sign Brownfield prevailing wage bill

Michael Lazo — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:52:42 GMT

Public money is being used to clean up toxic land in Westchester, so lawmakers say they want the workers doing the dangerous work to be paid fairly.

State Sen. Pete Harckham says Brownfield cleanup work is crucial for keeping communities updated and modern.

Crews battle second fire in 6 months at old Norwich Hospital. What comes next?

Michael Lazo — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:56:55 GMT

Firefighters worked to put out a structure fire at one of the buildings at the Norwich State Hospital campus on Laurel Hill Road Tuesday morning. The cause of the fire is unclear. Another building on the property also caught on fire in June.

Pfizer, J&J sued by New Jersey over decades-old pharmaceutical plant pollution

Michael Lazo — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 12:50:39 GMT

New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection has sued Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Honeywell and several real estate companies over a site in North Jersey where toxic waste remained from a now-shuttered pharmaceutical plant.

Rivermills redevelopment underway in Chicopee Falls

Michael Lazo — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:49:24 GMT

CHICOPEE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - A new step today for the redevelopment of Rivermills in Chicopee Falls. The city broke ground for the Singing Bridge Residences this morning.

Commonwealth school districts are still working on improving buildings and environments

Michael Lazo — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:28:51 GMT

Cities across the commonwealth – from Philadelphia to Scranton to Pittsburgh – have long dealt with a myriad of menaces inside their school buildings, from mold and asbestos in walls and ceilings to lead in the drinking water, prompting schools to partially close, move or even cancel classes over the years due to the need for remediation.

Waiting for updates on PFAS remediation, Merrimack strives to keep contaminated dirt contained

Michael Lazo — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 14:21:05 GMT

In the greater Merrimack area, where toxic forever chemicals are concentrated throughout the soil and a long-term cleanup plan is yet to materialize, keeping the contamination local is the best many feel they can do for now. But how well that’s working isn’t clear and guidance is scarce, creating headaches for developers and concern for activists.

Brownfield Cleanup Work Plan Filed for Arnold Constable Building in New Rochelle

Michael Lazo — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 14:19:09 GMT

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (September 28, 2025) — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is inviting public comments on a Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) application and Draft Remedial Investigation Work Plan for the 466 Main St Auto Repair and Paint Shop site, located at 466 Main Street in New Rochelle, Westchester County. The site, identified as #C360266, is known as the Arnold Constable Building and is managed by BRP 466 Main Street LLC.

$2.71M in Brownfields Grant Awards

Michael Lazo — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:14:24 GMT

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has awarded $2.71 million in grants through the Brownfields Remediation and Economic Development Fund to support the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites across the state. Ten projects in four cities and towns will receive funding, made possible by the voter-approved 2022 and 2024 Green Bond and unspent funds from previous grant rounds.

Community group rails against Esplanade in Pittsburgh, despite assurances from developer

Michael Lazo — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:20:16 GMT

A community group on Thursday raised environmental concerns about the Esplanade development, a $740 million project that aims to transform a brownfield in Pittsburgh’s Chateau neighborhood into a vibrant entertainment district.

‘Opportunity to build a destination’: Developers close in on untouched Lynn waterfront

Michael Lazo — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:06:50 GMT

LYNN, Mass. — A vacant, overgrown stretch of Lynn’s southern waterfront is on the verge of a transformation.

Developers are closing in on Lynn’s South Harbor after an extensive cleanup and environmental remediation effort focused on a failed municipal landfill.

DEC developing remediation plan for Brownfield site in Bath

Michael Lazo — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:05:42 GMT

BATH, N.Y. (WENY) -- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is developing a remediation plan to cleanup toxic materials discovered at the site of the former Philips Lighting Company in Bath.

The 39-acre manufacturing complex located on State Route 54 was closed in 2014 and torn down in 2020. Before it became Philips Lighting Co., the property served as a plant for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It was first developed for industrial use in 1951.

Study: PA schools plagued by widespread lead, mold, radon and other environmental hazards

Michael Lazo — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:08:39 GMT

School safety – specifically, the state of environmental health in and around district buildings – is sure to be even more top of mind as many students start the school year next week, thanks to a new report that finds that environmental hazards, from widespread lead exposure in water and paint to the high prevalence of mold and radon, are impacting schools and students around the commonwealth.

Major cleanup needed to build new Bridgeport soccer stadium, study says

Michael Lazo — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:13:29 GMT

BRIDGEPORT — One day, the 18 acres along Kossuth Street in the lower East Side could be the site of a minor league soccer stadium, a hotel and over 1,000 housing units.

VILLAGE OF HERKIMER BROWNFIELD OPPORTUNITY AREA PLAN FINAL WORKSHOP

Michael Lazo — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:11:12 GMT

Herkimer, NY – The Village of Herkimer is working towards finalizing its Brownfield Opportunity Area Plan. A draft plan was developed and prepared for review. The public is invited to provide feedback on the plan at an upcoming public workshop on August 21st. The workshop will be from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at 200 North Main Street. The project team hopes you’ll join them for an evening of celebration and reflection on the plan! More information about the project can be found at www.herkimerboa.com.

Remediation work on Ried Cleaners site in Great Barrington to finally begin

Michael Lazo — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:09:57 GMT

Great Barrington — Nineteen years after the closure of Ried Cleaners, remediation work will start on the site, located at 218 Main Street, during the last week of August.

During the Selectboard meeting on Monday, August 11, Interim Town Manager Chris Rembold announced that remediation work on the site would last two to three weeks.

Shapiro Administration Announces More than $1 Million Available for Environmental Education Grants

Michael Lazo — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:12:29 GMT

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that more than $1 million are now available for projects that provide meaningful environmental education through the Environmental Education Grants Program. Grant applications will be accepted through November 14, 2025.

New Jersey reaches $875m settlement over PFAS contamination with major chemical companies

Michael Lazo — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:24:41 GMT

The State of New Jersey has reached a major environmental settlement with The Chemours Company, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., and Corteva, Inc., resolving extensive legal claims related to PFAS contamination.

The total settlement amount of $875m will cover both localised site pollution and broader contamination across the state.

Saint-Gobain has demolished its Merrimack plant. But remediation plans remain unclear.

Michael Lazo — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:28:48 GMT

Saint-Gobain, the French manufacturing company that operated a facility widely blamed for contaminating water supplies in southern New Hampshire, has finished demolishing its building in Merrimack.

‘It changes everything': Family financially devastated by surprise $400K bill

Michael Lazo — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:27:58 GMT

A North Attleborough couple experienced a home heating oil spill on their property earlier this year. They assumed the expensive cleanup would be covered by their insurance policy. They were wrong.

County seeks to transfer Grunderville Landfill from ANF

Michael Lazo — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 18:31:18 GMT

The Grunderville landfill officially closed in 2022, but its potential lives on.

Since the site’s closure county officials have been discussing recreational uses due to its location on Grunderville Road next to the Allegheny River. This site is owned by the Allegheny National Forest but leased and maintained by Warren County.

Environmental Testing Market to Reach $17.1 Billion by 2032, Growing at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2025, Says Meticulous Research®

Michael Lazo — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 18:30:10 GMT

According to a comprehensive market research report titled "Environmental Testing Market Size, Share, Forecast, & Trends Analysis by Products (Mass Spectrometers, pH meters), Sample, Contamination, End User (Agriculture & Irrigation, Government and R&D Laboratories, Industrial Product Manufacturers), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2032", the environmental testing market is projected to reach $17.1 billion by 2032, up from an estimated $9.6 billion in 2025, growing at a robust CAGR of 8.6% during the forecast period.

Saranac Lofts construction resumes

Michael Lazo — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 12:43:17 GMT

ARANAC LAKE — After weeks of stalled progress, work on the Saranac Lofts apartment complex is again in full swing, according to Mike Drew, the new project superintendent for developers Kearney Group.

Drew attended Monday’s village board meeting at the request of village Code Enforcement Officer Zacharia Peltier to update the board and the community on the much-anticipated housing project.

New York designates brownfield opportunity zone in Rensselaer

Michael Lazo — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 12:41:59 GMT

RENSSELAER — Officials in this city on the east bank of the Hudson River have a new tool to potentially weed out blight.

West Hartford receives two remediation grants from the state

Michael Lazo — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:45:26 GMT

WEST HARTFORD — The town is among about two dozen municipalities in the state to receive grants in the latest round of funding from the state Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program.

DiNapoli: Timely Remediation Essential for Success of State's Brownfield Cleanup Program

Michael Lazo — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:44:30 GMT

Some former industrial and commercial contaminated sites that could pose risks to the public’s health and safety have languished in the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP), according to an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The audit examined the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) management of the program and found it must be strengthened to ensure private parties follow through on the timely remediation of their contaminated sites.

West Hartford Receives Nearly $900,000 In Latest Round Of State Remediation And Development Grants

Michael Lazo — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:50:46 GMT

The construction of a Transit-Oriented Development project on New Park Avenue and assessment of expansion space for Park Road businesses have both received significant support from the state following the announcement by Gov. Ned Lamont on June 12 that West Hartford was awarded two grants through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Brownfield Remediation and Development Program.

Historic Carlisle manufacturing site to undergo $10M redevelopment

Michael Lazo — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 13:11:10 GMT

Real Estate Collaborative, LLC, has acquired Carlisle’s historic Frog Switch & Manufacturing site with $10.2M in state funds to transform the industrial property into an engine of local redevelopment.

Ownership of the 27-acre former Frog, Switch, & Manufacturing (Frog Switch) industrial complex was transferred recently to Real Estate Collaborative (REC). The transaction comes just weeks after REC received a $10.2 million award to transform the site, the second largest award in the commonwealth.

Harlem River Environmental Restoration Study moves forward following uncertainty

Michael Lazo — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 18:36:13 GMT

A long-awaited environmental restoration study for the Harlem River is officially moving forward, following the Friday announcement of a $1 million funding agreement between the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and federal partners.

EPA funding will help jumpstart 'brownfields' cleanup at 25 Maine sites

Michael Lazo — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 18:34:56 GMT

The former Great Northern Paper Co. mill site in Millinocket is one of a number of contaminated areas across Maine to receive brownfields cleanup grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

After several decades and a scandal, CT town sees hope for contaminated ex-mill site

Michael Lazo — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:47:51 GMT

Armed with $8 million in aid from Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration, town leaders are looking to the day when earthmovers and dump trucks will begin clearing the wreckage of a burned, abandoned mill that’s been stood as a derelict eyesore for two generations.

EPA Brownfield Grant Will Aid Delaware County Property Redevelopment

Michael Lazo — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:49:04 GMT

The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Delaware has been awarded $500,000 in funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2025 Brownfields Community-wide Assessment Grant program.

East Hartford temporarily limits number of gas stations in town

Michael Lazo — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:52:09 GMT

There's no shortage of gas stations in East Hartford, so the town is temporarily capping the number at 18.

That's so they can look at the environmental impacts they have on the area and development.

“If you turn any corner there's a gas station,” said Gregory Williams, of East Hartford.

Phillipsburg looks to assess and address concerns about former landfill beneath Delaware River Park

Michael Lazo — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:51:10 GMT

Phillipsburg officials are considering hiring a firm for an environmental study of a former roadside dump, now a riverside park, to address growing health and safety concerns.

Vermont gets millions to clean up hazardous land

Michael Lazo — Mon, 19 May 2025 14:36:15 GMT

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfield program provides grants to help communities clean up contaminated properties and give them new life.

The EPA on Friday announced $8 million in grants to communities across Vermont, split among eight organizations. The grants include money for brownfields assessment, revolving loan funds and cleanup.

EPA Awards $650K Brownfields Grant to Camden for Land Cleanup

Michael Lazo — Mon, 19 May 2025 14:35:08 GMT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Camden Redevelopment Agency in New Jersey has been selected to receive $650,000 in Brownfields funding to assess, clean up, and revitalize local lands. These investments support locally driven redevelopment, unlocking economic opportunity, creating jobs, and improving public health outcomes in communities in New Jersey. These will keep critical momentum going in communities already benefiting from Brownfields investments, ensuring continued progress toward safe and reusable land.

New Jersey AG Platkin Reaches $450M PFAS Settlement With 3M

Michael Lazo — Mon, 19 May 2025 14:34:01 GMT

On May 13, New Jersey Attorney General (AG) Matthew Platkin announced a proposed $450 million settlement agreement with 3M regarding allegations that, among other issues, contamination of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) emanated from a site now owned by 3M. The settlement resolves these claims and New Jersey’s broader claims that the state and its agencies have or may have in the future regarding PFAS. The settlement agreement remains subject to court approval.

3M and NJ reach $450M settlement over ‘forever chemicals’

Michael Lazo — Wed, 14 May 2025 14:38:16 GMT

The chemical giant 3M will pay New Jersey nearly a half billion dollars to settle liabilities related to decades of toxic “forever chemical” pollution around the Garden State.

State officials announced the settlement Tuesday morning, where the Minnesota-based company will pay up to $450 million to New Jersey toward environmental remediation and restoration of damaged natural resources.

US House targets big climate, clean energy rollbacks in budget proposal

Michael Lazo — Tue, 13 May 2025 14:40:32 GMT

WASHINGTON, May 12 (Reuters) - U.S. House lawmakers laid out plans on Monday to phase out clean energy tax credits, slash spending on electric vehicles and renewable energy, and claw back other climate-related funds as part of the Republicans' attempt to pass a multi-trillion-dollar budget in line with President Donald Trump's agenda.

Anne Arundel County Announces Glen Burnie Redevelopment Project Partner; Hosts Community Open House

Michael Lazo — Tue, 13 May 2025 14:39:29 GMT

Annapolis, MD (May 13, 2025) – Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) today announced the selection of Sawmill Partners, LLC as the development partner for the transformation of 7409 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard. The 13-acre portion of the County-owned site is slated for redevelopment into the Villages at Sawmill Creek – a vibrant, transit-oriented community that supports housing, multimodal transportation connectivity, and economic revitalization in central Glen Burnie.

State chips in $10M for redevelopment of central Pa. manufacturing plant

Michael Lazo — Thu, 08 May 2025 13:11:36 GMT

The state plans to invest millions of dollars to rescue a large industrial site with massive machines “as large as a small house”.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has awarded more than $10 million in grant and loan money to assist in the future redevelopment of the former manufacturing plant in Carlisle.

Long-awaited White Oak remediation coming by end of the year

Michael Lazo — Wed, 07 May 2025 13:12:50 GMT

PLAINVILLE — Soil remediation at the former White Oak construction site is set to begin this fall, according to Town Council Chair Chris Wazorko.

Trump’s EPA Shifts to Make Superfund Cleanups a Central Mission

Michael Lazo — Wed, 07 May 2025 13:10:25 GMT

The EPA is planning to move faster on cleaning up hundreds of contaminated sites across the nation during the second Trump administration, the agency’s administrator says.

“Each Superfund site has its own unique circumstances and challenges, but the overall posture of the Trump EPA is that we want to expedite every timeline possible,” Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said in an email to Bloomberg Law.

EPA outlines steps to address PFAS contamination

Michael Lazo — Mon, 05 May 2025 15:51:14 GMT

The US Environmental Protection Agency on April 28 announced a series of steps it plans to take to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

In a news release, the agency lists 21 actions across three “principles”: strengthening the science, fulfilling statutory obligations and enhancing communication, and building partnerships.

NJ orders Woodbridge company to clean up illegal dumping, pay $200K in fines

Michael Lazo — Mon, 05 May 2025 15:49:57 GMT

WOODBRIDGE – The state is going to court to force a township company and its owner to comply with court orders dating to 2018 for illegal dumping and pay nearly $200,000 in penalties.

N.J. officials target 12-acre ‘illegal junkyard’ in environmental crackdown

Michael Lazo — Mon, 05 May 2025 15:45:54 GMT

A 12-acre property in Kearny, described by state officials as an “enormous illegal junkyard,” is the focus of a new environmental enforcement lawsuit.

How 2,600 CT contaminated properties could be improved under proposed legislation

Michael Lazo — Sun, 04 May 2025 15:47:04 GMT

HARTFORD — There were only a few lawmakers in the state Senate chamber the other afternoon when veteran Sen. Joan Hartley introduced a bill that was 45 years in the making and now more than five years into developing a balance between potentially expensive environmental cleanups and economic development opportunities.

Pa. launches $4.4M lead testing, remediation program for schools. Should schools be testing at all?

Michael Lazo — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 15:53:02 GMT

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Pennsylvania officials last week launched a $4.4 million lead testing and remediation program for schools and childcare facilities across the state.

And while health advocates are happy for recognition of the problem of lead in school water, some say it's so pervasive that action, rather than testing, is what's needed.

RIDC and the Pittsburgh Technology Center, setting the standard for brownfield redevelopment — Rebuilding Pittsburgh – Part 2

Michael Lazo — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:56:52 GMT

This is the second in a series of excerpts from “Rebuilding Pittsburgh: RIDC and the Transformation of the Steel City.”

For the past 70 years, the Regional industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania (RIDC) has played an integral role in rebuilding the Pittsburgh region’s economy. A new book, “Rebuilding Pittsburgh: RIDC and the Transformation of the Steel City,” written by award-winning journalist Jeffery Fraser and edited by Pittsburgh Quarterly publisher Douglas Heuck, showcases RIDC’s efforts to transform abandoned steel mills and industrial sites into thriving business and technology parks – using a unique, mission-driven approach that combines economic development advocacy with community and regional revitalization.

Massachusetts housing crunch requires 'more muscular' state action, Congressman says

Michael Lazo — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:54:14 GMT

The state will have to take "more muscular action" to facilitate construction of hundreds of thousands of new housing units in the next decade to meet demand, according to Congressman Jake Auchincloss.

During an address to the Charles River Chamber on Monday, he listed the high cost of housing as the "single biggest economic challenge" facing Massachusetts and encouraged more action to spur production.

A Call to Comment: EPA Continues its Approach to Regulating PFAS with New Biosolids and Aquatic Life Criteria

Michael Lazo — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 16:12:22 GMT

Our last blog on PFAS air issues promised a follow-up, but we are deferring that discussion in lieu of some observations on the values proposed by EPA as health protective levels of PFAS in surface water and biosolids, as there is opportunity to provide comment.

Sayreville takes first steps to remediate 'deplorable' Old Fire House

Michael Lazo — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:44:01 GMT

SAYREVILLE - The borough has begun the process of remediating the Old Fire House on Main Street.

The Borough Council has authorized the borough engineer to prepare plans and specifications for the environmental remediation portion of the property.

Upon approval of the plans and specifications, the Borough Clerk is authorized to advertise for bids.

Workforce Development Board wins $500K grant for brownfields job training

Michael Lazo — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:42:46 GMT

UTICA, N.Y. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Workforce Development Board of Herkimer, Madison, and Oneida Counties (WDB HMO) a $500,000 brownfields job training grant, the board announced.

New Jersey Poised To Revamp Site Remediation Regulations - How Will You Be Impacted?

Michael Lazo — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:44:12 GMT

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has proposed a massive overhaul of its rules and regulations governing site remediation. The proposed changes would impact several key site remediation regulations, including the Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA) Rules, the Administrative Requirements for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites, the Technical Requirements for Site Remediation, and the Heating Oil Tank System Remediation Rules. If enacted, the proposed changes will significantly impact the regulated community and New Jersey real estate transactions.

Egg Harbor City poised for revitalization with Brownfield program designation

Michael Lazo — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:49:04 GMT

Egg Harbor City, New Jersey is entering a transformative new chapter with its designation in the Brownfield Development Area (BDA) program, bringing critical resources to drive redevelopment, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.

After years of delays, EPA moves toward partial ‘early action’ cleanup of Newtown Creek

Michael Lazo — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:45:39 GMT

Almost 15 years after Newtown Creek was named a federal Superfund site, the government is taking a step toward cleaning it up — or, at least part of it.

DEP Announces Winners of 2025 Pennsylvania Student Radon Poster Contest, Encourages Pennsylvanians to Test for Radon During Radon Action Month

Michael Lazo — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:56:08 GMT

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the winners of the 2025 Pennsylvania Student Radon Poster Contest and continues to encourage Pennsylvanians to test their homes for radon as part of the department’s ongoing National Radon Action Month outreach.

State announces slew of grants for county

Michael Lazo — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:55:00 GMT

Gov. Kathy Hochul has doled out some more money for Chautauqua County projects.

Exclusive: Sherrill introduces bipartisan brownfields redevelopment bill

Michael Lazo — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:53:46 GMT

NJBIZ has learned U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th District, has reintroduced the bipartisan Brownfields Redevelopment Tax Incentive Reauthorization Act.

Sherrill, a 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial candidate, sponsors the legislation along with U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-OH, 10th District. It would provide tax incentives for the cleanup and repurposing of brownfield sites for commercial use and economic development.

DEC Seeks Public Comment on Draft Environmental Justice Siting Law Amendments to State Environmental Quality Review Act Regulations

Michael Lazo — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:46:52 GMT

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced the release of draft amendments to State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) regulations to incorporate provisions of the Environmental Justice Siting Law, also known as the “Cumulative Impacts Law” signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022.

DEP Adds Nockamixon Site to Pennsylvania’s Priority List of Hazardous Sites, Starts Process to Cleanup Contamination at the Source

Michael Lazo — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 19:16:30 GMT

Norristown, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) listed the Nockamixon TCE Site to Pennsylvania’s Priority List of Hazardous Sites for Remedial Response (PAPL) on January 18, 2025. Since 2009, DEP has conducted soil, surface water, and groundwater investigations on the contamination – and has worked with the impacted local homeowners to install protection measures to ensure they can have clean air and pure water. While DEP has already addressed the immediate public health impacts, adding the Site to the PAPL allows DEP to address the problem head on and remediate the contamination at the source.

EPA Finalizes Cleanup Plan for Lister Ave. at Diamond Alkali Superfund Site in Newark, NJ

Michael Lazo — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 18:19:50 GMT

Newark, N.J. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized its cleanup plan for the 80-120 Lister Ave. portion of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site in Newark, NJ. The plan will address the contaminated soil, debris and groundwater that was left behind by activities at the Lister Ave. facility. The EPA released the proposed plan for public comment in September of 2024 and those comments were considered before EPA made its final decision.

Rahway looks to redevelop brownfield site into non-residential use

Michael Lazo — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 15:31:06 GMT

RAHWAY - The city is moving forward in the acquisition of a Leesville Avenue brownfield site, near the Woodbridge border, for redevelopment.

The City Council has introduced an ordinance to acquire 767 Leesville Ave. as part of the city's efforts to encourage non-residential development.

“This acquisition is a major win for Rahway,” said Mayor Raymond Giacobbe. “It demonstrates our commitment to revitalizing our community and ensuring that we focus on strategic, non-residential development to benefit our residents and local economy.”

Construction of Bass Pro Begins at Riverton

Michael Lazo — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:32:41 GMT

SAYREVILLE, NJ – After years of environmental remediation, delays related to COVID and other factors, Riverton is “going vertical.”

Construction has begun, and the steel frame of the long-awaited Bass Pro Shop is now visible to every car that passes over the Driscoll Bridge. Last month, the Sayreville Economic Redevelopment Authority (SERA), which has been working with developer North American Properties, announced that a lease deal has been struck between Riverton and Bass Pro, which will be the anchor of the $2.5 billion, 400+ acre mixed-use development along the Raritan River.

City Announces Grant Recipients of the 2025 Community Resilience and Environmental Justice Fund

Michael Lazo — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:29:41 GMT

PHILADELPHIA – The City’s Office of Sustainability in partnership with the Philadelphia Environmental Justice Advisory Commission (PEJAC) is excited to announce the 2025 grant recipients of the Community Resilience and Environmental Justice (CREJ) Fund. The awarded projects seek to increase air quality monitoring, clean energy use, climate resilience and emergency preparedness, community gardening and greening, food sovereignty, flood resilience and tree canopy, and reduce illegal dumping. See the Office of Sustainability’s blog post for descriptions of each grantee’s funded project.

EPA, DNREC reach deal on environmental justice, concerns remain over Seaford biogas facility

Michael Lazo — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 15:35:23 GMT

DELAWARE- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized an agreement with DNREC to address shortcomings in its permitting process that advocates say discriminated against communities of color and those with limited English proficiency.

The agreement, called an Informal Resolution Agreement (IRA), stems from a 2022 civil rights complaint filed by several advocacy groups, including the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project (SRAP) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware (ACLU-DE).

Announcing the 2025 Grantees of the Community Resilience & Environmental Justice Fund

Michael Lazo — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 15:34:06 GMT

The Office of Sustainability is excited to announce the 2025 grant recipients of the Community Resilience & Environmental Justice (CREJ) Fund.

This Fund is supported by the Office of Sustainability, Philadelphia Water Department, and William Penn Foundation, steered by the Philadelphia Environmental Justice Advisory Commission (PEJAC), and fiscally administered by the Philadelphia City Fund. The CREJ Fund is dedicated to resourcing frontline and fenceline communities experiencing environmental injustice to advance their vision of an equitable and resilient future.

EPA Finalizes Protections for Workers and Communities from Cancer-Causing Ethylene Oxide Pollution

Michael Lazo — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 15:36:31 GMT

January 14, 2025

Contact Information

EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – Today, Jan. 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the Interim Decision for Ethylene Oxide (EtO) – a pesticide used on 50 percent of all sterilized medical devices in the United States and on approximately 30 percent of dried herbs and spices. EtO is known to cause cancer, including lymphocytic leukemia, breast cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma in people. Workers who use EtO and people who work, live, or go to school or daycare near facilities that use EtO may breathe in emissions at levels that can increase cancer risk. The greatest risk is for people who work for their entire careers at facilities directly handling EtO with insufficient worker protections in place.

The Interim Decision includes mitigation measures that, in addition to the measures included in the 2024 EtO National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), will reduce exposure to workers and nearby communities. Together, these two EPA actions provide a comprehensive approach to addressing EtO pollution concerns, including cancer risk, that will increase safety in communities and for workers while supporting ongoing supply chain needs for sterilized medical equipment. This decision advances President Biden’s commitment to ending cancer as we know it as part of the Cancer Moonshot, as well as the Administration’s commitment to securing environmental justice and protecting public health, including for communities that are most exposed to toxic chemicals.

“EPA continues to make important strides to protect people from dangerous chemicals like ethylene oxide,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “These protections will reduce EtO exposures to workers and communities, while also ensuring that the chemical remains available to provide sterile life-saving medical supplies.”

Ethylene Oxide

EPA regulates EtO’s use as a pesticide under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). EtO has both antimicrobial uses, such as sterilization of medical devices, and conventional uses, such as fumigation of dried herbs and spices. In some instances, such as with sterilization of medical devices like surgical kits, EtO is the only available option, making it essential for protecting human health. Every 15 years, EPA evaluates potential human health and environmental effects associated with the use of a pesticide through the registration review process. As part of EtO’s registration review, the agency assessed cancer risk from working in sterilization and health care facilities that use EtO, living in communities near EtO facilities, and consuming dried herbs and spices treated with EtO.

After a 75-day public comment period with over 60 stakeholder meetings with industry, other federal agencies, unions, and nonprofit organizations, EPA identified a broad set of protections under FIFRA that aim to reduce exposure to all EtO sterilization facility workers and to others who work, live, or go to school near sterilization facilities. Specifically, the Decision includes a reduced EtO concentration rate limit for new medical device sterilization cycles to reduce levels of exposure for workers; a lowered worker exposure limit of 0.5 ppm after three years, 0.25 ppm after five years, and 0.1 ppm after 10 years (compared to the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard of 1 ppm); phased cancellation of the use of EtO on specific dried herbs and spices; and cancellation of the use of EtO when safer and effective alternatives are available.

Interim Decision

Some of the highlights of the Interim Decision include:

Commercial Sterilizers

Lowered worker exposure limit of 0.5 ppm by 2028, 0.25 ppm by 2030, and 0.1 ppm by 2035, as compared to the 1984 OSHA limit of 1 ppm. Any workers who could be exposed to concentrations of EtO above these limits would need to wear additional respiratory protection.

Finalizing the ban of use for museum, library and archival materials; cosmetics; musical instruments; and beekeeping equipment.

Immediate cancellation of the use of EtO for specific dried herbs and spices for which its use is not considered critical for food safety, and phased cancellation for specific dried herbs and spices for which EtO use is considered critical for food safety but have potential alternatives to EtO.

Establishing a concentration limit of 600 mg/L for new medical device sterilization cycles within 10 years. If a device requires a concentration of EtO greater than 600 mg/L due to the device design, the facility must maintain records to justify the increased application rate.

Separation of HVAC systems for areas where EtO is used and areas where EtO is not used, to reduce EtO exposure in areas such as offices.

Requiring respirators to protect workers involved in certain high EtO exposure tasks, such as connecting and disconnecting EtO containers from sterilization process equipment.

Continuous EtO concentration monitoring throughout sterilization facilities, including on-site storage facilities.

Data requirements to monitor breathing zone worker exposure to EtO within commercial sterilization facilities and warehouses that store sterilized materials, both on and off-site.

Healthcare Facilities

Require abatement devices for healthcare facilities that use more than 10 lbs. of EtO/year by comparison – c commercial sterilizers typically release tons of EtO annually.

Ventilation of EtO through exterior ventilation stacks to reduce exposure to healthcare facility workers. Exposure to communities from EtO used in healthcare facilities is expected to be minimal because the amount of EtO used at healthcare facilities is orders of magnitude lower than at commercial sterilization facilities.

Next Steps

EPA expects that registrants will submit label amendments that include the changes outlined in the Interim Decision within 60 days after publication. The agency plans to quickly review the label amendments so that products sold and distributed by registrants will include the changes outlined in the Interim Decision. The timing for implementation for individual mitigation measures ranges from two years to 10 years, taking into consideration the costs, technology availability, potential impacts to the medical device supply chain and other logistical elements. Additionally, EPA will issue a Data Call-In (DCI) to gather information on worker exposure. Specifically, the DCI will require submission of worker exposure data for commercial sterilizers and warehouses in order to understand the worker exposure impacts of complying with EPA’s Clean Air Act EtO commercial sterilization NESHAP and implementing the mitigation measures identified in this Interim Decision. EPA will reevaluate this Interim Decision within eight years, earlier than the typical 15-year cycle, based on the submitted worker exposure data, in order to identify further opportunities to reduce EtO exposures.

To view all documents related to EtO’s registration review, visit docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0244.

Read the full article.

City Celebrates Office of Environmental Remediation’s Successful Cleaning of 165 Acres of Land, New Housing and Schools

Michael Lazo — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:41:23 GMT

On December 10, 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the City, with the assistance of the Office of Environmental Remediation (OER), has transformed 165 acres of previously unusable contaminated land into clean space for 28,000 units of housing, 12,000 of which are affordable housing units, 16 new schools, 2.9 million square feet of community space, and 6.1 million square feet of commercial space.

DEP Conducted over 107,000 Inspections and Responded to Hundreds of Emergencies in 2024 to Protect Pennsylvania’s Environment and Public Safety

Michael Lazo — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:38:44 GMT

Harrisburg, PA – Since January 1, 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) conducted over 107,000 inspections to protect Pennsylvanians’ constitutional right to clean air, pure water, and a healthy and safe environment. DEP also responded to more than 400 environmental emergencies, like spills from traffic accidents to chemical fires.

Governor More Comfortable with Grants to Developers Than Communities

Michael Lazo — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 15:40:11 GMT

Governor Kathy Hochul in December vetoed a bill sponsored by two State legislators representing Lower Manhattan that would have made new resources available to communities in which “brownfields” are being redeveloped adjacent to schools.

Torrington nonprofit to assess Yankee Pedlar Inn for redevelopment after long legal battle

Michael Lazo — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:44:10 GMT

TORRINGTON — After a nearly decade-long effort to take control over the historic Yankee Pedlar Inn, city officials are preparing to assess the property for future redevelopment with support from a state brownfield grant.

Governor Hochul Signs Landmark Legislation Creating New Climate Superfund

Michael Lazo — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:47:35 GMT

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed landmark legislation to bolster New York’s efforts to protect and restore the environment by requiring large fossil fuel companies to pay for critical projects that protect New Yorkers. Legislation S.2129-B/A.3351-B creates a ‘Climate Superfund’ to support New York-based projects that bolster New York’s resiliency to dangerous climate impacts like flooding and extreme heat.

Various state grants awarded to help municipalities

Michael Lazo — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:46:31 GMT

Several state agencies announced grants this week to local municipalities through the latest state Regional Economic Development Council Initiative.

Round XIV of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative grants were applied for using the Consolidated Funding Application, a one-point application process to access a variety of grant applications through various state departments and agencies.

Seaford awarded $3 million for old power plant cleanup in riverfront redevelopment plan

Michael Lazo — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:45:15 GMT

Seaford has received a multimillion-dollar boost to clean up a former power plant site in a redevelopment project along the Nanticoke River in Sussex County west of Route 13.

The $3 million investment was announced Dec. 19 at a ceremony with state and city leaders at the site.

NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF STATE AWARDS NEARLY $20 MILLION TO 56 COMMUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS THROUGH ROUND XIV OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INITIATIVE

Michael Lazo — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:42:56 GMT

The New York State Department of State today announced nearly $20 million has been awarded to support 56 communities across the State from community planning and development programs through Round XIV of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. The awards will help revitalize and reenergize community waterfronts, transform brownfield and vacant and abandoned industrial sites into viable community assets; and create county, municipal and area plans and zoning ordinances that embrace the principles of Smart Growth through three Department of State programs:

Local Waterfront Revitalization Program—$14.2 million to 21 Communities

Brownfield Opportunity Area Program—$3 million to 15 Communities

Smart Growth Community Planning Program—$2.5 million to 20 communities

Of the 56 awards, 35 (63%) will serve communities identified by the State as “disadvantaged communities.”

Governor Carney, DNREC, Seaford Celebrate Investments in Riverfront Redevelopment

Michael Lazo — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 15:26:08 GMT

WILMINGTON, Del. – Gov. John Carney joined Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, State Representative Danny Short, State Senator Bryant Richardson, Seaford Mayor Matthew MacCoy and other community leaders Thursday to announce a $3 million investment in cleaning up a riverfront site for redevelopment as part of the City of Seaford’s revitalization.

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates More Than $2.2 Million through Community One Stop for Growth

Michael Lazo — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 15:25:08 GMT

LOWELL — Yesterday, the Healey-Driscoll Administration joined state and local officials in Lowell to celebrate awards through Community One Stop for Growth, including $2,230,050 for 37 grants to support economic development projects through the Real Estate Services Technical Assistance Program, Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, and Massachusetts Downtown Initiative.

The City of Worcester receives a $499,000 Brownfields Job Training Grant

Michael Lazo — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 15:28:09 GMT

December 17, 2024

Contact Information

Jo Kittrell (kittrell.joanne@epa.gov)

BOSTON (Dec. 17, 2024) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the City of Worcester has been selected to receive a $499,000 grant to help recruit, train, and place workers in community revitalization and cleanup projects at brownfield sites in the Worcester area. The Brownfields Job Training Program grants is funded by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will advance economic opportunity and environmental justice.

The City of Worcester plans to train 80 students and they have a strong track record of placing the majority of their graduates in environmental jobs. The training program includes 83 hours of instructional training. Students who complete the training will earn up to two state and five federal certifications. The City of Worcester is targeting students within its six urban core Opportunity Zone Census Tracts, which are identified as disadvantaged Justice40 communities.

Key partners include the Central Massachusetts Region Planning Commission, the City of Worcester Department of Public Works and Parks, MassHire Central Region Career Centers, Resource Options, Inc., We Fix It Renovate, Inc., the Worcester Business Development Corporation, the Worcester Housing Authority, and the Worcester Jobs Fund.

"Brownfields Job Training grants change lives and improve communities that have been overburdened by contaminated properties for far too long," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David Cash. "Thanks to President Biden's Investing in America agenda, EPA is helping to create good-paying jobs for low income, unemployed, and under-employed residents who are helping make their communities cleaner, healthier and stronger."

"With this grant, Worcester will be able to train students to clean up and revitalize local brownfield sites," said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. "It's a win-win: the federal government is investing in our workforce with life-long skills while working to advance environmental justice."

"We celebrate securing half a million dollars for Worcester to invest in the next generation of environmental remediation professionals, providing them with the tools and education to turn eyesores into assets. This new workforce will build wealth and create economic opportunity in their community and throughout our region," said U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey, "After all, there is no one more qualified to carry out this important work of fixing brownfields than the very community members who have been directly affected by their existence."

EPA's Brownfields Job Training Program provides funding to organizations that are working to create a skilled workforce in communities where assessment, cleanup, and preparation of brownfield sites for reuse activities are taking place. Individuals completing a job training program funded by EPA often overcome a variety of barriers to employment. Many are from historically underserved neighborhoods or reside in the areas that are affected by environmental justice issues. All of the FY25 Brownfields Job Training Program applications selected have proposed to work in areas that include disadvantaged communities as defined by the Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool, delivering on President Biden's Justice40 Initiative to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

Individuals typically graduate from the program with a variety of certifications that improve their marketability and help ensure that employment opportunities are not just temporary contractual work, but long-term environmental careers. This includes certifications in:

Lead and asbestos abatement;

Hazardous waste operations and emergency response;

Mold remediation;

Environmental sampling and analysis; and

Other environmental health and safety training.

For more information on the selected Brownfields Job Training Grant recipients, including past grant recipients, please visit EPA's Grant Factsheet Tool.

Background

President Biden's leadership and bipartisan congressional action delivered the single-largest investment in U.S. brownfields infrastructure ever. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) invests more than $1.5 billion through EPA's highly successful Brownfields Program and the funding from this grant cycle comes from this historic investment. This budget boost gives EPA the ability to fund more communities, states, and Tribal Nations. In addition, these entities have the opportunity to apply for larger grants to build and enhance their environmental job training curriculums to support job creation and community revitalization around brownfield sites. Ultimately, this investment will help trained individuals gain access to jobs created through brownfields revitalization activities within their communities.

Since 1998, EPA has awarded 430 grants totaling more than $113 million through Brownfield Job Training Programs. With these grants, more than 23,400 individuals have completed training and over 17,400 individuals have been placed in careers related to land remediation and environmental health and safety. Over the last 5 years, the average starting wage for these individuals is approximately $23 per hour. If your organization is considering applying for or has a question related to Brownfields Job Training Grants, submit a technical assistance request to EPA at https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/forms/brownfields-job-training-program-technical-assistance-inquiry-form.

For more information on this and other types of Brownfields Grants, please visit https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-funding.

Shapiro Administration Awards $19.6 Million to Address Largest Inventory of Abandoned Mines in the Nation, Keep Pennsylvanians Safe While Supporting Local Jobs

Michael Lazo — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 15:27:09 GMT

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded $19,640,380 for the environmental restoration of eight abandoned mine lands (AML) projects as part of the Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage Grant Program.

Judge denies request to put Rhode Island Recycled Metals in receivership

Michael Lazo — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:30:01 GMT

A Rhode Island Superior Court judge has authorized more oversight of an embattled Providence scrapyard, but not as much as state regulators wanted.

Office Of Environmental Remediation Announces 165 Acres Of Cleaned Land Resulting In 28,000 New Housing Units

Michael Lazo — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 15:31:11 GMT

BY: MAX GILLESPIE 7:00 AM ON DECEMBER 15, 2024

The New York City Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) recently announced that it has successfully cleaned 165 acres of contaminated land across the city since the start of Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. The remediated land has been redeveloped into various new uses, including 28,000 units of housing (12,000 of which are affordable), 16 new schools, 2.9 million square feet of community space, and 6.1 million square feet of commercial space.

Biden-Harris Administration Boosts Workforce Training in Underserved and Overburdened Communities, Invests Nearly $7.7 Million in Brownfields Job Training Grants under Investing in America Agenda

Michael Lazo — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:32:21 GMT

December 12, 2024

Contact Information

EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of 16 organizations to receive nearly $7.7 million in grants for environmental job training programs across the country. The EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Program grants are funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will help recruit, train, and place workers for community revitalization and cleanup projects at brownfield sites while advancing economic opportunity and environmental justice. EPA Office of Land and Emergency Management Deputy Assistant Administrator Cliff Villa will announce the awards in Wichita, Kansas today alongside grant recipient Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, EPA’s Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister, and the City of Wichita Council Member Brandon Johnson.

“EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Program grants are changing lives and improving communities that have been overburdened by contaminated properties for far too long,” said Cliff Villa, EPA’s Deputy Assistant Administrator for Land and Emergency Management. “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, EPA is helping to create good-paying jobs for low income, unemployed, and under-employed residents who are helping make their communities cleaner, healthier and stronger.”

The Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, the host of today’s event, will provide training in key areas, including asbestos abatement, obtaining a commercial driver’s license for the transportation of hazardous waste, RCRA Hazardous Waste Management, and OSHA 30-hour Occupational Health and Safety for General Industry. This comprehensive training will equip students with the necessary expertise to contribute effectively to their community and empower students with the essential skills needed to tackle and mitigate critical environmental issues within the local community.

Each Brownfields Job Training grant, of up to $500,000, will provide funding to organizations that are working to create a skilled workforce in communities where assessment, cleanup, and preparation of brownfield sites for reuse activities are taking place. Individuals completing a job training program funded by EPA often overcome a variety of barriers to employment. Many are from historically underserved neighborhoods or reside in the areas that are affected by environmental justice issues. All of the FY25 Brownfields Job Training Program applications selected have proposed to work in areas that include disadvantaged communities as defined by the Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool, delivering on President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

Lead and asbestos abatement;

Mold remediation;

Environmental sampling and analysis; and

Other environmental health and safety training.

Today’s selected applicants are:

Groundwork Rhode Island - Pawtucket, RI

Worcester, City of - Worcester, MA

*Groundwork Elizabeth - Elizabeth, NJ

*Montclair State University - Montclair, NJ

*Center for Nonprofit Advancement - Washington, DC

*Groundwork Richmond Virginia - Richmond, VA

*Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - Blacksburg, VA

*Eco Ed Impact Corp - Miami, FL

Southwest Economic Solutions - Detroit, MI

Iowa Western Community College - Council Bluffs, IA

*Saint Louis University - St. Louis, MO

*Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas - Wichita, KS

Groundwork Denver - Denver, CO

*NyE Communities Coalition - Pahrump, NV

*Pocatello, City of - Pocatello, ID

*Tribal Solid Waste Advisory Network - Tekoa, WA

*First-time Brownfields Job Training Program grant recipients.

For more information on the selected Brownfields Job Training Grant recipients, including past grant recipients, please visit EPA’s Grant Factsheet Tool.

Background

President Biden’s leadership and bipartisan congressional action delivered the single-largest investment in U.S. brownfields infrastructure ever. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) invests more than $1.5 billion through EPA’s highly successful Brownfields Program and the funding from this grant cycle comes from this historic investment. This budget boost gives EPA the ability to fund more communities, states, and Tribal Nations. In addition, these entities have the opportunity to apply for larger grants to build and enhance their environmental job training curriculums to support job creation and community revitalization around brownfield sites. Ultimately, this investment will help trained individuals gain access to jobs created through brownfields revitalization activities within their communities.

Since 1998, EPA has awarded 430 grants totaling more than $113 million through Brownfield Job Training Programs. With these grants, more than 23,400 individuals have completed training and over 17,400 individuals have been placed in careers related to land remediation and environmental health and safety. Over the last 5 years, the average starting wage for these individuals is approximately $23 per hour. If your organization is considering applying for or has a question related to Brownfields Job Training Grants, please submit a technical assistance request to EPA.

Please see the Types of Brownfields Funding webpage for more.

EPA $5 Million Brownfields Cleanup Grant to Revitalize Historic Family Services Building in Poughkeepsie

Michael Lazo — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:00:50 GMT

November 20, 2024

Contact Information

Carlos Vega (vega.carlos@epa.gov)

646-988-2996

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency celebrated a nearly $5 million Brownfields cleanup grant to clean up asbestos and perform other critical renovations at the Family Partnership Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. EPA Deputy Administrator Alyssa Arcaya, standing with state and local leaders, emphasized the significance of this grant, made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocates $1.5 billion to the Brownfields Program nation-wide.

“This EPA grant will help clean up asbestos, preserve this historic Poughkeepsie site, and ensure that the critical services provided by Family Services, Inc. continue to benefit the surrounding communities,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The Brownfields Program grants, bolstered by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is a powerful tool for revitalizing communities and promoting economic growth and job creation while supporting environmental health.”

"I am proud to have helped to secure this critical funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to clean up hazardous substances and inorganic contaminants at the historic Family Partnership Center in Poughkeepsie," said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. "This $5 million grant from the EPA’s Brownfields Program will help ensure that residents can continue to access the essential medical, educational, and social services and programs offered by Family Services and its partners. I will continue fighting for more federal funding to safeguard the health and well-being of our communities and promote sustainable economic development across our state.”

“Family Services has forged a critical support system that uplifts Poughkeepsie families at the Center, and its impact is undeniable,” said U.S. Representative Pat Ryan (NY-18). “I’m proud that This nearly $5 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, along with the $1 million I secured earlier this year, will help further the rehabilitation of the building. I’m grateful to have worked alongside community partners and officials at every level of government to secure these funds. I will keep fighting for the resources needed to complete this restoration and allow Family Services to continue expanding its invaluable work in our community.”

Family Services, Inc. will use the grant funds to clean up the Family Partnership Center located at 29 North Hamilton Street in Poughkeepsie. The 110-year-old cleanup site was formerly a Catholic and a public high school. Grant funds will support asbestos removal, building renovations, and the preparation of a public involvement plan and community engagement activities.

Family Services, Inc. bought the building in 1997. The building currently houses Family Services, Inc. and 20 public and private service organizations that provide food and housing support, medical and dental care, mental health services, crisis intervention, education, recreation and enrichment programs to the community. The important cleanup project will ensure environmental justice and the continuation of critical services for residents in Poughkeepsie and surrounding communities.

“The Family Partnership Center has been a beacon of hope and support in Poughkeepsie for decades. This EPA Brownfields grant represents a critical investment in our community, enabling the building to remain a safe and welcoming space for the vital services that over 20 partner organizations provide to our neighbors,” said Leah Feldman, CEO of Family Services. “We are deeply grateful for this support, which will strengthen our ability to meet the critical needs of residents and support everyone’s right to thrive.”

This grant is part of the EPA’s ongoing efforts to support economically stressed communities in New York and across the nation. EPA’s Brownfields Program provides essential resources to help communities clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, attracting jobs, promoting economic revitalization, and creating sustainable, environmentally just neighborhoods.

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before transform sites and address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.

EPA’s Brownfields Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. The Brownfields Program is committed to meeting this goal and advancing environmental justice and equity in all its work.

For more information on EPA’s Brownfields Program visit EPA’s Brownfields webpage.

Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

Click here to read the full article.

Federal agency helps South Bronx neighborhood clean toxic site

Michael Lazo — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:59:34 GMT

MELROSE, The Bronx (PIX11) — A decaying parcel of land in the South Bronx that once housed a dry cleaner has been the source of a years-long toxic battle.

Residents have been pleading with the state to clean up the contaminated site claiming the state hasn’t adequately responded to their calls for action. Residents have now turned to the federal government for help.

Philly’s Bellwether Project and the Challenges of Environmental Remediation

Michael Lazo — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:57:44 GMT

Last fall, developers and local stakeholders held a groundbreaking ceremony at a former refinery on the banks of the Schuylkill River in South Philadelphia. The event celebrated the launch of construction of “The Bellwether District,” a major redevelopment project that will turn a 1,300-acre site previously used for industrial purposes into what developers and elected officials hope will be a thriving hub for logistics, e-commerce, and life sciences uses.

VILLAGE OF NEWPORT AWARDED $479,300 FOR BROWNFIELDS CLEANUP OF FORMER NEWPORT SCHOOL SITE

Michael Lazo — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 14:05:03 GMT

Newport, NY – The Village of Newport has been awarded $479,300 in funding to support the cleanup and redevelopment of the former Newport School site at 7456 East Street. This includes $329,300 from the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District (MVEDD) and $150,000 from Mohawk Valley EDGE (MVEDGE), both as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program. This program, delivered through MVEDGE and MVEDD subgrants, helps communities address environmental hazards on underutilized properties, preparing them for redevelopment and economic growth.

New 'affordable' apartments rising where New Haven's Monarch Laundry once stood on Derby Avenue

Michael Lazo — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:09:27 GMT

NEW HAVEN — The vast concrete foundation at 149 and 169 Derby Ave. will soon rise into the brand-new Monarch Apartment Homes — a building of 64 “affordable” rental apartments for people at or below 80 percent of the area median income.

Solar project in Maine transforms contaminated brownfield

Michael Lazo — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:08:04 GMT

Thirty years in the making, but the site of a former circuit board recycling facility is now generating 7 MW of solar energy and providing power to 960 subscribers.

New York state approves Gloversville's Brownfield Opportunity Area

Michael Lazo — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:06:52 GMT

GLOVERSVILLE — Gloversville officials have unlocked a new weapon against post-industrial blight.

New York state recently expanded access for developers to tap tax credits and funding opportunities for revamping a 922-acre stretch of the city that is home to 47 brownfields.

A step in the right direction: UConn addresses environmental injustice with EPA grant

Michael Lazo — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:12:48 GMT

The Environmental Protection Agency is supporting the University of Connecticut with a five-year $10 million federal grant for an Environmental Justice Thriving Community Technical Assistance Center, according to an Oct. 30 press release by EPA.

Hartford looks to invest $600K in state brownfield funds on mixed-use redevelopment of former Carbone’s Ristorante site

Michael Lazo — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:10:53 GMT

Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam’s administration plans to invest $600,000 toward cleanup of the former Carbone’s Ristorante property on Franklin Avenue, part of an effort to redevelop the site into apartments.

Garfield Mills owner expects to begin apartment construction in coming weeks

Michael Lazo — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 14:11:56 GMT

Nov. 10—NEW LONDON — The owner of a dilapidated, long-vacant former mill property said he expects to begin turning the sprawling structure into apartment units before Thanksgiving.

Final Plan of Remedial Action for Black Oak Development Site OU-1 (DE-1863)

Michael Lazo — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:15:52 GMT

The Department has adopted a plan regarding the clean-up of Black Oak Development Site OU-1 (DE-1863) located at 14241 Black Oak Drive in Lewes. The Site was historically used for agricultural purposes and consists of approximately 24 acres of a larger 77-acre parcel. The site is divided into two operable units, OU-2 will be addressed separately.

New York DEC: 350 Franklin St. brownfield cleanup done

Michael Lazo — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:14:50 GMT

OLEAN — Another Olean brownfield has been cleared of industrial waste dating back almost 150 years.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation reported Wednesday that work at 350 Franklin St. has been completed by owner MJ Painting Contracting Corp., leaving the site ready for redevelopment.

State sues Irvington gas station owner

Michael Lazo — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 13:16:54 GMT

The state attorney general’s office announced that it has reached an environmental justice settlement with owners of a gas station site in Orange and filed a lawsuit against owners of an unrelated site in Irvington.

Philly creates environmental justice mapping tool

Michael Lazo — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 14:39:44 GMT

Over a dozen people gathered at a recreation center in the East Mount Airy neighborhood Monday evening to talk about environmental issues plaguing the area.

The event was the first in a series of workshops led by the city’s Office of Sustainability that will result in Philly’s own environmental justice mapping tool. Officials hope the finished map will identify communities in Philly that are disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards, such as air pollution, and also lack environmental amenities, such as green space.

DEC Solicits Public Comment on United Hospital Contamination Cleanup Plan

Michael Lazo — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 14:40:53 GMT

On Wednesday, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), in consultation with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), formally invited the pubic to comment on the proposed remediation plan for the former United Hospital Site, just over the Rye line in Port Chester, across from the Whole Foods.

City Announces Opening of 2024 Community Resilience and Environmental Justice Funding Opportunity

Michael Lazo — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 14:38:41 GMT

PHILADELPHIA – The City’s Office of Sustainability in partnership with the Philadelphia City Fund, is excited to announce the opening of applications for the Community Resilience and Environmental Justice (CREJ) Fund.

Connecticut Department of Public Health selected to receive $556,000 in a new grant to combat impact of climate change on drinking water infrastructure in Montville, Conn.

Michael Lazo — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 14:41:53 GMT

BOSTON (AUGUST 26, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the selection of the Connecticut Department of Public Health for a $556,000 grant to construct an emergency waterline and pumping station to protect drinking water system infrastructure in Montville, Conn., from drought.

DEP accepting applications for environmental education projects

Michael Lazo — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 15:21:29 GMT

HARRISBURG — The Department of Environmental Protection has made nearly $1 million available for projects that will promote environmental education and stewardship across Pennsylvania. Many of last year’s awardees also supported people in environmental justice communities, communities composed of Pennsylvanians that are more threatened by climate change, air pollution, and water pollution.

DEP Accepting Applications For Environmental Education Projects

Michael Lazo — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 15:24:07 GMT

Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has made nearly $1 million available for projects that will promote environmental education and stewardship across Pennsylvania. Many of last year’s awardees also supported people in environmental justice communities, communities composed of Pennsylvanians that are more threatened by climate change, air pollution, and water pollution.

DEP’s 2025 Environmental Education Grants Program is accepting applications through November 15, 2024. Up to $1,000,000 worth of grants may be awarded for environmental education projects that engage people about clean water and climate change, especially projects that focus on environmental justice areas. Eligible applicants include schools, colleges, nonprofit community and environmental organizations, county conservation districts, and businesses.

“Environmental Education grants are some of the best ways to teach people about the water they drink and the air they breathe. The projects that these grants support strengthen the bonds between people and their environment so they are able to make informed decisions and take responsible actions for their communities,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “These projects are especially important to communities that have been disproportionately impacted by pollution.”

A free 2025 Environmental Education Grants Program webinar will be held on October 10, 2024, from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM. DEP staff will provide proposal tips and instructions for completing required application forms. The program will conclude with a Q&A session. Registration by September 30, 2024, is required: 2025 EE Grants Program Webinar RegistrationOpens In A New Window.

Projects with a local focus may receive up to $5,000 and regional or statewide initiatives may receive up to $30,000. Projects that engage students and teachers from at least 60 Pennsylvania counties at three levels, local, state, and national, may be awarded up to $65,000.

Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis. Projects must be implemented during the period July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026.

Information about the grants program is available at Environmental Education Grants. Electronic applications must be submitted through the Keystone Login (first-time users will need to register).

The Environmental Education Grants Program has supported a wide range of activities from tours and workshops to hands-on field experiences and action projects. Go to 2024 EE Grant Awards for a listing of projects that were awarded funding in Spring 2024.

The Environmental Education Grants program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which mandates setting aside 5% of the pollution fines and penalties DEP collects annually for environmental education in Pennsylvania. Since the program began, more than 2,200 projects, totaling over $14 million, have been awarded grant funds.

DEP Settlement Secures $1.3 Million in Cost Recovery for Beaver County Emergency Cleanup

Michael Lazo — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 15:45:59 GMT

he Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Arxada, LLC have entered into a proposed consent decree in U.S. District Court to recoup costs associated with DEP’s 2019-2020 remediation of the former Pool Doctor-Beaver Alkali Products site in Rochester, Beaver County. Arxada has agreed to pay $1.3 million to resolve DEP’s claims that its predecessor, Lonza, Inc., arranged for the disposal at the site of approximately 140 tons of hydantoin, a hazardous substance, under the guise of a sale.

United States Announces Settlement Resolving Clean Air Act Violations at Medford, Long Island Metal Shredding Facility

Michael Lazo — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 15:44:46 GMT

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Lisa F. Garcia, Regional Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), today announced a settlement with Gershow Recycling Corporation (Gershow) for its alleged violation of the Clean Air Act (CAA) at the company’s metal shredding facility in Medford, New York. Under the Consent Judgment, Gershow will install and operate technology to reduce the facility’s emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The settlement also requires Gershow to pay a civil penalty of $555,000.

DEC Announces $7 Million Settlement to Support Cleanup of C&D Power Systems State Superfund Site in Orange County

Michael Lazo — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:25:43 GMT

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced a $7 million settlement with Avnet, Inc., for costs associated with the remediation of the C&D Power Systems (C&D Batteries) State Superfund Site in the town of Deerpark, Orange County. As part of a recent Order on Consent and Administrative Settlement negotiated by DEC in partnership with the Office of the New York State Attorney General, the former owner and operator of the site will pay $6.3 million towards the cost of remediation activities already underway and $700,000 for Natural Resource Damages (NRD).

U.S. EPA proposes updated plan for New Jersey Superfund Site

Michael Lazo — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 17:09:56 GMT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on a proposed draft update to the 2008 cleanup plan for the Emmell’s Septic Landfill Superfund Site in Galloway Township, New Jersey.

EPA Proposes Updated Cleanup Plan for Emmell’s Septic Landfill Superfund Site in Galloway, NJ

Michael Lazo — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 17:10:50 GMT

July 30, 2024

Contact Information

Stephen McBay (mcbay.stephen@epa.gov)

(212)-637-3672

NEW YORK (July 30, 2024) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public input on a proposed draft update to the 2008 cleanup plan for the Emmell’s Septic Landfill Superfund Site in Galloway Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Based on scientific study and new information, EPA is updating its cleanup plan to address soil contamination at the site that continues to impact groundwater quality.

The 30-day public comment period begins on July 30, 2024. EPA will host a virtual public meeting on August 7, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the proposed plan, which will not be finalized until the agency considers public comments. You can register for the meeting by signing up at this link.

“The EPA encourages people to provide input on its proposal to use several cleanup methods at the Superfund site to further protect the Galloway Township community,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “This updated plan will allow us to effectively tackle the remaining sources of pollution in the soil and ensure the continued protection of the local community.”

The proposed update to the cleanup plan includes several key steps. The EPA will remove soil down to 5 feet and dispose of soil with elevated levels of contamination at a licensed facility off-site. For the remaining deeper soil, which is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the EPA will use treatments that either bind or break down the contaminants and help prevent the contamination from moving off-site. After treatment, the excavated area will be filled with clean soil and replanted.

Additionally, the cleanup update proposes to eliminate the installation of specialized wells that were required under the original cleanup. These wells, called biosparging wells, were designed to inject air into the groundwater, aiding naturally occurring bacteria in breaking down vinyl chloride, a harmful contaminant. However, recent sampling shows that vinyl chloride levels have decreased naturally and because of other remediation efforts at the site, making the biosparging wells unnecessary.

This updated plan builds on earlier efforts by EPA to control groundwater contamination at the site, including the construction of a groundwater pump and treatment system completed in 2010, followed by an expansion of the system in 2012. In 2017, the EPA further refined its cleanup plan by replacing drinking water wells that had been impacted by site-related contamination, and this project was completed in 2022.

Written comments on the proposed plan may be submitted to Joseph Gowers, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007 or via email: gowers.joe@epa.gov.

For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Emmell’s Septic Landfill Superfund site profile page.

Deadline for public input extended for EPA's proposed cleanup plan for the Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site

Michael Lazo — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:42:02 GMT

July 15, 2024

Contact Information

Jo Anne Kittrell (kittrell.joanne@epa.gov)

(857) 262-3789

BOSTON, MASS (July 15, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a plan to clean up the Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site in Farmington, NH. EPA will hold a public meeting to update the community on the proposed remediation plan and a public hearing to accept verbal comments. The deadline to submit written public comments is August 30, 2024.

EPA's proposed plan summarizes risks posed by contamination at the site and presents an evaluation of cleanup options. The proposed plan also includes the Agency's preferred cleanup alternative along with the other cleanup options it considered.

The community is invited to attend the public meeting and hearing in person: 

When: July 16, 2024 - 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.  

Where: Old Town Hall located at 531 Main St in Farmington, NH  

Those interested in attending virtually can register at: www.epa.gov/superfund/collins. One must register before the meeting in order to attend virtually.

EPA has also extended the comment period from 30 to 60 days. EPA will now accept written public comments from July 1, 2024 – August 30, 2024. 

No later than August 30, 2024, please email comments to Hull.Richard@epa.gov, or mail comments to:  

Richard Hull 

EPA Region 1 New England 

5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 

Mail Code: 07-1 

Boston, MA 02109-3912 

Additionally, verbal comments may be made during the formal public hearing immediately following the informational meeting on July 16, 2024.  

Links to Proposed Plan and Administrative Record:

Proposed Plan, 6/26/2024 (pdf) (9.3 MB)

Administrative Record for Proposed Plan

Additional information about the Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site can be found at: www.epa.gov/superfund/collins.   

Background

The Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site (the Site) is comprised of the former Collins & Aikman facility and property, located on two parcels south of NH Route 11 in Farmington, NH: (i) a 96-acre parcel on Davidson Drive; and (ii) a 10-acre parcel located at 56 Davidson Drive (collectively, the Property). The Site also extends into and includes an approximate 152-acre area north of NH Route 11 affected by Site-related contamination, including a groundwater plume. The affected area north of NH Route 11 is roughly bounded by NH Route 11, Pokamoonshine Brook to the north/northwest, and the boundaries of several properties containing the plume to the east.

Most of the 106-acre Property consists of undeveloped wooded areas and contains the concrete foundation/floor of the former 267,000 square foot (ft2) (6.1 acres) manufacturing building, which was demolished in 2010, and the surrounding paved parking areas and driveways for the building. The former actively used area of the Property reportedly occupied approximately 33 acres, and included the manufacturing building, a 60,000-ft2 warehouse, and paved areas.

From 1966 to 2006, operations included the manufacture of instrumentation panel pads bumpers, fascias, and other parts for automobiles and trucks. Manufacturing processes conducted at the facility included polyurethane foam molding, construction of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shells, and the assembly of the finished panels. Painting operations were also conducted at the facility. The manufacturing processes involved the use of solvents, some of which were released to groundwater, soil, and surface water at the facility. Solvents used at the facility reportedly included: acetone, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), methylene chloride, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), tetrachloroethene (PCE), toluene, trichloroethene (TCE), and xylene.

The Site has been the subject of numerous investigations and remedial activities since 1983 when low concentrations of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) were detected in a Town of Farmington municipal drinking water supply well located approximately 3,500 feet northeast and downgradient of the former manufacturing facility. In December 2013, EPA added the Site to the National Priorities List (NPL). Between 2014 and 2024, EPA conducted a remedial investigation of the nature and extent of contamination at the Site, and a feasibility study of remedial options to address the contamination.

EQB proposed regulation #7-575 (IRRC #3409): "Administration of the Land Recycling Program"

Michael Lazo — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 17:46:23 GMT

For your information:

The Environmental Quality Board (Board) published the above-referenced regulation in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on July 13, 2024.

The proposed regulation is available on the Pennsylvania Bulletin website at the following link.

Pa Bulletin (pacodeandbulletin.gov)

The proposed regulation is also available on our website at the following link.

https://www.irrc.state.pa.us/regulations/RegSrchRslts.cfm?ID=3424

The Board is inviting the public to submit written comments on the proposal. Please reference Regulation #7-575 (IRRC #3409) on the correspondence. The deadline for submitting comments to the Board is September 11, 2024.

Please note that all correspondence, public comments, and documents submitted relating to a regulation are a matter of public record and will appear on IRRC’s website – www.irrc.state.pa.us.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you.

Michelle L. Elliott

Regulatory Analyst

717.787.8491 direct line

melliott@irrc.state.pa.us

Independent Regulatory Review Commission

333 Market Street, 14th Floor

Harrisburg, PA 17101

717.783.5417 main line

www.irrc.state.pa.us

Targeted Home Systems to Remove PFAS More Cost-Effective Than System-Wide Solutions

Michael Lazo — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 17:48:41 GMT

Households on public water systems are willing to pay an average of $13.07 a month, or $156.84 annually, on their monthly bills to protect themselves from PFAS — potentially cancer-causing chemicals — according to new research from the University of New Hampshire.

Blighted Sharpsburg brownfield gets $25 million boost in Allegheny Shores transformation

Michael Lazo — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 17:50:54 GMT

Transformation of Allegheny Shores, a 52-acre brownfield along the Allegheny River in Sharpsburg, got a boost of nearly $25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Vermont to spend $4M to revitalize brownfield sites

Michael Lazo — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 12:56:39 GMT

Vermont has committed more than $4 million in grants to cleanup contaminated properties in more than seven communities across the state.

Abandoned CT properties to be converted to hundreds of apartments, creating jobs, officials say

Michael Lazo — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 17:53:03 GMT

Several run-down properties in Connecticut are in the process of transforming into hundreds of apartments and job opportunities, as the state works to fix up everything from old paper and textile mills to former greyhound racetracks.

EPA celebrates nearly $35 million in EPA Brownfield Grants for Massachusetts

Michael Lazo — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 13:11:37 GMT

June 10, 2024

Contact Information

Jo Anne Kittrell (Kittrell.JoAnne@epa.gov)

(617) 918-1822

LOWELL, Mass. (June 10, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, met with Congresswoman Lori Trahan, the town leaders of Clinton, Lawrence and Lowell, other stakeholders, to celebrate their awards from the pot of $34,646,400 in grant awards from President Biden's Investing in America agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Massachusetts while advancing environmental justice.

The town of Clinton received $500,000, the City of Lawrence received $1 million, and the City of Lowell received $5.5 million.

"Brownfields grants are gamechangers—they turn polluted, abandoned sites into thriving community spaces. This isn't just about cleaning up the environment; it's about revitalizing neighborhoods, creating good jobs, and ensuring healthier living for everyone—it's a win-win-win-win-win-win," said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "This additional funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping to transform contaminated properties into valuable community assets, making a real difference for Massachusetts families, especially in the areas that need it most."

"I'm over the moon that we'll be able to invest in our communities, create jobs, and clean up sites across the Commonwealth with this funding," said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. "This is a great win for our environment, our communities, and our kids who are going to reap the benefits for generations to come."

"It's simple—we know that Brownfields grants unlock vital funding to free our towns and cities from dangerous pollution and toxic contamination," said U.S. Senator Edward Markey. "This historic investment will bring cleaner water, land, and air to communities across the Commonwealth and deliver a more livable future with green spaces to work, live, and play."

“I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make long overdue improvements in communities large and small across the Commonwealth," said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. "This federal funding will give Lowell, Lawrence, Clinton, and the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission the resources necessary to complete revitalization projects that will improve life for hardworking families, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen our local economy for years to come."

“The industrial legacy in the Merrimack Valley has resulted in many sites with contaminated soil and groundwater – especially in historically overburdened areas,” said Undersecretary Stephanie Cooper of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is grateful to President Biden and the EPA for providing Massachusetts with increased funding for brownfield cleanups and redevelopments, which will have a transformative benefit in these disadvantaged communities.”

“We are thrilled to announce that the City of Lawrence has been chosen to receive a $1 million dollar grant through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for a Comprehensive Brownfields Multipurpose project,” said Lawrence Mayor Brian A. DePeña. “This grant will enable us to undertake crucial environmental assessments and cleanups, including at important sites like the Bennington Triangle and Florence Street Garage. We are indebted to all our partners and the community for their support and look forward to making this vision a reality."

The Town of Clinton has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Rockbestos-Surprenant Cable Corp. facility located at 172 Sterling Street. The 8.4-acre cleanup site operated as a mill until the 1910s and then as a wire manufacturing facility until 2006 and is currently unoccupied. It is contaminated with petroleum, heavy metals, chlorinated solvents, and inorganic contaminants. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community engagement activities.

The City of Lawrence has been selected to receive $1 million for a Brownfields Multipurpose Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to conduct six Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments, prepare four cleanup plans, and conduct community engagement activities. Grant funds also will be used to clean up four sites, including the Bennington Triangle and Florence Street Garage priority sites. The target area for this project is the area surrounding the Lawrence Manchester Rail Corridor in downtown Lawrence, a 1.4-mile former railroad line slated for redevelopment into a rail trail.

The City of Lowell has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant and $5 million for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law:

The Brownfields Community-wide Assessment Grant funds will be used to conduct four Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments, develop five cleanup plans and five reuse plans, and conduct community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on the City of Lowell's JAM Urban Renewal Plan Area and Hamilton Canal Innovation District. Priority sites include five parcels comprised of former mill and manufacturing sites ranging from .5 to 2.4 acres.

The Brownfields Cleanup Grant will be used to clean up the Veterans of Foreign War Highway at the Beaver Brook site at 644 Aiken, 650 Aiken, and 432 W. Sixth Streets. The 5.7-acre cleanup site consists of three contiguous parcels that include a riverfront, vegetated land with a paved pathway, and a single-story vacant building. Historical information indicates the site was built up with contaminated fill to build a flood control system. The site is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, extractable petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and coal ash. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community engagement activities.

EPA selected 13 communities in Massachusetts to receive 14 grants totaling $25,646,400 in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Grant programs. In addition, the agency is announcing $9 million in supplemental funding to four existing, high-performing Brownfields RLF Grant Programs to help expedite their continued work at sites in Massachusetts.

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA's Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.

To see the list of all FY 2024 Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup applicants selected for funding, visit EPA's FY 2024 Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup Applicants webpage.

Additional Background:

EPA's Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.7 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. Prior to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this program made approximately $60 million available each year. Thanks to the President's historic investments in America through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA has now increased that yearly investment nearly 400 percent. More than half of the funding available for this grant cycle (approximately $160 million) comes from the historic $1.5 billion investment from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This investment has also allowed the MAC grants' maximum award amounts to increase significantly from $500,000 to a new maximum of $5 million per award.

For more information on EPA's Brownfields Program, visit EPA's Brownfields webpage.

Governor Lamont, Senate President Looney, Speaker Ritter Announce $74 Million in State Grants To Support Economic Development in Historically Underserved Communities

Michael Lazo — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:10:12 GMT

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) today announced that the State Bond Commission this morning approved the release of approximately $74 million in state funding to support the fourth round of grants under the Community Investment Fund 2030.

Redding receives federal grant for the environmental cleanup of historic industrial site

Michael Lazo — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 12:55:20 GMT

Redding, Connecticut, is receiving a $1.9 million federal grant to clean up a contaminated former industrial site that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

NYC Changes Permitting Rules to Speed Up Sustainable Housing

Michael Lazo — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 13:25:39 GMT

New York City will release a rule on Monday to speed up the construction of sustainable housing projects, the latest step in the city’s bid to decarbonize its massive building sector.

Downtown Dover receives $1M grant for brownfield sites

Michael Lazo — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:28:36 GMT

DOVER — As the Downtown Dover Partnership (DDP) works to improve its local community, a $1 million Brownfields Multipurpose Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been awarded to support the redevelopment of several downtrodden sites.

$1.5M Headed to Seneca County for Contaminated Property Cleanup

Michael Lazo — Tue, 28 May 2024 13:29:41 GMT

Just over one year has passed since Senator Charles Schumer stood at the site of the former George’s Service Center in Waterloo to announce a plan to clean up contamination of the brownfield site. On Tuesday, during a stop in Geneseo, the Senate Majority Leader announced Seneca County will receive a $1.5 million EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant to assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse contaminated properties across the Finger Lakes.

New York Department of State Announces Grant Funding to Help Communities Identify Brownfield Sites

Michael Lazo — Tue, 28 May 2024 13:27:24 GMT

The New York Department of State today announced grant funding is now available to help communities identify vacant and underutilized brownfield sites. As part of the Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) program, communities can now apply for funding to assess and identify concentrations of brownfields within counties or multi-municipal areas. Previously, the BOA program only funded planning and development efforts, and this round of $2 million in funding includes assessment as a fundable activity. The Department also launched a new video to help communities understand and identify brownfield sites in their areas.

The Meeker Avenue Plume Lurks Beneath North Brooklyn

Michael Lazo — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:42:53 GMT

A reservoir of toxic chemicals lies below hundreds of homes in Greenpoint and East Williamsburg. The feds first need to find out if any dangerous fumes have surfaced, but that means getting property owners on board.

By Samantha Maldonado, Photos by Ben Fractenberg and Alex Krales, The City (NY)

Christine Facella, a homeowner in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, has created a lush urban oasis in her backyard, where she grows eggplants, tomatoes and other vegetables. She even welcomes the raccoons and stray cats that come to visit. But a threat lurks underground. Her brick row house sits on top of a federal Superfund site: the Meeker Avenue Plume.

The Environmental Protection Agency added the plume to its National Priorities List in 2022. A pool of chemicals in the groundwater and soil spans parts of Greenpoint and East Williamsburg in Brooklyn. The EPA wants to eventually clean up the area.

For the entire article, see

https://projects.thecity.nyc/hazard-nyc-meeker-avenue-plume/

Excavation efforts mark new milestone in Hidden Lane Landfill Superfund remediation

Michael Lazo — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:40:48 GMT

February 15, 2024

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 15, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will begin excavation and off-site disposal of the trichloroethylene (TCE) source area next week as part of a remediation phase at the Hidden Lane Landfill Superfund site in Sterling, Virginia.

The excavation, scheduled to start Feb. 20, is the first phase in removing the TCE source area and marks a significant milestone in EPA’s efforts to restore the contaminated site and deliver on the agency’s commitment to protect human health and the environment.

"We're thrilled to begin this next step in the remediation process and bring this site one step closer to being a clean and safe asset for the community," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Region Superfund and Emergency Management Division Director Paul Leonard. "This advancement reflects the hard work and determination of our EPA teammates and our valuable partners' commitment to environmental stewardship. This milestone demonstrates the strength of collaboration and a whole-of-government approach to protect our communities and leave a lasting impact for future generations."

EPA has partnered with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) throughout the investigation and remedy selection process. EPA will continue to oversee the activities and coordinate with local and state agencies to minimize short-term impacts on the community and ensure that environmental and work safety standards are met for a successful and safe cleanup effort.

The excavation phase is expected to be completed later this year.

The Hidden Lane Superfund site is one of many nationwide to receive funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which invested $3.5 billion in environmental remediation at Superfund sites on the National Priorities List.

BIL funding will also connect a public waterline to more than 100 properties for safe drinking water in the nearby Broad Runs Farm community. Construction on the waterline is projected to begin later this year.

Once the excavation phase is complete, EPA will advance to the next phase, which includes using a below-ground treatment technology known as in-situ bioremediation and chemical reduction of the source material in groundwater.

EPA will continue to host public meetings to provide updates on the cleanup process and address any questions or concerns from the public.

Community members are encouraged to email r3-hidden.lane@epa.gov with any questions or concerns that they may have regarding the Superfund site cleanup process.

Visit the Hidden Lane Landfill Superfund site page for more information.

National Grid supports WNY revitalization and growth with $1 million in economic development grants

Michael Lazo — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:38:55 GMT

National Grid is supporting revitalization and growth in Western New York by providing more than $1 million in economic development grants to regional businesses that are redeveloping brownfield sites and historic buildings, repurposing abandoned and dilapidated properties, turning vacant stores into affordable housing units, renovating space to create a permanent home for a nonprofit organization, and more.

Maine legislature rejects groundwater protection bill amid corporate lobbying

Michael Lazo — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:47:29 GMT

In a significant legislative decision, Maine's lawmakers voted against a bill aimed at limiting groundwater extraction, influenced by Poland Spring's lobbying efforts.

EPA Plans Tightening of Rules on ‘Forever Chemicals’ To Combat Health and Environmental Threats

Michael Lazo — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:45:17 GMT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its intention to tighten regulations on hazardous waste, specifically targeting nine ‘forever chemicals’ under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

What’s in the ground at Allentown State Hospital site? City Center submits cleanup plan to DEP

Michael Lazo — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 16:49:19 GMT

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Environmental concerns are the latest hurdle developers must clear as plans progress to transform the former Allentown State Hospital site into a $1 billion mixed-use community.

Attorney General Clark names environmental highlights of 2023

Michael Lazo — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:20:44 GMT

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today announced highlights from the Office’s Environmental Protection Unit during her first year in office.

“Vermont’s natural environment and natural resources are part of who we are as a state. I am proud of my office’s role in upholding Vermont’s environmental laws and protecting our environment for future generations,” said Attorney General Clark.

EPA Requires Toxics Release Inventory Reporting for Seven Additional PFAS

Michael Lazo — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 17:17:47 GMT

January 9, 2024

Contact Information

EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the automatic addition of seven per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of chemicals covered by the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).

TRI data is reported to EPA annually by facilities in designated industry sectors and federal facilities that manufacture, process, or otherwise use TRI-listed chemicals above set quantities. The data include quantities of such chemicals that were released into the environment or otherwise managed as waste. Information collected through TRI allows communities to learn how facilities in their area are managing listed chemicals. The data collected is available online and helps to support informed decision-making by companies, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the public, and advances the Biden-Harris commitments to ensuring environmental justice through improved accountability and transparency for families, workers, and communities across the country.

The addition of these seven PFAS helps to further the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to address the impacts of these forever chemicals, and advances EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap to confront the human health and environmental risks of PFAS.

“With these additions to the Toxics Release Inventory, we’ll be collecting data on the release and management of almost 200 PFAS in communities across the country, furthering our efforts to better understand and protect people from these chemicals,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “We’ll also share this information with the public, empowering communities to engage with the facilities using these chemicals to prevent or reduce pollution.”

These seven PFAS were added to the TRI list pursuant to the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which provides the framework for the automatic addition of PFAS to TRI each year in response to specified EPA activities involving such PFAS. For TRI Reporting Year 2024 (reporting forms due by July 1, 2025), reporting is required for these seven additional PFAS, bringing the total PFAS subject to TRI reporting to 196.

Addition of PFAS with final toxicity values

The 2020 NDAA includes a provision that automatically adds PFAS to the TRI list upon the Agency’s finalization of a toxicity value. Six PFAS were automatically added for Reporting Year 2024 due to EPA having finalized a toxicity value during 2023. Only these particular salt forms of the acids are added to the list.

Ammonium perfluorohexanoate; Chemical Abstract Service Registration Number (CASRN) 21615-47-4

Lithium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl] azanide; CASRN 90076-65-6

Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA); CASRN 307-24-4

Perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA); CASRN 422-64-0

Sodium perfluorohexanoate; CASRN 2923-26-4

1,1,1-Trifluoro-N-[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl] methanesulfonamide; CASRN 82113-65-3

Addition of PFAS no longer claimed as confidential business information

Under NDAA section 7321(e), EPA must review confidential business information (CBI) claims before adding a PFAS to the TRI list if the chemical identity is subject to a claim of protection from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552(a). EPA previously identified one PFAS for addition to the TRI list based on the NDAA’s provision to include specific PFAS upon the NDAA’s enactment. However, due to CBI claims related to its identity, this PFAS was not added to the TRI list at that time. The identity of this chemical was subsequently declassified in an update to the Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory in February 2023. Because its identity is no longer confidential, the following chemical was added to the TRI list:

Betaines, dimethyl(.gamma.-.omega.-perfluoro-.gamma.-hydro-C8-18-alkyl); CASRN 2816091-53-7

As of January 1, 2024, facilities that are subject to reporting requirements for these chemicals should begin tracking their activities involving these PFAS as required by Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Reporting forms will be due by July 1, 2025.

These seven newly added PFAS, along with the previous 189 TRI-listed PFAS, are also subject to EPA’s action in October 2023 to classify all PFAS subject to TRI reporting as chemicals of special concern. Among other impacts, this removes the use of a reporting exemption that allowed facilities to avoid reporting information on PFAS when those chemicals were used in small concentrations.

Read the article here...

New Year, (Likely) New Remediation Standards–NJDEP Kicks Off 2024 With Proposed Ground Water Quality Standards

Michael Lazo — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 17:21:53 GMT

On Jan. 2, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) rang in the new year by publishing a Proposed Rule updating the Ground Water Quality Standards (GWQS) for 65 of the 73 constituents currently regulated for Class II-A groundwater. As most readers know, the department uses the GWQS as base standards for the remediation of groundwater contamination. For most ongoing and future cleanups, the updated GWQS will apply. For previously closed sites, the impact of the Proposed Rule will depend on a number of factors, including (1) whether any of the contaminants with updated standards still exist and (2) whether the updated standards resulted in an order of magnitude change.

DEC and NYSERDA Release Draft Disadvantaged Communities Investments and Benefits Reporting Guidance for New York State Entities

Michael Lazo — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 16:09:24 GMT

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today released draft guidance for State entities to inform the investments and benefits reporting on compliance with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (Climate Act) requirement that a minimum of 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the State’s clean energy investments benefit disadvantaged communities. The draft Disadvantaged Communities Investments and Benefits Reporting Guidance is a blueprint for reporting energy efficiency and clean energy programmatic investments by State entities in disadvantaged communities and will advance consistency and transparency in complying with the Climate Act’s equity provisions.

CT DEEP Releases Draft Release-based Cleanup Regulations to Working Group for Review, Comments Due February 6, 2024

Michael Lazo — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 16:19:10 GMT

Here is an Environmental Law Alert from one of BCONE’s annual sponsors, Pullman & Comley.

Is Connecticut’s Transfer Act Going Away Anytime Soon? No, But Progress Is Being Made

The Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 20-09 in the fall of 2020 with the promise that the Connecticut Transfer Act would be abolished in favor of a released-based, rather than a transaction-based, remediation program. Under Public Act 20-09’s terms, once the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) adopts release-based regulations pursuant to section 22a-134tt of the General Statutes, the Transfer Act will cease to apply to future transactions in Connecticut; only those sites already in the Transfer Act program will need to be remediated in accordance with the Transfer Act’s requirements.

DEP Seeks Project Applications For $5 Million Beaver County Environmental Mitigation Community Fund

Michael Lazo — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 16:07:21 GMT

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced that the Beaver County Environmental Mitigation Community Fund steering committee has finalized a protocol implementation plan, which establishes the advisory board’s role in executing projects.

EPA to hold public hearing to accept comments on proposed amended cleanup plan for the Linemaster Switch Corp. Superfund Site in Woodstock

Michael Lazo — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 16:05:02 GMT

EPA to hold hybrid public hearing on January 10 in Woodstock, Conn.

January 3, 2024

Contact Information

Mikayla Rumph (rumph.mikayla@epa.gov)

(617) 918-1016

WOODSTOCK, CONN. (Jan. 3, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be holding a hybrid public hearing on the amended Proposed Plan for the cleanup of the Linemaster Switch Corp. Superfund Site in Woodstock, Conn on January 10, 2024.

Public Hearing: January 10, 2024, 7:00 p.m. until all comments are heard.

In-person: Woodstock Middle School Cafeteria, 147B Route 169, Woodstock, CT 06281

Virtually: epa.gov/superfund/linemaster.

During the public hearing, EPA will be accepting oral comments on the preferred remedial alternative identified in the Proposed Plan. No new information will be presented at the hearing. The Proposed Plan presents EPA's proposed changes to the current (ongoing) remedy for the site.

In a 1993 Record of Decision, EPA selected a cleanup plan for the entire site. This remedy required the construction and operation of a groundwater and soil vapor extraction system within the "source area," as well as the extraction and treatment of contaminated groundwater outside the source area (i.e., downgradient areas). Despite 25 years of active site remediation, and evidence that the concentration of contaminants is declining, significant impacts to the soil and groundwater remain. As a result, EPA is proposing to amend the 1993 Record of Decision. The proposed revised remedy includes additional treatment of contaminated soil, as well as modifying the existing groundwater extraction and treatment system. The proposed amended remedy is estimated to cost approximately $11.4 million and is estimated to take approximately one to two years to design and implement.

EPA will be accepting public comments on the Proposed Plan until midnight January 12, 2024. EPA will formally respond to all comments, both written and oral, received during the comment period in a responsiveness summary which will be part of the formal record. EPA will then release its Amended Record of Decision.

More Information on the Public Comment Opportunity:

EPA's Proposed Plan for Linemaster Site, its Administrative Record File, as well as other site related documents and other technical documents related to the site, are available for review online at EPA's webpage: epa.gov/superfund/linemaster.

The Woodstock Town Hall can be used as an access point for EPA's Linemaster Switch Corp. Superfund Site webpage.

EPA's Records Center is located within EPA's regional office at 5 Post Office Square in Boston, Mass. EPA's Records Center is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To make an appointment to view the records at EPA's regional office, please call at (617) 918-1440.

If you would like a copy of the Proposed Plan mailed to you, contact Charlotte Gray at gray.charlotte@epa.gov or (617) 918-1243.

Submit your comments during the 30-day public comment period on the Proposed Plan no later than midnight January 12, 2024 by mail, hand delivery/courier, or email to:

John Bryant, Remedial Project Manager

Linemaster Switch Corp. Superfund Site

U.S. EPA New England

5 Post Office Square, Suite 100

Mail Code: 7-MI

Boston, MA 02109

Email: Bryant.John@epa.gov

Phone: (617) 918-1375

The public hearing on January 10, 2024 is another opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed amended remedy. All verbal comments will be recorded and become part of the official record.

If you have questions on the comment period, please contact:

Charlotte Gray, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, by email at Gray.Charlotte@epa.gov or by phone at (617) 918-1243.

Background

The 92-acre Linemaster Switch Corp. Superfund Site houses a former manufacturing facility in Woodstock, Conn. that produced electrical and pneumatic foot switches and wiring harnesses. As part of the manufacturing operations, several chemicals were used at the site including trichloroethene (TCE). Due to the remaining contamination from the previous manufacturing operations, the site was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List in February of 1990. A cleanup plan for the site was selected in a 1993 Record of Decision. Since then, cleanup activities have included the installation of soil and groundwater treatment systems.

More information

Linemaster Switch Corp. Superfund Site Profile Page

Lamont: Nearly $1M grant to help develop former New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum site

Michael Lazo — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 16:03:43 GMT

The office of Gov. Ned Lamont said late Tuesday that he would on Wednesday announce plans to redevelop the site of the former New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum and construct a 277,435-square-foot “Class A life sciences and tech office building” there.

State awards $630k to eastern CT towns for brownfield assessment - why this is a good thing

Michael Lazo — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 19:59:52 GMT

Possibly contaminated sites in four eastern Connecticut towns are part of a statewide initiative to clean up those sites so that they can be reused for other purposes.

Governor Ned Lamont’s Office announced on Dec. 18 that $7.2 million in grants statewide would be distributed to help the remediation and assessment of 713 acres of blighted properties in nine towns, including the four eastern Connecticut towns of Griswold, Sprague, Putnam and Lisbon, according to the press release.

Biden-Harris administration, EPA select Fordham University to receive $50M to fund environmental justice projects

Michael Lazo — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 20:01:20 GMT

Last week, as part of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a $50 million Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant for the Bronx’s Fordham University to serve as a Regional Grantmaker.

Former Norton Co. buildings under demolition, 51-acre site to be reclaimed, redeveloped

Michael Lazo — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 20:11:50 GMT

By Craig S. Semon, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (KA)

If you're driving along Interstate 190 and glance at the Saint-Gobain industrial campus in the Greendale section of the city, you may notice that some of the long-standing factory buildings that used to be the home of the old Norton Co. are being demolished.

Not only are the buildings being leveled, the demolition project is also part of the largest brownfield reclamation project ever in Massachusetts and quite possibly New England, according to Worcester Business Development Corp. President Craig L. Blais.

Right now, just for the reclamation, just for the cleanup and the demolition and all the infrastructure, we're over $50 million just to get this site ready,? Blais said. ?And then this would be upward of $500 million once it's all redeveloped. So this is a big deal.?

For the entire article, see

https://www.telegram.com/story/business/real-estate/2023/12/16/former-norton-co-site-under-demolition-site-to-be-redeveloped/71933866007/

Governor Hochul Says Yes to the Lead Pipe Right to Know Act

Michael Lazo — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 20:02:30 GMT

On December 19, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.5512 / A. 6115, known as the “Lead Pipe Right to Know Act.”

Lead is a poisonous heavy metal that causes significant adverse health effects, particularly in children, and experts agree that there is no safe level of lead exposure. You can’t see, smell, or taste lead, which is why it is important to know about whether lead may be present in your drinking water.

Danbury to receive $200,000 state grant for assessment of blighted property

Michael Lazo — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 20:07:29 GMT

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has approved the release of $7.2 million in state grants that will be used to support the remediation and assessment of blighted properties in nine municipalities across Connecticut, consisting of 713 acres of land. The funds will support these communities with investigating and cleaning up these properties so they can be redeveloped and put back into productive use to support economic growth.

Governor Lamont Announces $7.2 Million in State Grants To Support the Remediation and Assessment of Blighted Properties in Nine Municipalities

Michael Lazo — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 20:06:12 GMT

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has approved the release of $7.2 million in state grants that will be used to support the remediation and assessment of blighted properties in nine municipalities across Connecticut, consisting of 713 acres of land. The funds will support these communities with investigating and cleaning up these properties so they can be redeveloped and put back into productive use to support economic growth.

New Haven, East Hartford, others will share $7.2M in state brownfield remediation funding

Michael Lazo — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 20:04:17 GMT

Gov. Ned Lamont has approved the release of $7.2 million in state grants that will be used to support the remediation and assessment of blighted properties in nine municipalities across Connecticut.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD RECEIVES $500K FOR ENVIRONMENTAL-JOB TRAINING

Michael Lazo — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 20:09:55 GMT

UTICA, N.Y. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $500,000 to the Workforce Development Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties for environmental-job training programs.

EPA Releases Annual Report Showing Steady Progress to Protect Communities from PFAS Pollution

Michael Lazo — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 14:41:20 GMT

EPA Releases Annual Report Showing Steady Progress to Protect Communities from PFAS Pollution

Report highlights key EPA accomplishments to safeguard public health and the environment from dangerous ‘forever chemicals’

December 14, 2023

Contact Information

U.S. EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its second annual report on PFAS progress, which highlights significant accomplishments achieved under its PFAS Strategic Roadmap and aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s all of government strategy to protect communities from the impacts of forever chemicals. The report outlines key accomplishments under the Roadmap over the past year across three fronts– to restrict, remediate, and research PFAS – all centered on achieving fundamental health protections for the American people.

“This PFAS Roadmap progress report illustrates EPA’s ongoing commitment to protect people from the harmful effects of forever chemicals,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “By combining science-based solutions, historic funding, and impactful regulations, EPA is following through on the vision set out in our Roadmap – to protect people, achieve environmental justice, and improve the lives of hardworking families across America.”

“One thing is clear: Americans don’t have to choose between clean air, land, and water or a prosperous, vibrant, and secure nation,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox and co-chair of EPA’s Council on PFAS. “As our whole of agency progress clearly illustrates, we are protecting people’s health while catalyzing research and innovation, fueling new markets and jobs, and prioritizing equitable infrastructure and treatment solutions for all people in this country.”

Key 2023 accomplishments include efforts to:

Make PFAS use safer: EPA finalized rules for new PFAS reporting, issued a framework for reviewing PFAS to ensure they are used as safely as possible, and proposed to eliminate exemptions for new PFAS and to restrict certain legacy PFAS.

Hold polluters accountable: EPA has proposed to list PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA, the nation’s Superfund law, and anticipates issuing a final rule in early 2024. This action would give the agency the power to improve transparency around PFAS releases, help ensure that polluters pay for treatment and cleanup, and help communities that are facing significant pollution quickly receive effective protections. In the last year, EPA also took important steps to stop PFAS polluters, including adding PFAS as an EPA enforcement and compliance priority from 2024-2027.

Protect America’s drinking water and identify the scale of exposure: EPA proposed the first national drinking water standard for six PFAS in March 2023. Once final, this rule will save thousands of lives and prevent tens of thousands of avoidable illnesses. EPA expects to finalize the rule in early 2024. Also, to better understand where PFAS exist and how people are being exposed to them, EPA initiated nationwide monitoring for 29 PFAS at more than 10,000 public water systems under the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. Results are posted publicly each quarter through EPA’s website.

Deploy infrastructure funding to invest in infrastructure projects to address PFAS in water: Many communities need to install new infrastructure and treatment technologies to address PFAS in drinking water and wastewater. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), EPA is providing $10 billion dedicated to removing PFAS and other emerging contaminants – more than half of which is going to disadvantaged and underserved communities. In 2023, EPA distributed nearly $1 billion through the BIL State Revolving Fund Emerging Contaminants programs and announced the first $2 billion in grant funding to states, Tribes, and territories through the new Small or Disadvantaged Communities Emerging Contaminants grant program. These programs also advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

Turn off the tap at industrial polluters: EPA has taken several steps to use permitting and regulatory authority of the Clean Water Act to reduce PFAS pollution in our nation’s waters– including specific regulations to limit PFAS discharges from PFAS manufacturers, metal finishers, and landfills.

Incorporate equity and environmental justice across the EPA’s actions: The EPA has worked to ensure that all communities have equitable access to solutions, to advance the goals of President Biden’s Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, and to integrate recommendations from the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

Advance the science: The EPA has continued to build the scientific foundation on PFAS through research and development. The agency is investing in research to fill gaps in our understanding of PFAS, to identify which additional PFAS may pose human health and ecological risks at which exposure levels, and to develop methods to test, measure, remove, and destroy them.

Listen to communities and incorporate environmental justice: EPA held listening sessions with community members impacted by PFAS in each of its 10 Regions, as well as a session specifically designed for Tribal partners. Feedback shared during these sessions, in coordination with recommendations from EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council and Local Government Advisory Committee, is informing Agency-wide response efforts and helping to ensure that communities with environmental justice concerns have equitable access to information and solutions.

A Whole-of-Government Effort

As EPA advances critical work using its authorities and resources, it is doing so as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to protect public health and the environment from PFAS. This coordinated effort, spearheaded by the White House, involves key collaborations. The Council on Environmental Quality leads a high-level interagency policy group focused on PFAS policy actions and the Office of Science and Technology Policy leads an interagency expert working group of federal technical and scientific leaders. Through these efforts, EPA and its partners are increasing interagency coordination and advancing work on research, analytical methods, contaminated site cleanup, and other areas.

Looking ahead to 2024, the EPA anticipates continuing its 2023 progress with several critical actions, including finalizing national drinking water standards for several PFAS; taking final action to list certain PFAS as hazardous substances under CERCLA; proposing Effluent Limitation Guidelines for PFAS manufacturers; issuing guidance on destroying and disposing of PFAS; finalizing new methods to monitor for PFAS in a wide range of media; and proposing rules designating certain PFAS as hazardous constituents under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The agency also expects to continue engaging closely with its state partners, who are actively working to address PFAS issues in their communities.

Together, these and other commitments will complement and reinforce each other; hold polluters accountable; and empower communities, water systems, and state partners to protect the American people more effectively from the risks posed by PFAS exposure.

Read the full report.

Herkimer County IDA awarded $270,000 in Brownfield Opportunity Area grant funding

Michael Lazo — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 16:05:54 GMT

Herkimer County, New York – The New York State Department of State has awarded the Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency (HCIDA) with $270,000 in Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) grant funding. Herkimer County is estimated to contain 150 brownfields including 52 documented contaminated sites, impacting over 450 acres in the county’s urban centers. This funding allows the HCIDA to complete a county-wide pre-planning inventory and analysis of brownfield-affected areas within Herkimer County.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Major Grant to Recruit and Train Harlem, New York Workers for Community Revitalization and Cleanup Projects as Part of Investing in America Agenda

Michael Lazo — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 14:43:11 GMT

The Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast was pleased to partner with The City College of New York on this initiative.

Latest funding for EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Grants is supported by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and will boost workforce training in underserved and overburdened communities

December 8, 2023

Contact Information

Carlos Vega (vega.carlos@epa.gov)

(646) 988-2996

NEW YORK (December 8, 2023) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of Research Foundation of the City College of New York to receive a total of $500,000 for environmental job training programs as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The grants through EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Program will help recruit, train, and place workers for community revitalization and cleanup projects at brownfield sites across New York.

This initiative is set to provide specialized environmental job training for 84 students, with a goal to place at least 64 graduates in relevant roles.

The comprehensive training program will encompass 136 hours of instruction, covering key areas such as 40-Hour HAZWOPER, 30-Hour OSHA for Construction, 10-Hour Site Safety Training, ASTM Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, and Green Infrastructure I and II. Successful completion of the program will result in students earning up to two federal certifications.

The Research Foundation of the City College of New York is specifically targeting students within the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. This includes underemployed, unemployed, and potentially previously incarcerated residents, providing them with an opportunity to gain valuable skills and improve their employment prospects.

This initiative is supported by key partners including the New York City Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation, Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast, New York City Brownfield Partnership, New York State Department of Labor, Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, New York City Administration for Children’s Services, Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Living Redemption Community Development Corporation, Silicon Harlem, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Athenica Environmental Services, and Roux Associates Inc.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is having a powerful, real-world impact on the ground, creating good-paying jobs and revitalizing communities,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has supercharged our Brownfields program, enabling EPA to invest in the next generation of environmental workers to take on the much-needed work of cleaning up legacy pollution in communities across America.”

“EPA is thrilled to award this grant to CCNY and its partners to help train and prepare the next wave of local workers for opportunities in the Brownfields sector,” said EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “Through the cleanup and revitalization of brownfield sites, communities can put underutilized properties back to good use. Reclaiming these sites benefits the community and its residents, our economy, and our environment.”

“This is a win-win: investing in getting youth the hands-on skills they need to get good-paying jobs and helping clean up our communities from Utica to NYC,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “I am proud to help deliver this federal funding, which will help train hundreds of students in New York for environmental jobs, and I will never stop fighting to address environmental justice issues faced by New York’s underserved communities.”

“Environmental research is critical to our future and the sustainability of our communities. I was proud to help secure this funding in Congress and commend the EPA for awarding the Research Foundation of the City College of New York with this significant investment,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat. “Investing today will provide vital training and job opportunities for 84 students in Harlem, empowering them to pursue careers in the environmental field, while helping to bolster their future as well as our planet."

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “President Biden, EPA Administrator Regan, and EPA Region 2 Administrator Garcia recognize the importance of growing New York’s environmental workforce to protect public health and help revitalize communities. DEC applauds the Biden-Harris Administration for awarding the Research Foundation of the City College of New York and the Workforce Development Board of Herkimer, Madison, and Oneida Counties to help create brighter futures for New Yorkers, particularly those from underserved communities, and we look forward to continuing to work with local, state, and federal partners to advance workforce development opportunities across the state.”

These grants will provide funding to organizations that are working to create a skilled workforce in communities where assessment, cleanup, and preparation of brownfield sites for reuse activities are taking place. Individuals completing a job training program funded by EPA often overcome a variety of barriers to employment and many are from historically underserved neighborhoods or reside in the areas that are affected by environmental justice issues.

High-quality job training and workforce development are an important part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advance economic opportunities and address environmental justice issues in underserved communities. All of the FY24 Brownfields Job Training Program applications selected have proposed to work in areas that include disadvantaged communities as defined by the Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool, delivering on President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative which aims to deliver at least 40% of the benefits of certain government investments to underserved and overburdened communities.

Under the Brownfields Job Training Program, individuals typically graduate with a variety of certifications that improve their marketability and help ensure that employment opportunities are not just temporary contractual work, but long-term and high-quality environmental careers. This includes certifications in:

Lead and asbestos abatement,

Hazardous waste operations and emergency response,

Mold remediation,

Environmental sampling and analysis, and

Other environmental health and safety training

For more information on the selected Brownfields Job Training Grant recipients, including past Grant recipients, please visit EPA's Grant Factsheet Tool.

Background

President Biden’s leadership and bipartisan congressional action have delivered the single-largest investment ever made in U.S. Brownfields infrastructure. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests more than $1.5 billion through EPA’s highly successful Brownfields Program, which is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by the legacy pollution at brownfield sites. Today’s funding for Brownfields Jobs Training grants comes from this historic investment, which is allowing more communities, states, and Tribes to access larger grants to build and enhance the environmental curriculum in job training programs to support job creation and community revitalization at brownfield sites. Ultimately, this investment will help trained individuals access jobs created through Brownfields revitalization activities within their communities.

Since 1998, EPA has announced 414 grants totaling over $100.5 million through Brownfield Job Training Programs. With these grants, more than 21,500 individuals have completed training and over 16,370 individuals have been placed in careers related to land remediation and environmental health and safety. The average starting wage for these individuals is over $15 an hour.

For more information on this, and other types of Brownfields Grants, please visit EPA’s Brownfields webpage.

State Republicans urge DEP to withdraw updated environmental justice policy

Michael Lazo — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 16:07:50 GMT

Several Pennsylvania Republicans slammed an updated environmental justice policy recently put into effect by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that they say will increase costs and slash new investments and jobs.

High levels of toxic chemical found at G.W. Lisk site in Clifton Springs

Michael Lazo — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 16:09:47 GMT

Finger Lakes Times (NY)

The G.W. Lisk Co. manufacturing site in Clifton Springs has been identified by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as having dangerously high levels of trichloroethene (TCE), a toxic chemical used in industrial processes.

The DEC's Region 8 office in Avon, after reviewing a Remedial Investigation Report prepared by the company, has determined that the site poses a significant threat to public health and the environment due to the elevated levels of TCE in the groundwater, according to the Finger Lakes Times.

The report highlighted that the levels of TCE found in the site's overburden groundwater are 340 times higher than the state's permissible limits, measuring at 1,700 micrograms per liter.

For the entire article, see
https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2023/11/29/high-levels-of-toxic-chemical-found-at-g-w-lisk-site-in-clifton-springs/<https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2023/11/29/high-levels-of-toxic-chemical-found-at-g-w-lisk-site-in-clifton-springs/>

Remedy proposed for Newburgh brownfield site contamination

Michael Lazo — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 16:50:05 GMT

Mid-Hudson News (NY)

A proposed environmental plan for the more than 15-acre brownfield site called ?5 Scobie Drive? in the City of Newburgh has been proposed.

The vacant land abounded by the Newburgh City DPW property, a tributary of Gidneytown Creek and a commercial facility, operated as an unpermitted landfill from the late 1940s until around 1976 and has not been closed in accordance with the State Department of Environmental Conservation solid waste regulations.

According to the DEC, it reportedly accepted municipal and possibly industrial and incinerator waste.

For the entire article, see

https://midhudsonnews.com/2023/11/27/remedy-proposed-for-newburgh-brownfield-site-contamination/

Remediation Guidance And Policy Documents

Michael Lazo — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 16:47:43 GMT

Program Policies issued by the Division of Environmental Remediation (DER) include Technical and Administrative Guidance Memorandums (TAGMs), Spill Technology and Remediation Series (STARS), Spill Prevention Operations Technology Series (SPOTS) and the Spill Guidance Manual (SGM). These guidance series are being updated and replaced by the DER series (DER-#).

EPA Region 3 Awards More Than $109M for Water Infrastructure Upgrades in West Virginia

Michael Lazo — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 16:45:28 GMT

New funding will ensure communities have access to clean waterways and safe drinking water

November 29, 2023

Contact Information

(r3press@epa.gov)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will award West Virginia $109.88 million to support improvements to water systems and access to safe drinking water across the state. Most of the funding—$93.15 million—comes from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which is the largest federal investment in water infrastructure in our nation’s history. This BIL funding will supplement $16.73 million in FY 23 funding assigned to West Virginia’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs).

“These awards show that EPA is not just a regulator – but is a funder and partner,” said EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ensures communities most in need and those grappling with emerging contaminants such as PFAS have access to funding that will deliver cleaner and safer water for generations to come.”

EPA awards grants to states annually to capitalize the State Revolving Funds (SRFs) which provide low or no interest loans for water infrastructure projects. West Virginia will use this money to help communities across the state fund necessary water projects that some borrowers may not have been able to afford otherwise. Proposed projects for this funding are listed in the states intended use plans.

“Thanks to the dedicated leadership of Governor Jim Justice and the support from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, West Virginia, in cooperation with our federal partners, is set to make significant strides in enhancing our wastewater systems and ensuring safe drinking water for all our residents," said West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Harold Ward. "Governor Justice's proactive approach and collaboration with federal initiatives have been pivotal in securing these funds. The increased funding will not only address immediate needs, but lays the foundation for a healthier, more sustainable future for communities of need throughout our state."

The BIL delivers more than $50 billion to EPA to improve our nation’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure - the single largest investment in water that the federal government has ever made. Learn more about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

For more information on intended projects for this Drinking Water SRF funding in West Virginia, please visit: https://oehs.wvdhhr.org/eed/infrastructure-capacity-development/intended-use-plans/. For information on intended projects for this Clean Water SRF funding, please visit: https://dep.wv.gov/WWE/programs/SRF/Pages/default.aspx.

Governor Hochul Announces More Than $23 Million for Key Community Economic Development Programs

Michael Lazo — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:55:17 GMT

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced over $23 million has been awarded to support 101 communities across the state through part of Round XIII of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. The award will help promote smart, sustainable and equitable community planning, development and construction of projects that focus on accessible economic, community, environmental and recreational improvements in all New York’s regions.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2 Billion to Fund Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants as Part of Investing in America Agenda

Michael Lazo — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:53:33 GMT

EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights announces the largest single investment in environmental justice in history, funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act

November 21, 2023

Contact Information

EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON — Today, the Biden-Harris administration announced approximately $2 billion in funding available to support community-driven projects that deploy clean energy, strengthen climate resilience, and build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Community Change Grants are the single largest investment in environmental justice going directly to communities in history, and will advance collaborative efforts to achieve a healthier, safer, and more prosperous future for all. These funds, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, are made possible by the President’s Inflation Reduction Act—the biggest-ever investment in clean energy and climate action.

“Throughout my Journey to Justice tour, I’ve heard from residents and advocates calling for resources to support local solutions in communities that have long been overlooked and forgotten,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today, thanks to President Biden’s commitment to investing in communities that have long struggled to access federal funding, we are delivering on these calls to action. This historic, unprecedented funding has the promise to turn disadvantaged and overburdened areas into healthy, resilient, and thriving communities for current and future generations.”

“For far too long, communities that have borne the brunt of power plant and industrial pollution have been left out and left behind,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation. “The Inflation Reduction Act and President Biden’s Justice40 initiative change that by bringing new investment, clean energy, and good-paying jobs to disadvantaged communities.”

“President Biden is leading a whole-of-government effort to confront longstanding environmental injustices and inequities,” said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. “Thanks to this historic funding covered under the President’s Justice40 Initiative, we are investing in locally-driven solutions to make a positive difference for communities that have suffered from pollution, underinvestment, and decades of disproportionate environmental impacts. Investments like these show how we are delivering on the President’s ambitious environmental justice agenda and his commitment to build more equitable and resilient communities for generations to come.”

The Community Change Grants deliver on President Biden's historic commitment to advance equity and justice, including his Justice40 Initiative. The Community Change Grants will deliver 100 percent of the benefits of this program to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. This program also dedicates $200 million of Inflation Reduction Act funding to provide technical assistance to applicants and grant recipients, which will enhance the ability of disadvantaged communities to access resources for environmental and climate justice activities.

The activities to be performed under the grants are expected to fall under the following categories:

Climate resiliency and adaptation.

Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events.

Community-led air and other (including water and waste) pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation.

Investments in low- and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure.

Workforce development that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.

Reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution.

Facilitating the engagement of disadvantaged communities in state and federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes.

The Community Change Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), administered through the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR), has several unique characteristics to advance environmental and climate justice, many of which are responsive to feedback and input the agency has heard from communities. These include:

Rolling Applications: The NOFO will be open for a year, closing on November 21, 2024, and EPA will review applications on a rolling basis. This allows applicants to utilize technical assistance and possibly resubmit a new application if not initially selected. EPA encourages applicants to apply as early as possible.

Two-track Submission Processes: Applications can be submitted under two separate tracks depending on the project scope and funding requested.

Track I, Community-Driven Investments for Change, is expected to award approximately $1.96 billion for 150 projects for $10-20 million each.

Track II, Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance, is expected to award approximately $40 million for 20 projects for $1-3 million each.

Oral Presentations: Track I applicants may also be invited to participate in an oral presentation. These oral presentations will enable EPA reviewers to hear directly from the applicants and their partners to learn more about community priorities, desired outcomes, and plans for long-term sustainability. This new format is responsive to community requests to engage with EPA in more accessible ways.

Target Investment Areas: Out of the $2 billion in funding, EPA has identified five Target Investment Areas (TIA) to help ensure that communities with unique circumstances, geography, and needs can equitably compete for funding. These are:

Tribes in Alaska: $150 million for projects benefitting Indian Tribes in Alaska including funds for cleanup of contaminated lands.

Tribes: $300 million for projects benefitting Tribal communities in the other states.

Territories: $50 million for projects benefitting disadvantaged communities in the United States’ territories of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities: $50 million for projects benefitting small and rural areas that lack fixed, legally determined geographic boundaries, such as Colonias.

U.S.-Southern Border Communities: Consistent with EPA’s longstanding commitment to addressing transborder pollution challenges, $100 million for projects benefitting non-Tribal disadvantaged communities within 100 kilometers north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Technical Assistance: The $200 million for technical assistance is available in direct response to feedback from communities and environmental justice leaders who have long called for capacity building support for communities and their partners as they work to access critical federal resources. With this funding, there are two TA programs dedicated for the Community Change Grants. Applicants can learn more about, and express interest in, the technical assistance on EPA’s Community Change Grants Technical Assistance webpage.

Read the Community Change Grants NOFO.

OEJECR will also host multiple informational webinars while the NOFO is open, with the first being held on December 7, 2023. These webinars will address questions, and some may facilitate the formation of partnerships and information sharing. More information on upcoming webinars can be found on EPA’s Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program webpage.

Learn more about environmental justice at EPA

Learn more about Inflation Reduction funding at EPA

For up-to-date information about the NOFO, including information on the webinars, subscribe to the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights’ listserv by sending a blank email to: join-epa-ej@lists.epa.gov. Follow OEJECR on X (formerly Twitter): @EPAEnvJustice.

Background

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) created the Environmental and Climate Justice Program, the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history when it was signed into law by President Biden on August 16, 2022. Under this program, EPA was provided $3 billion to award grants and fund related technical assistance to benefit disadvantaged communities.

Earlier in 2023, EPA issued a Request for Information, held a dedicated consultation with EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, and hosted multiple webinars to gain public input on innovative strategies and approaches for competition design, community engagement, equitable distribution of financial resources, grantee eligibility for funding, capacity-building and outreach, and more. This feedback was crucial in designing key elements of the Community Change Grants and this NOFO, including the Target Investment Areas, incorporating oral presentations, the rolling application period, and more. EPA thanks everyone for their incredibly valuable time and input, which ensured the creation of a more inclusive and accessible grant program.

From Power Plant to Industrial-Strength Campus in PA

Michael Lazo — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:52:22 GMT

The Portland Generating Station in Upper Mount Bethel, Pa., opened in 1958 and operated as a coal-fired power plant until 2015 when the facility’s boilers were shut down under a court agreement with then-owner NRG Energy. The reason? Pollution and environmental concerns. Since then, the plant remained dormant, “as an eyesore on the Delaware River,” according to Lou Pektor, president of River Pointe Commerce Park, the company that took over the 162-acre site and the adjacent 640 acres in 2021 with the intent to build a massive industrial campus over the next decade.

Ringwood Mines Superfund site surface contamination cleanup mired in delays

Michael Lazo — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:33:02 GMT

By Daviid M. Zimmer, NorthJersey.com

Nearly two years since the delayed $18 million surface contamination cleanup started at the Ringwood Mines Superfund site, a finish line remains months away.

The project, which started in November 2021 and was expected to take one year to complete, has been mired in delays stemming from faulty survey data. Officials at de maximis inc., the firm hired by Ford Motor Co. to coordinate the cleanup, said work could nonetheless resume on the soil cap for the borough-owned O?Connor Disposal Area landfill later in October or November, records show.

Geotextile caps have already been installed at the site's two other areas of concern, the Cannon Mine and Peter's Mine pits. Used along with the disposal area to dump paint sludge, chemical solvents and other toxic waste from Ford?s former Mahwah factory, the pits were initially part of a working network of iron mines.

For the entire article, see
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/ringwood/2023/10/16/ringwood-mines-superfund-site-delays-surface-cleanup/71147910007/

EPA selects cleanup plan for Keddy Mill Superfund Site

Michael Lazo — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 19:30:16 GMT

October 17, 2023

Contact Information

Vikram Lakshmanan (lakshmanan.vikram@epa.gov)

(617) 918-1017

BOSTON (Oct. 17, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected a cleanup plan for the Keddy Mill Superfund site, located on Depot Street in Windham, Maine. EPA will clean up the soil, sediment, and groundwater at the site.

The cleanup plan is based on EPA's Remedial Investigation Report, human health and ecological risk assessments, the Feasibility Study, and comments received on EPA's Proposed Plan during a 30-day public comment period. This cleanup plan is formally called a Record of Decision.

"EPA's cleanup plan for the Keddy Mill Superfund Site is a strong effort to ensure the health and safety of community members, protecting them for generations to come." said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Cleaning up Superfund sites helps us ensure that no community, no family, and no child has to face exposure to chemicals and other dangerous substances in their day to day lives."

"The Town is very pleased with the recently approved comprehensive cleanup plan and remedial alternatives for the Keddy Mill Superfund Site. Working with the EPA, local residents and the State to achieve this milestone in planning the restoration for this site is exciting. This plan protects the human health or welfare of residents, the environment from actual or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants into the environment." said Windham Town Manager Barry Tibbetts.

"The Maine DEP is pleased to continue working with our partners at EPA and the citizens of Windham to address historical contamination at the Keddy Mill, eliminating the threats to public health and the environment and returning the property to a productive future," said Maine Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Melanie Loyzim.

EPA's cleanup plan will take two to four years to design and execute and will take place after the significant completion of a Removal Action to demolish the mill complex and associated structures. The cleanup plan includes the following components:

Excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil and debris from the Mill Complex property;
Targeted treatment of soil (within the footprint of the excavation) with amendments in support of groundwater cleanup;
In situ (in place) treatment of groundwater contaminants;
Excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated sediments from the Presumpscot River;
Treatment of water generated from soil and sediment dewatering and removed from excavations based on applicable water discharge standards, as required;
Restoration of the portions of the Presumpscot River altered by the remedial action;
Land use restrictions to prevent exposure to site-related contaminants in groundwater and fish tissue until cleanup levels are met,
Inspections and operation and maintenance;
Monitoring of groundwater and fish tissue to evaluate the achievement of cleanup levels; and
Five-Year Reviews to assess the protectiveness of the remedy.

EPA estimates that the total cost of this portion of the project, including construction, operation and maintenance, and long-term monitoring, will be around $17 million.

Background

EPA added the Keddy Mill Superfund Site to the Superfund National Priorities List in 2014. The site consists of a 6.93-acre abandoned mill complex property, located at 7 Depot Street (the Mill Complex Property), an adjacent reach of the Presumpscot River, and associated riparian properties in Windham, Maine.

The site has a long history, with operations beginning in the late 1700s and ending in 1997. The building that will be demolished and removed was used as a grist and carding mill, pulp mill, box-board manufacturing facility and as a steel mill. Throughout the industrial history, several buildings have been demolished and others added to the mill complex. The site has contamination from various hazardous substances, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons.

More information:

A copy of the cleanup plan, the Administrative Record supporting the cleanup plan, and other background information about the Keddy Mill Superfund Site can be found at: www.epa.gov/superfund/keddy

The Windham Public Library, located at 217 Windham Center Road, Windham, Maine 04062 (phone: 207-892-1908) can be used as a point of access to reach the online Administrative Record for the site. If you would like a copy of the cleanup plan mailed to you, please contact EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, Charlotte Gray, at gray.charlotte@epa.gov or 617-918-1243. toll-free 1-888-372-7341 ext. 8-1243.

Record of Decision Administrative Record:
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.ars&id=0106078&doc=Y&colid=67421&region=01&type=AR

Budget Cuts Threaten Slower Cleanup of Toxic PFAS in Maryland and Nationwide

Michael Lazo — Sun, 15 Oct 2023 19:35:02 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Environmental advocates have expressed concerns that proposed budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may slow down the cleanup of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” in public drinking water and military sites, both in Maryland and across the United States.

Brownfield opportunity grants available for New York communities

Michael Lazo — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:41:30 GMT

Decades ago, many upstate downtown areas were hotbeds for economic activity. Today you can find those same areas with old, vacant buildings with many opportunities for growth.

The state works with communities to provide funding through the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program.

EPA Celebrates Historic Brownfields Investments with Greater Pittsburgh Area Grantees

Michael Lazo — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:39:58 GMT

October 12, 2023

Contact Information

R3 Press (r3press@epa.gov)

PITTSBURGH (October 12, 2023) - Following a May announcement that over $14 million in Brownfields funding was being awarded in Pennsylvania, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz joined local environmental and community leaders in Pittsburgh today to celebrate the historic investment.

Awarded through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Program, the North Side Industrial Development Company (NSIDC) and the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh (YPA) will collectively invest $1 million in the Greater Pittsburgh area to conduct 30 Phase I and 23 Phase II environmental site assessments, prepare seven cleanup plans, and conduct community outreach and engagement activities that will help transform sites back into safe and productive reuse.

“EPA’s Brownfields grants have transformed neighborhoods across the country, and thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Allegheny County is seeing more money than ever invested in assessing and cleaning up abandoned properties,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “These assessment grants are often the first step towards cleaner, greener, and safer spaces and EPA is proud to play a role in that.”

Announced at a site on Perrysville Avenue in the Perry Hilltop Neighborhood of the City, EPA joined leaders from NSIDC and YPA, along with city, county, and local stakeholders to celebrate this investment and look towards the future. The site, while presently vacant, is expected to one day be a community center and day care. As part of the Urban Development Authority’s Avenues of Hope program, Perrysville Avenue will also leverage federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to transform the corridor into a vibrant, safe, diverse, and culture-rich hub.

"Our team at NSIDC is very excited to continue our economic development work utilizing this $500,000 EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant throughout the Pittsburgh region. It's these types of investments from the Federal Government that allows forgotten communities to be a part of equitable growth of the economy," said Juan Garrett, Executive Director, North Side Industrial Development Company.

As part of President’s Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle out – EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental reutilization in historically overburdened communities.

“Young Preservationists Association (YPA) is honored to stand with EPA as a conduit of these resources that will be of service to so many. Our sincerest thanks go to the Mayor of McKeesport, Mike Cherepko, and his team for their partnering with us on this important work and for their belief in our mission of economic development through historic preservation. In addition to our thanks to the EPA we would also like to thank our Board of Directors and the Allegheny Foundation for their kind and generous support," said Matthew Craig, Executive Director of the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh.

"This monumental investment by the EPA in the Greater Pittsburgh area underscores the importance of collective action, converging government and community organizations, to revitalize and repurpose our brownfield sites. As we witness these funds coming into our communities, we are not just seeing the physical transformation of neglected spaces, but also sewing the seeds of opportunity, sustainability, and environmental justice into the very fabric of our neighborhoods. It is crucial that we continue to channel our energies and resources into initiatives like the MARC Grant Program, ensuring that all communities, especially those that have borne the brunt of economic and environmental disparities, are given the chance to flourish. The collaborative work we engage in today is paving the way for a greener, more equitable tomorrow for the people of Western Pennsylvania,” said U.S. Congresswoman Summer Lee.

Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfield sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places.

“The EPA Brownfields Program is a great example of what happens when government and non-profits work together to provide economic re-birth to neighborhoods and communities that have long been neglected. Thanks to the Biden Administration, who believe that stabilization and expansion of communities take place from the bottom up and middle out this initiative is possible. I can’t wait to see what develops through the initial investment by the North Side Industrial Develop Company (NSIDC) and Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh (YAA). Through reclaiming land and putting it to good use, we reclaim neighborhoods and residents,” said Mayor of Pittsburgh Ed Gainey.

EPA Visits Brownfields Job Training Site in Pittsburgh; Highlights Conservation Work

Michael Lazo — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:38:55 GMT

EPA Brownfields Job Training Grants, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, build a skilled environmental workforce in overburdened communities

October 12, 2023

Contact Information

R3 Press (R3press@epa.gov)

PITTSBURGH (October 12, 2023) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz visited the Beechview-Seldom Seen Greenway in Pittsburgh today to witness firsthand the work of Landforce, a land stewardship and workforce development organization.

EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz stands with Brownfields Job Training Grant Program graduates.

Landforce is one of two Allegheny County organizations selected by EPA for funding under its fiscal year 2023 Brownfields Job Training Grant competition. EPA selected Landforce and Auberle to each receive approximately $500,000 to recruit, train, and retain local, skilled individuals. The recruitments will prioritize unemployed or under-employed adults who have faced barriers to stable, family- sustaining employment.

“The Brownfields Job Training Grant Program not only improves communities, it has the power to change lives,” said EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz.“Graduates develop the skills needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment in the environmental field - a win across the board.”

Established in 2015, Landforce has received a total of $700,000 from two EPA brownfield remediation and workforce development multi-year grants to recruit and train adults with barriers to employment, using a rigorously designed curriculum that covers both hard and soft skills, combined with actual employment stewarding Pittsburgh's degraded lands.

In the past eight years, Landforce has trained 147 people and brought 126 of them on as crew members. In addition to this year’s job training grant, they are also the recipient of a $149,336 Solid Waste Infrastructure Grant, which will allow them to divert 625 tons of urban wood waste annually from landfills.

“We’re grateful for federal investments from our partners at US EPA for helping us turn a vision into a reality. With these funds, not only can we continue our current programming - we can now expand to year-round opportunities. In addition to job training, our portfolio will now include the full life cycle management of trees, diverting wood waste from landfills, and giving fallen trees new life,” said Ilyssa Manspeizer, Ph.D. Executive Director, Landforce.

Based in McKeesport, Auberle plans to train 130 students and place at least 95 in environmental jobs amongst their 130 employing partners and 100 referral agencies through the region. The training program includes 115 hours of instruction in 40-Hour HAZWOPER, 32-Hour Asbestos, Lead Renovation and Repair, Confined Space Entry, OSHA-10, Bloodborne Pathogens, and CPR/ First Aid. Students who complete the training will earn up to one state and seven federal certifications. Auberle is targeting students within Allegheny County, specifically chronically underemployed, unemployed, and at-risk individuals.

“Auberle’s Brownfields Job Training Program changes lives by putting local people to work in places that have been impacted by industry, helping to revitalize their own communities while lifting themselves and their families out of poverty. We are grateful to the EPA for providing this impactful funding,” said Abby Wolensky, Auberle’s Director of the Employment Institute.

"Witnessing the EPA Brownfields Job Training Grants unfold at the Beechview-Seldom Seen Greenway is symbolic of the transformative, hands-on environmental and employment work occurring in Pittsburgh. Organizations like Landforce and Auberle are making our communities stronger and more resilient. They're cleaning up our environment and, at the same time, giving people who need jobs the training they need to get them. It's about taking care of our neighborhoods and each other at the same time. This is not only a revitalization of our lands, but a direct investment in our people, providing them not just with jobs, but with careers that uplift them, their families, and our communities. Together, we're fixing our environment and giving people good, strong job skills for the future. What we're doing now in Allegheny County and all over the region will make things better for our kids and grandkids, and I'm excited to help heal our environment and our neighbors at the same time," said U.S. Congresswoman Summer Lee.

Background:

President Biden’s leadership and bipartisan Congressional action have delivered the single-largest investment in U.S. brownfields infrastructure ever through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invests more than $1.5 billion over five years through EPA’s highly successful Brownfields Program. The Brownfields Jobs Training Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver at least 40 percent of the benefits of certain government programs to disadvantaged communities.

The EPA’s Brownfields Job Training (JT) grant program is a unique employment and training program. The grants allow nonprofit and other eligible organizations to recruit, train, and retain a local, skilled workforce by prioritizing unemployed and under-employed, including low-income individuals living in areas impacted by solid and hazardous waste in environmental jobs. Students learn the skills and credentials needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment in the environmental field, including brownfields assessment and cleanup. These jobs reduce environmental contamination and build more sustainable futures for communities. Communities have the flexibility to deliver eligible training that meets the local labor market demands of the environmental sector in their communities.

Since 1998, EPA has awarded 400 job training grants. With these grants, more than 20,600 individuals have completed training and over 15,300 individuals have been placed in careers related to land remediation and environmental health and safety.

Learn more on EPA’s Brownfields Program.

ZIP code discrimination, pollution top concerns at DEP meeting on environmental justice policy

Michael Lazo — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:36:20 GMT

Air quality, interagency collaboration, and community investments were among the chief concerns shared by Pennsylvanians about the commonwealth’s interim environmental justice policy at a public meeting Wednesday evening.

A Former Iron Ore Mine in the Adirondacks Will Be Repurposed for Renewable Energy

Michael Lazo — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 19:44:41 GMT

New York is rapidly transitioning to an electricity system powered by renewable energy sources. This transformation requires suitable locations to install solar arrays and wind turbines, as well as responsible renewable project siting that balances clean energy development with other land uses, especially conservation and agriculture.

UConn Brownfields Program Gets New Federal Grant

Michael Lazo — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 19:42:47 GMT

TORRS, CT — A $5M cooperative agreement grant from awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will assist a team of faculty and staff members at the University of Connecticut with continuing to provide technical assistance to communities encountering "the challenges of assessment, cleanup, and revitalization at brownfield sites," officials said.

Partially developed 12 MWac brownfield solar site up for auction in New York

Michael Lazo — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:46:04 GMT

The 111.5 acre former iron ore mine has undergone zoning and interconnection work by New York’s NYSERDA team to minimize risks associated with developing projects on sites that the state deems ideal for hosting solar power projects.

EPA Finalizes Cleanup Plan for Lehigh Valley Railroad Derailment Superfund Site in Genesee County, New York

Michael Lazo — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:49:50 GMT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its cleanup plan to address contaminated groundwater, soil, bedrock, soil vapor and surface water at the Lehigh Valley Railroad Derailment site located in LeRoy, New York. EPA held a public meeting on August 29, 2023, to explain the proposed plan to the community and take comments. The finalized plan, released today, addresses the remaining contamination from the historic train accident that spilled trichloroethylene (TCE) onto the ground and caused the groundwater contamination.

We handled the most immediate threats by working with the state to remove contamination and connect people to a safe source of drinking water, said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. This final cleanup plan addresses the last of the contaminated legacy of this derailment and turns the page to the final chapter of our work at this site.

The site includes the location of a former train derailment that occurred on December 6, 1970, at the Gulf Road crossing in the Town of LeRoy. Two tank cars ruptured and spilled approximately 30,000 gallons of TCE onto the ground. A third car containing a crystalline form of cyanide was also reported to have partially spilled. The cyanide was recovered shortly after the derailment, however the TCE was flushed with water, and it seeped into the ground, resulting in a 4-mile-long plume of TCE contamination. EPA placed the site on the Superfund List in 1999 and has been addressing the site in several stages, including an early removal response, as well as remedial actions known as operable units (OUs), where EPA worked with the state on a waterline and oversaw vapor mitigation work in affected homes and a soil cleanup in the spill area.

For the entire release, see

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-finalizes-cleanup-plan-lehigh-valley-railroad-derailment-superfund-site-genesee <https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-finalizes-cleanup-plan-lehigh-valley-railroad-derailment-superfund-site-genesee

DEP Environmental Justice meetings begin this week. Here’s how to participate

Michael Lazo — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:48:33 GMT

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is kicking off a series of meetings beginning this week to gather input from the public on the interim environmental justice policy adopted by the agency on Sept. 16.

EPA Awards $5M Grant to Support UConn’s Technical Assistance for Brownfields Program

Michael Lazo — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:47:06 GMT

With support from a $5M cooperative agreement awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a team of faculty and staff at the University of Connecticut will continue providing technical assistance to communities encountering the challenges of assessment, cleanup, and revitalization at brownfield sites while protecting public health and promoting environmental justice.

Elevated TCE levels found in Providence classroom

Michael Lazo — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:51:39 GMT

by Melanie DaSilva, WPRI TV-12 News (Providence, RI)

A classroom at Jorge Alvarez High School has been temporarily closed due to high levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) being detected in the air.

The school was built on the site of a former silver factory, and specific locations in the building are tested each month.

In an email sent to parents on Sunday, Superintendent Javier Montañez and Principal Nathan Biah said TCE was found in classroom 116.

…

For the entire story, see

https://www.wpri.com/health/elevated-tce-levels-found-in-providence-classroom/

EPA opens $235 million in grants to assess and clean brownfield sites

Michael Lazo — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 19:31:42 GMT

On September 26, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $235 million in grants available under EPA’s Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) program. These grants will help counties assess and clean up polluted and vacant brownfield sites, including sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, or petroleum.

DEC Releases Draft Policy for Evaluating and Averting Disproportionate Impacts of Permitting Actions on Disadvantaged Communities

Michael Lazo — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 19:37:39 GMT

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the release of a new draft policy to implement environmental justice provisions of the historic Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act). The proposed Division of Environmental Permits Policy "Permitting and Disadvantaged Communities (DEP-23-1)" is available for public comment until Nov. 27, 2023, and provides guidance in DEC's permitting processes for considering impacts and existing burdens on New York's most vulnerable communities.

Cleanup of Parks Township nuclear waste dump to begin in 2025, last 7 years

Michael Lazo — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 20:15:28 GMT

The Army Corps of Engineers is preparing the nuclear waste dump in Parks Township for remediation, which is slated to begin in spring 2025 and last about seven years.

'Knock it Down' Mayor Carstarphen Says of Radio Lofts Building

Michael Lazo — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 20:16:44 GMT

CAMDEN – Windows are without glass and open to the elements. Small trees sprout from some of the 10 floors of the building. Graffiti mars exterior and interior walls. And pollution in the former radio factory that is believed to have been absorbed into the masonry may be just one of many environmental hurdles.

Pennsylvania DEP Publishes Final Interim Environmental Justice Policy

Michael Lazo — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 20:14:10 GMT

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP or the Department) has issued a new environmental justice (EJ) policy (Interim Final EJ Policy)—published as an interim final policy effective on 16 September 2023—that will materially impact how and when major environmental permits are issued in Pennsylvania and also impact enforcement of environmental laws in EJ areas.

State DEC Developing Plan To Address Mayville’s Contaminated Soil

Michael Lazo — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 20:18:04 GMT

MAYVILLE – After bad firefighting foam was used at the former Mayville High School, the village’s well system was unknowingly polluted with chemicals, causing the village to shut down its public wells.

NYS announces start of construction on 65-unit affordable senior housing development in Buffalo

Michael Lazo — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:21:06 GMT

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the start of construction on Mt. Olive Senior Manor, which will create 65 affordable apartments for adults aged 55 and older, including 20 apartments with supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness. The $27 million development builds upon the state’s $50 million investment in the east Buffalo community.

New Milford seeks CT grant to assess brownfields for riverfront revitalization project

Michael Lazo — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:19:46 GMT

NEW MILFORD — At the urging of the Riverfront Revitalization Committee, New Milford is applying for state funding to assess the brownfields in the town’s riverfront area as part of a future improvement project.

Governor Hochul Announces Start of Construction on 65 Unit Affordable Senior Housing Development in East Buffalo

Michael Lazo — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 20:12:39 GMT

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of construction on Mt. Olive Senior Manor which will create 65 affordable apartments for adults aged 55 and older, including 20 apartments with supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness. The $27 million development builds upon the state’s historic $50 million investment in the East Buffalo community.

EPA Rule for State Water Pollution Authority Destined for Court

Michael Lazo — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 20:10:46 GMT

An EPA rule finalized last week that restores states’ veto power over pipelines and other major river-polluting projects is expected to face legal challenges before the dust settles, natural resources attorneys say.

Remediation at Superfund site outside Easton ‘protective of human health,’ review finds

Michael Lazo — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 20:09:19 GMT

Federal environmental officials say steps to remediate contamination from an unlined, former landfill bordering South Side Easton continue to be “protective of human health and the environment.”

NJDEP boosts Palmyra's former flea market site as viable location

Michael Lazo — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 20:04:04 GMT

By Alex Murphy, Burlington County News (NJ)

The township has dubbed the 182-acre plot of land next to Palmyra's Cove Nature Park "a ticking time bomb."

The site, which has frontage on Route 73, had at one time more than 300 unexploded military weapons known as ordnances. During World War II, the U.S. Army operated a testing range for anti-tank artillery on the property and associated operations extended onto surrounding properties.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) took notice, designating it a Brownfield Development Area, which the department defines as "a property whose expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant."

For the entire article, see
https://thesunpapers.com/2023/09/10/njdep-boosts-palmyras-former-flea-market-site-as-viable-location/<https://thesunpapers.com/2023/09/10/njdep-boosts-palmyras-former-flea-market-site-as-viable-location

To create more housing, some CT towns turn to old mills

Michael Lazo — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 20:06:50 GMT

A new influx of federal money is helping towns like Vernon turn old mills into housing, part of a long-term plan to alleviate the state’s housing crisis and clean up blight in downtowns, officials said Thursday.

Potential brownfield opportunity area and federal Opportunity Zone tax credits available in the City of Lackawanna

Michael Lazo — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 20:05:19 GMT

For over 80 years, the former Bethlehem Steel Corporation operated one of the country’s largest steel plants in the city of Lackawanna, New York. Although the Lackawanna Plant ceased operations some 40 years ago, one of the legacies of the past industrial use is several hundred acres of developable land serviced by road, rail and water, which is positioned to take advantage of New York State’s lucrative Brownfield Clean Up Program (BCP) cash-back tax incentives and federal Opportunity Zone (FOZ) tax benefits.

DEP To Host Public Meeting On Bishop Tube Site In East Whiteland Township, Chester County

Michael Lazo — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 14:31:01 GMT

On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will host an in person public meeting to discuss the Bishop Tube Hazardous Site Cleanup Act (HSCA) site in East Whiteland Township, Chester County and implementation of the response action. The meeting will be held between 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM in the auditorium of the General Wayne Elementary School located at 20 Devon Road, Malvern, PA 19355. The DEP will present its remediation plan and a panel of experts will answer the public's questions

In September 2022, DEP filed a remediation plan that addresses Trichloroethene (TCE), its breakdown products, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), certain heavy metals, and other contaminants in soil, groundwater and surface water. The plan also provided for a public water connection to a private homeowner in June 2023. The site will be remediated in accordance with Pennsylvania's Land Recycling Program, which aims to return contaminated properties back to productive use while preserving farmland and other natural resources.

DEP selected a combination of on-site chemical injections, soil mixing, engineering practices, institutional controls, and long-term monitoring to address the soil, groundwater, and surface water contamination. The injection of chemical reducing agents creates a chemical reaction that destroys harmful contaminants and produces harmless byproducts. These remedial response actions will be conducted in place, without having to excavate soil or pump out groundwater for aboveground cleanup. .

For the entire release, see
https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/DEP_details.aspx?newsid=1799 <https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/DEP_details.aspx?newsid=1799>

DEP Releases Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy

Michael Lazo — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 14:29:54 GMT

The Shapiro administration recently released its Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy (“Interim Final Policy“), along with a link to the latest Environmental Justice Mapping and Screening Tool (“PennEnviroScreen”). The Interim Final Policy is due to go into effect when the final version is published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, which is expected to take place on September 16, 2023.

Now ‘an eyesore,’ Westford mill building to soon address contamination, approach redevelopment

Michael Lazo — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 14:27:50 GMT

WESTFORD — Westford’s last abandoned mill building will move closer to redevelopment after the town secured $500,000 in federal funding for the site.

EPA works to develop community advisory group for contaminated New Castle Superfund site

Michael Lazo — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 14:51:21 GMT

The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking the input of New Castle community members on a cleanup effort at a contaminated waste dump.

Saint-Gobain Closing Merrimack Plant Amid PFAS Criticism

Michael Lazo — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 15:00:10 GMT

By Ani Freedman, In Depth NH

Saint-Gobain, a French manufacturing company that has been the epicenter of PFAS pollution in southern New Hampshire since 2016, has just announced it will be closing its Merrimack facility.

The closure comes just as Saint-Gobain was approved for a controversial air permit last week by the NHDES. Saint-Gobain has been at the center of public scrutiny after PFAS chemicals were discovered in Merrimack water supplies in 2016. Since 2018, the company has been involved in remediation efforts to supply bottled water and implement filtration systems after coming to an agreement with the DES.

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics will continue to work closely with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services on the ongoing environmental investigation and remediation effort, including providing bottled water and permanent alternate water, as appropriate, within the Consent Decree area,? Saint-Gobain said in a news release.

For the entire article, see
https://indepthnh.org/2023/08/23/saint-gobain-closing-merrimack-plant/# <https://indepthnh.org/2023/08/23/saint-gobain-closing-merrimack-plant/#>

DEC: Environmental Justice Community Engagement Report released

Michael Lazo — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 14:52:59 GMT

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and non-profit partners Center for Whole Communities (CWC), Rights and Democracy Institute, and the Vermont Law School Environmental Justice Clinic recently released an Environmental Justice Community Engagement Report. The report presents on-the-ground community research and data collection that will support DEC and other state agencies and non-profits in conducting their community outreach with an environmental justice lens.

EPA Invites Public Input on Proposed Cleanup Plan for Lehigh Valley Railroad Superfund Site in Genesee County, New York

Michael Lazo — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:02:17 GMT

Contact Information

Mike Basile (basile.michael@epa.gov)

646-369-0055

NEW YORK - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on its proposed cleanup plan to address contaminated groundwater, soil, bedrock, soil vapor and surface water at the Lehigh Valley Railroad site located in LeRoy, New York. A 30-day public comment period for the proposed plan begins on August 18, 2023. EPA will host a public meeting at Caledonia Mumford High School auditorium, 99 North Street, Caledonia, NY on August 29, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. to explain the new cleanup proposal. EPA’s proposed plan for the Lehigh Valley Railroad site will address the remaining contamination from a historic train accident that spilled trichloroethylene (TCE) onto the ground and into the groundwater.

The site includes the location of a former train derailment that occurred on December 6, 1970, at the Gulf Road crossing in the Town of LeRoy. Two tank cars ruptured and spilled approximately 30,000 gallons of TCE onto the ground. A third car containing a crystalline form of cyanide was also reported to have partially spilled. The cyanide was recovered shortly after the derailment, however the TCE was flushed with water, and it seeped into the ground, resulting in a 4-mile-long plume of TCE contamination. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in 1999 and has been cleaning the site in several stages, including early removal responses, as well as remedial actions known as operable units (OUs).

The cleanup outlined in today’s proposed plan will address the groundwater, bedrock, soil, soil vapor, and surface water. For the groundwater contamination, EPA has determined that no existing treatment methods can clean up the groundwater to meet standards in a reasonable time. Therefore, EPA proposes to monitor the groundwater and use institutional controls (ICs) to limit its use and protect people’s health over the long term.

The proposed plan also includes:

Removing remaining contaminated soil and disposing of it off-site, followed by backfilling with clean fill.
In-situ treatment of contaminated surface water with streambed cover, ICs, and monitoring.
Monitoring groundwater, surface water, soil vapor and indoor air to check the levels of contaminants.
Maintaining and installing vapor mitigation systems for properties that are affected by soil vapor intrusion from the groundwater plume. These systems prevent harmful vapors from entering indoor spaces.
Connecting new homes built over the groundwater plume to the public water supply system. Existing homes over the plume were connected to the public water system in 2003.
ICs in the form of governmental controls, proprietary controls (e.g., easements in the spill area), and informational devices (e.g., notices, publications) to limit exposure to contaminated groundwater and soil vapor.

EPA also proposes changes to a 1997 cleanup plan to eliminate source control measures including bedrock vapor extraction, to update the surface water standard for TCE, and to address soil contamination beneath Gulf Road by implementing ICs to restrict access and to require proper soil management if the roadbed is disturbed in the future.

Written comments on the proposed plan may be mailed or emailed to Maria Jon, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Email: jon.maria@epa.gov.

For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Lehigh Valley Railroad Superfund site profile page.

EPA Announces Federal Enforcement Priorities to Protect Communities from Pollution

Michael Lazo — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 21:05:22 GMT

New priorities tackle modern challenges including climate change, PFAS, coal ash, air toxics, drinking water contamination, and chemical accidents, all with a focus on achieving environmental justice

August 17, 2023

Contact Information

EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives for 2024-2027, including for the first time initiatives to mitigate climate change, address exposure to PFAS contamination, and protect communities from cancer-causing coal ash. To advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to protect disadvantaged communities, EPA also will integrate environmental justice considerations into each of its National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives.

Every four years, across administrations, EPA selects enforcement and compliance priorities so that the agency and its state partners can prioritize resources to address the most serious and widespread environmental problems facing the United States. In addition to climate change, PFAS contamination, and coal ash initiatives, EPA is modifying its Clean Air Act initiative to focus on hazardous toxic air pollution in overburdened communities in each EPA region and is continuing its drinking water and chemical accident prevention initiatives that began under prior administrations.

“EPA’s new national initiatives address urgent 21st century environmental problems, while upholding the rule of law to level the playing field for law-abiding companies and promoting a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance David M. Uhlmann. “Working closely with our state partners, EPA enforcement efforts will mitigate climate change and limit exposure to the scourge of PFAS contamination, while addressing the reality that, for too long in the United States, the worst effects of pollution have plagued overburdened communities.”

In selecting initiatives for the FY 2024-2027 cycle, EPA used three criteria to evaluate existing initiatives and to consider new initiatives: (1) the need to address serious and widespread environmental issues and significant noncompliance, particularly in overburdened and disadvantaged communities; (2) a focus on areas where federal enforcement authorities, resources, and/or expertise are needed to hold polluters accountable and promote a level playing field; and (3) alignment with the EPA’s broader Strategic Plan, which includes tackling the climate crisis and advancing environmental justice.

The 2024-2027 National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives are:

Mitigating Climate Change - Tackling the climate crisis is an urgent priority. EPA will use its enforcement and compliance tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping to limit the worst effects of climate change. The initiative will focus on three separate and significant contributors to climate change: (1) methane emissions from oil and gas facilities; (2) methane emissions from landfills; and (3) the use, importation, and production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). EPA has documented widespread noncompliance in all three of these areas, resulting in potentially tens of thousands of tons of unlawful emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. This initiative will help achieve EPA’s goals to combat climate change while also addressing significant noncompliance in specific industry sectors.

Addressing Exposure to PFAS - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals are toxic, persistent “forever chemicals” that have caused widespread contamination in our air, water, and land throughout the country. This initiative will focus on implementing EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap and hold responsible those who manufactured PFAS and/or used PFAS in the manufacturing process, federal facilities that released PFAS, and other industrial parties who significantly contributed to the release of PFAS into the environment. Ensuring these entities properly identify and characterize contamination, control ongoing releases, and comply with both existing and future environmental requirements will help address this larger environmental threat.

Protecting Communities from Coal Ash Contamination - This initiative will focus on the threat presented by the hundreds of millions of pounds of coal ash, also known as coal combustion residuals (CCR), found throughout our country in on-site landfills, settling ponds, and other coal plant surface impoundments. Coal ash, a waste product from burning coal for energy, contains contaminants such as mercury, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic, which are associated with cancer and other serious health effects. This initiative will focus on the approximately 300 facilities nationwide that are collectively responsible for approximately 775 coal ash units. Neighborhoods located near these facilities are often communities with environmental justice concerns.

Reducing Air Toxics in Overburdened Communities - This initiative will address the serious threat to communities that comes from unlawful exposure to regulated hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from nearby industry. Many of these pollutants, such as benzene, ethylene oxide, and formaldehyde, are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious neurological, reproductive, developmental, and respiratory health effects when breathed or ingested through the food chain, including harm to children. This initiative will seek to target, investigate, and address noncompliance with clean air standards designed to protect public health, with a focus on sources of HAPs in communities already highly burdened with pollution impacts.

Increasing Compliance with Drinking Water Standards - This initiative seeks to ensure that the approximately 50,000 regulated drinking water systems that serve water to residents year-round, referred to as Community Water Systems (CWSs), comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Each year thousands of CWSs continue to violate one or more drinking water standards, exposing millions of people to potential health risks. During the next four years, EPA will ramp up its field presence, take impactful enforcement to increase compliance, and offer more compliance assistance to prevent and address public health risks.

Chemical Accident Risk Reduction - This initiative seeks to reduce the likelihood of catastrophic chemical releases, and to address the problem of avoidable chemical incidents that continue to occur throughout the country. Thousands of facilities nationwide make, use, and store extremely hazardous substances. Disastrous fires, leaks, and explosions at these facilities can result in fatalities and serious injuries, evacuations, shelter in place orders, toxic exposure, and other harm to workers, first responders, and neighboring communities. EPA has found significant noncompliance with companies who handle extremely hazardous substances and will target companies that choose not to comply with risk management requirements established to protect public health and safety from extremely hazardous chemical releases.

To help inform the selection of the FY 2024-2027 NECIs, EPA solicited public comment via a Federal Register notice to provide ample opportunity for stakeholder input. EPA also considered input on this cycle of NECIs from states, territories, and Tribes, as well as from the public, environmental groups, and regulated entities.

NJDEP Finalizes Agreement with BASF to Perform Natural Resource Projects

Michael Lazo — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 21:09:28 GMT

TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and BASF Corp. have reached a revised, final settlement agreement that secures natural resource restoration and resolves state-based natural resource damage claims for natural resource injuries at and related to the Ciba-Geigy Superfund Site in Toms River, Ocean County.

Public Notice: Risk-based disposal of polychlorinated biphenyl (“PCB”) remediation waste for the Former Henkel Corporation Site, located at 651 12th Street in the Borough of Carlstadt, Bergen County, New Jersey.

Michael Lazo — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 21:08:11 GMT

Publish Date

August 16, 2023

Summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public review of and comment on its tentative decision to approve a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) cleanup and disposal plan, submitted by Russo Meadowlands Park, LLC, for the Former Henkel Corporation sSite located at 651 12th Street in the Borough of Carlstadt, Bergen County, New Jersey. Any person wishing to comment should do so within 30 days of the date of the public notice. Once the public comment period closes, EPA will consider any comments submitted during the period before making a final decision.

Former Henkel Russo PCB Community Update Fact Sheet (pdf) (234.61 KB)

Former Henkel Russo Draft RBDA Approval Final (pdf) (739.02 KB)

Former Henkel Russo Proposed Approval Application (pdf) (1.76 MB)

Applicants or Respondents

Russo Meadowlands Park, LLC

570 Commerce Boulevard
Carlstadt, NJ 07072
United States

EPA Proposes to Remove Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Superfund Site in Kittery, Maine from Superfund List

Michael Lazo — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 21:06:49 GMT

Public comments accepted until September 15

August 16, 2023

Contact Information

David Deegan (deegan.dave@epa.gov)

(617) 918-1017

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to remove the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, located in Kittery, Maine, from the National Priorities List (NPL), commonly referred to as Superfund. EPA has determined that the site cleanup is complete, and no further remedial action is required. Operation, maintenance, and monitoring activities will continue at the site as needed, as well as five-year reviews to ensure the remedies continue to protect human health and the environment. The agency will accept public comments on the proposed deletion until September 15, 2023.

Site Background:

The 278-acre Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a restricted access military facility located on Seavey Island in the Piscataqua River at the mouth of Portsmouth Harbor between Kittery, Maine, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Shipbuilding activities in Portsmouth Harbor date back to 1690. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was established as a government facility in 1800. The first government-built submarine was designed and constructed there during World War I, and a large number of submarines have been designed, constructed, and repaired at this facility since 1917. Today, the shipyard employs approximately 5,000 civilians and approximately 200 active-duty military personnel with the primary mission being the conversion, overhaul, and repair of submarines for the US Navy.

Contamination at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard resulted from shipbuilding and submarine repair work, landfill operations, spills and leaks from industrial operations and piping, storage of batteries and other materials, filling of land, and outfalls to the river. Seven areas on and around the Shipyard have been identified for investigation. Contamination detected in groundwater, soils, and sediments include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), metals, and benzene. After the site was added to the NPL in 1994, extensive cleanup work was conducted over the following decades to address contamination issues, which have now been completed. The State of Maine has reviewed and commented on this action and concurs with EPA’s proposed deletion of this site from the National Priorities List.

Proposed Deletion Information and How to Comment:

Long-term stewardship will be ongoing to maintain institutional controls, security and ensure future land use is consistent with the remediation. EPA will continue to assess the environmental remediation work performed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Superfund Site every five years to ensure the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment, as required by the Superfund law. A proposed or final deletion does not prevent future actions under the Superfund law.

The NPL tracks the nation’s most contaminated sites that threaten human health or the environment. Sites on the list are eligible for cleanup under the Superfund program and once all the remedies are successfully implemented, EPA removes sites or parts of sites from the list.

EPA’s 30-day public comment period on the proposed deletion will begin August 16, 2023, and will end on September 15, 2023. The public or other interested parties may submit comments by mail or email:

Mail:

Robert Lim
US EPA Region 1 Mail code: 07-1
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100
Boston, MA 02109-3912
Email: lim.robert@epa.gov

The Administrative Record on the Proposed Deletion can be found here: https://www.navfac.navy.mil/Business-Lines/Environmental/Products-and-Services/Environmental-Restoration/Mid-Atlantic/Portsmouth-NSY/Administrative-Record/

Materials can also be accessed at:

Rice Public Library
8 Wentworth Street
Kittery, ME 03904
(207) 439-1553

Portsmouth Public Library
175 Parrott Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 427-1540

For more information or to have a hard copy sent to you, please contact: Charlotte Gray, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, gray.charlotte@epa.gov, Office: 617-918-1243, Toll free: 1-888-372-7341 ext. 8-1243

Redding receives state grant for Brownfield remediation and development

Michael Lazo — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 21:11:22 GMT

The site of the former Gilbert and Bennett Wire Mill fostered Redding’s growth, but it’s long since suffered a reversal of fortune, according to First Selectman Julia Pemberton.

“The history of Redding is built around the history of this wire mill,” Pemberton said. “And this mill has sat vacant and derelict for about 34 years.”

A new $200,000 remediation grant approved by the state in June will help wrap up a long running clean up project, as the town considers redeveloping the former mill as a mixed use development.

Reimbursement for Remediation: Massachusetts Brownfields Tax Credits Program Extended

Michael Lazo — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:20:31 GMT

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.

DEC Announces New Leadership Appointments

Michael Lazo — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:18:40 GMT

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.

New Jersey’s Final Environmental Justice Rules: NJDEP Response to Comments, Practical Implications, and Applicability

Michael Lazo — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:17:01 GMT

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.).

Reimbursement for Remediation: Massachusetts Brownfields Tax Credits Program Extended

Michael Lazo — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:15:15 GMT

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.

EPA Extends Public Comment Period on Re-evaluation of the Cleanup Plan for Woodbrook Road Dump Superfund Site

Michael Lazo — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:13:50 GMT

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.

NJEDA's Brownfield Redevelopment Incentive Program Funds up to 60% of Remediation Costs

Michael Lazo — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 14:30:09 GMT

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.

Environmental leaders push for transparency on state’s clean energy program

Michael Lazo — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 14:57:28 GMT

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.

New Jersey Implements Landmark Environmental Justice Regulations

Michael Lazo — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 14:55:57 GMT

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.

DEC to Hold Community Meetings to Share Progress of Statewide Community Air Monitoring Initiative

Michael Lazo — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 14:36:31 GMT

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. 

BREAKING NEWS: York Analytical Granted NELAC and NJDEP Certifications to Analyze PFAS in New Jersey

Michael Lazo — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 15:16:47 GMT

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.

Top Takeaways From 2019 Proposed Amendments to the MCP

Michael Lazo — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 15:13:46 GMT

Massachusetts LSPA

MassDEP leadership has recently shared that they expect the next set of Amendments to the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP), proposed in 2019, to be promulgated soon. In an effort to refresh our collective memories, the LSPA Regulations Committee has prepared this brief, high-level summary of eight key aspects of the proposed MCP regulations. The summary provided below is based on the draft revisions provided in 2019. The LSPA has not seen a more recent draft. The actual contents of the forthcoming MCP revisions are not known.

Hot Spot and MGP Waste Definitions

The 2019 proposed amendments include the addition of Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) Waste as a defined term. Additionally, the amendments propose modifying the definition of a hot spot to include areas of waste disposal including MGP waste. These proposed changes effectively create a new class of oil and hazardous material (OHM), with concomitant requirements for sampling and risk assessment.

EPC Derivations/Calculations

The 2019 proposed amendments embody more prescriptive requirements for calculating Exposure Point Concentrations (EPCs). Specifically, the use of the arithmetic average will no longer be an acceptable method for estimating the EPC for soil, except in the case of a discrete source of localized contamination. Otherwise, the 95th percentile upper confidence limit must be used. Maximum values could still be used for screening-style assessments

Additional regulatory requirements may include the use of a systematic sampling approach to obtain a representative data set unless there is technical justification for not doing so. Such justification would have to consider the distribution and variability of the contamination and the size of the area sampled.

Tier Classification Requirements

The 2019 proposed amendments provide that Tier Classification Extensions may expire after one year.

Post-TS Reporting and Tier Classification Requirements

In addition to the 5-year periodic evaluation, an annual status report will be required for sites which have achieved a Temporary Solution (TS). Submittal of the annual status report will have the effect of maintaining a Tier Classification Extension. For Sites currently in Temporary Solution, it is unclear when the first annual status report will be due and how PRPs will be notified.

Selection of Remedial Action Alternatives (RAAs)

When a Permanent Solution is not selected as an RAA for the entire disposal site, the evaluation of feasible RAAs must include alternatives to reduce OHM exposure to achieve a Permanent Solution at a portion of the disposal site.

AEPMM (Active Exposure Pathway Mitigation Measures) Revisions

The proposed amendments include expanding definitions to include positive pressurization systems as well as additional requirements for AEPMMs that must be implemented to support a Permanent Solution including minimum monitoring, telemetry, and operational requirements.

Terminology Conflict: Upper Confidence Limit vs Upper Concentration Limit

The proposed amendments include that Upper Concentration Limit will likely be modified to “Method 3 Ceiling Limit” or “Ceiling Limit” for short.

Climate Change Provisions

The proposed amendments reference climate change in the definition of Conceptual Site Model; at 310 CMR 40.1005(1) related to "'Foreseeable Period of Time' for Purposes of a Permanent Solution"; and again at 40.0191: Response Action Performance Standard (RAPS). The assessment of potential climate change impacts are to be based on information available by the state.

For those wishing a deeper dive into the proposed regulations, please read the LSPA’s July 19, 2019, cover letter as well as the LSPA’s detailed matrix of comments and suggestions on the full proposed MCP amendments.

Once MassDEP releases the next set of MCP Amendments, the LSPA will be providing members with more detailed summaries of key changes, outstanding questions, compliance tips, and other information. Stay tuned!

$10 million grant opportunity to advance environmental justice in New England

Michael Lazo — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:38:52 GMT

Jo Anne Kittrell (kittrell.joanne@epa.gov)

BOSTON (July 31, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) New England Region Office is announcing a grant competition for an "Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center" (EJ TCTAC).  The agency is offering this funding opportunity of up to $10 million to help communities and other environmental justice stakeholders in the New England states access federal assistance and resources to address environmental and energy justice concerns. EPA Region 1 includes the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and 10 Tribes.

Beta Release and Comment Period Open for Connecticut Environmental Justice Mapping Tool

Michael Lazo — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 14:44:35 GMT

On July 17, the University of Connecticut's Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) jointly released a beta version of the state's first environmental justice (EJ) screening tool for public comment.

Watchung seeks state OK for former Ness site remediation

Michael Lazo — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 15:18:54 GMT

WATCHUNG – Looking to eventually use the former Ness tract for passive recreation, the Borough Council is seeking state approval for the Mountain Boulevard property’s remediation plan.

The council voted 4-0 on Thursday, July 13 to submit an application to the state Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) site remediation program. Council members Freddie Hayeck and Sonia Abi-Habib were absent.

Borough Administrator James Damato said the application includes an engineering design. “The DEP is reviewing the plan,” he said. “Once approved, we’ll start remediation.”

Empty spaces and hybrid places: The pandemic’s lasting impact on real estate

Michael Lazo — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:48:33 GMT

Real estate in the world’s superstar cities has not kept up with shifts in behavior caused by the pandemic. The cities’ vibrancy is at risk, and they will have to adapt.

NJIT awarded $10 million for technical assistance at polluted brownfield sites through EPA grant

Michael Lazo — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 20:51:40 GMT

NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

New Jersey Institute of Technology has been awarded $10 million by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of a $315 million initiative from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites across the country. The funding comes entirely from the historic $1.5 billion investment from Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

DEP Announces Steering Committee For $5 Million Environmental Mitigation Community Fund; Committee To Host Open Meeting

Michael Lazo — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 20:39:45 GMT

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamar Thrasher, 717-319-1758, jthrasher@pa.gov, RA-EPNews@pa.gov

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the members of a steering committee who will be tasked with developing a protocol to allocate $5 million in funding for community projects in Beaver County.

Connecticut Legislature Passes Environmental Justice Siting Bill

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 17:41:05 GMT

Day Pitney (s) Kirstin M. Etela , Harold M. Blinderman , Max D. Matt

On June 7, the Connecticut House passed amended Senate Bill (SB) 1147, An Act Concerning the Environmental Justice Program of the State of Connecticut, which repeals and replaces the state's 15-year-old environmental justice law. The bill now awaits Gov. Ned Lamont's signature and, if signed, takes effect on October 1. What do you need to know about the new EJ law and its impact on the permit process?

Posted June 20, 2023

NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: FY24 Brownfields Job Training Grant Request for Applications (RFA) Released May 30, 2023

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 17:30:58 GMT

The RFA is for nonprofit and other eligible organizations to recruit, train, and retain a local, skilled workforce by prioritizing unemployed and under-employed, including low-income individuals living in areas impacted by solid and hazardous waste in environmental jobs. With this grant program, students learn the skills and credentials needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment in the environmental field, including brownfields assessment and cleanup.

Communities have the flexibility to deliver eligible training that meets the local labor market demands of the environmental sector in their communities. Since 1998, EPA has awarded 400 job training grants. With these grants, more than 20,600 individuals have completed training and over 15,300 individuals have been placed in careers related to land remediation and environmental health and safety. This solicitation is being funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 24 Brownfields Job Training grants at amounts up to $500,000 per award. Applications will be due August 2, 2023.

Information on the Announcement, the Request for Application (RFA), and the Opportunity Notice on grants.gov can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/fy-2024-brownfields-job-training-jt-grants

EPA will host an outreach webinar for prospective applicants on Wednesday June 14, 2023, from 1:00-3:30pm ET. A recording of the webinar will be available at a later date. To join the webinar, visit https://usepa.zoomgov.com/j/1603942069 at the time of the event. No registration is required.

Posted June 12, 2023

An Important Communication Regarding the NY City Brownfield Partnership's Commentary on the Proposed Bill S5868

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 17:01:54 GMT

We are sharing information on a recent commentary letter that the NYC Brownfield Partnership sent regarding the New York State's Proposed Bill S5868.

The NYC Brownfield Partnership serves as a primary resource for information on brownfields and brownfields redevelopment in New York City and beyond. The New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) has been instrumental in offering a robust environmental cleanup program by incentivizing private sector remediation and redevelopment efforts.

However, a challenge has arisen with Proposed Bill S5868. This bill links certain tax credits, site acceptance, and ongoing participation in the BCP to prevailing wage compliance – a link that may have a severe detrimental effect on the functioning of the BCP. We acknowledge the intention behind prevailing wage but question the effectiveness of its inclusion in this bill and believe that reconsideration of this requirement is warranted to ensure alignment with the BCP’s initial legislative goals.

To better understand our concerns and proposed alternatives, the Partnership offers a detailed commentary on the bill, which is available on our website:https://nycbrownfieldpartnership.org/nycbp-industry-news/13209939.

Please review the commentary to grasp the potential implications and challenges posed by this bill to the BCP and its stakeholders. The Partnership remains committed to excellence in responsible brownfield redevelopment and fostering collaboration among developers, government agencies, and community groups.

Posted June 5, 2023

New York Projects Slated to Get Over $6Million Through Investing in America Agenda for Cleanup and Technical Assistance

Wed, 31 May 2023 15:13:42 GMT

EPA announces the largest investment ever in brownfields communities made by President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda

NEW YORK (May 25, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that 7 selectees from New York will get $6.4 Million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in New York while advancing environmental justice. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is the largest ever funding awarded in the history of the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs.

These investments are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

“We’re working across the country to revitalize what were once dangerous and polluted sites in overburdened communities into more sustainable and environmentally just places that serve as community assets. Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we’re moving further and faster than ever before to clean up contaminated sites, spur economic redevelopment, and deliver relief that so many communities have been waiting for,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This critical wave of investments is the largest in Brownfields history and will accelerate our work to protect the people and the planet by transforming what was once blight into might.”

“The brownfields program is a powerful tool that helps communities in New York address local inequities by providing a means to revitalize abandoned properties and promote environmental health, economic growth, and job creation,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The Brownfields program transforms communities, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding gives the program a huge shot in the arm – with a historic $1.5 billion dollars that will be leveraged to make a real and lasting on-the-ground difference for communities across the country.”

“Brownfields are much more than eyesores for Upstate NY – they devalue surrounding properties, harm the local economy, and pose potential environmental and health threats,” said Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer. “From Syracuse to Sullivan County this critical federal investment will provide the boost that our Upstate communities need to cleanup these brownfield properties and create a better future. I am proud we secured a historic $1.5 billion for the EPA’s Brownfields program in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law to make this funding possible, and I will keep working to return these blighted properties to productive use to breathe new life into our Upstate communities.”

“Brownfields are a serious threat to the environment and to public health,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “Cleaning them up and turning them into usable spaces like parks, recreation facilities, and housing revitalizes our communities and spurs local economic development. I’m proud to have fought to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that helped provide the funding for this cleanup and I applaud EPA for working to address contamination across New York State.”

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “DEC applauds EPA for its sustained investments to revitalize neighborhoods and protect public health by cleaning up former industrial sites and returning them to productive use. The significant grants announced today will bolster New York State’s ongoing efforts to clean up contaminated sites and DEC looks forward to continuing to work collaboratively with our federal partners to advance our shared goals to protect natural resources and communities.”

Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfield sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places.

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.

EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities. The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations into all aspects of its work. Approximately 84 percent of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities.

State Funding Breakdown:

Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Program Selection

EPA announced 262 communities that have been selected to receive 267 grants totaling more than $215 million in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Programs. This represents the highest funding level ever announced in the history of the Brownfields Program.

The following organizations in New York have been selected to receive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Programs.

Greater Syracuse Land Bank, NY has been selected to receive $1,000,000. Grant funds will be used to update an inventory of brownfield sites and conduct 20 Phase I and 18 Phase II environmental site assessments, and develop eight cleanup plans and four reuse plans. Grant funds also will be used to update an inventory of foreclosable brownfield sites and support community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on the South Avenue Corridor, the Near Eastside Neighborhood, the 15th Ward, and the Hawley-Green Neighborhood in the City of Syracuse, all within the city’s urban core. Priority sites include a former dry cleaners and gas station, four vacant and abandoned former automobile repair shops, a vacant commercial building, and an auto garage and junkyard.

Syracuse Industrial Development Agency, NY has been selected to receive $800,000. Grant funds will be used to conduct one Phase I and three Phase II environmental site assessments of sites in the target area and to clean up the 341 Peat Street site. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community engagement activities. The target area for this project is the Near Eastside neighborhood in the City of Syracuse, which is just 1.4 miles east of downtown Syracuse with dilapidated buildings, piles of illegally dumped trash and debris, and associated blight that is highly visible from Highway 690 as people travel into the city. Priority sites include the 341 Peat Street site, which was first developed in the 1890s and historically operated as a structural steel works facility, forge and foundry for an iron and steel company, machine shop, equipment repair facility, and varnish supplier. Other priority sites are located on Greenway Avenue and include the 79,600-square-foot Winkelman property, a 0.93-acre former industrial site, and a 0.29-acre site consisting of an abandoned roadway.

Wayne Country Regional Land Bank Corporation, NY has been selected to receive $800,000. Grant funds will be used to conduct six Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments, prepare two cleanup plans and one site reuse plan, update the county’s site inventory, and conduct community engagement activities. Grant funds also will be used to clean up four sites on Canal Street. The target area for this project is the Canal/Geneva Street Corridor in the City of Lyons’ historic downtown district, which sits along the Erie Canal. Priority sites include five properties on Canal Street, a property at 30 Geneva Street, and one property at 1 Clyde Road. These properties include former mixed commercial row-style buildings, a former gas station, a former fueling station and convenience store, and a former restaurant and bar.

Wayne County, NY has been selected to receive $1,000,000. Grant funds will be used to conduct 15 Phase I and 14 Phase II environmental site assessments and develop eight cleanup plans, two site reuse plans, and one area-wide plan. Grant funds also will be used to update a brownfield inventory and support community outreach activities. Assessment activities will focus on the Village of Newark and the Towns of Lyons, Sodus, and Wolcott. Priority sites include an underutilized industrial property, a 13,000-square-foot abandoned former two-story medical office, and a formerly occupied photo etching company in the City of Newark; a former coal-fired electric generation plant located on the Erie Canal and a 21-acre former warehouse and shipping facility in the Town of Lyons; a 3.5-acre former malt house for the Genesee Brewing Company and a 4.25-acre water treatment plant in Wayne County; and the 200-acre Former Butler State Prison in the Town of Wolcott. Non-lead coalition members include the Town of Lyons, the Village of Newark, and the Greater Rochester Enterprise.

Mohawk Valley Economic Development District Inc., NY has been selected to receive $1,000,000. The grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Inc. will provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup activities. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community engagement activities and market the fund. RLF activities will focus on the Utica Industrial Central Corridor Brownfield Opportunity Zone (BOA), the Gloversville BOA/Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) area, and the Ilion LWRP area.

Sullivan County, NY has been selected to receive $800,000. The grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which Sullivan County will provide ten loans and ten subgrants to support cleanup activities. Grant funds also will be used to market the RLF program. RLF activities will target the entire county with a focus on the housing projects and multi-owner Turick site. Priority sites include vacant homes in the Towns of Bethel, Liberty, Thompson, and the Village of Monticello.

Syracuse Economic Development Corporation, NY has been selected to receive $1,000,000. The grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which the Syracuse Economic Development Corporation will provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup activities. Grant funds also will be used to conduct cleanup planning and community engagement activities and market the fund. RLF activities will focus on the East Adams and Hawley-Green neighborhoods, which are in some of the City of Syracuse’s densest urban areas.

You can read more about this year’s MARC selectees, here.

Additional Background:

EPA has selected these organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfield sites. EPA anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged, from both public and private sources, nearly 260,000 jobs. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.

The next National Brownfields Training Conference will be held on August 8-11, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. Offered every two years, this conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing former commercial and industrial properties. EPA co-sponsors this event with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

For more on Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding

For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

Posted May 31, 2023

EPA and State of New Jersey Propose Settlement with Bank of America for Monmouth County, NJ Superfund Site Cleanup

Tue, 16 May 2023 17:30:00 GMT

Contact Information: Elias Rodriguez (rodriguez.elias@epa.gov)

On May 15, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed settlement with Bank of America to address the White Swan Cleaners/Sun Cleaners Area Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site in Wall Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Under the proposed agreement, Bank of America, the current owner of the White Swan property, will be required to fund and perform vapor intrusion and groundwater cleanup work at an estimated cost of $29 million.

"With this settlement EPA is holding Bank of America accountable for its share of the cleanup at the White Swan site," said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. " After years of investigation and cleanup efforts, this is a significant step towards resolving the contamination issues at the site for the benefit of the community, the environment, and public health."

Posted May 16, 2023

Bill would shield recyclers from PFAS cleanup costs

Tue, 16 May 2023 17:28:10 GMT

by Jared Paben, Resource Recycling

A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate protects composting, recycling and garbage facilities from cleanup cost liability if a class of chemicals called PFAS contaminates the environment at their facilities.

The legislation, introduced by Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and sponsored by several other Senate Republicans, exempts owners/operators of composting operations and solid waste management facilities from liability under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, commonly known as the “Superfund” law.

Posted May 16, 2023

M.J. Painting Franklin Street brownfield cleanup resumes

Mon, 08 May 2023 20:55:09 GMT

By Rick Miller, Olean Times Herald (NY)

Work at the M.J. Painting brownfield cleanup on Franklin Street resumed earlier this month after operations that began last summer ended for the winter.

“The project is so big we had to do it over two seasons,” said M.J. Painting owner Mike John. “With phase 1 done, the project is about 60% complete.”

The cleanup, which is a cooperative venture involving Exxon-Mobil, the successor company to Socony Vacuum Oil Co., which once had a refinery and tank farm on the site; the state Department of Environmental Conservation; and M.J. Painting.

Last summer, people driving by on Interstate 86 near Exit 25 couldn’t miss the giant excavation, which covered more than one-fifth of the site. Contaminated dirt was removed from the site.

...

For the entire article, see

https://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/m-j-painting-franklin-street-brownfield-cleanup-resumes/article_790e9f66-3fa9-5229-9d28-b33759d6eb9f.html

Posted May 8, 2023

R.I. Senate approves Environmental Justice Act

Mon, 08 May 2023 20:50:35 GMT

By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current

After recent backlash to the expansion of an Allens Avenue scrap yard, Rhode Island senators are backing a measure to give low-income and minority communities more say over projects that pollute their neighborhoods.

The legislation passed by the Rhode Island Senate in a 31-4 vote Thursday, May 4, allows the state to designate “environmental justice areas” based on income, minority population, and/or percentage of households that lack “English language proficiency.” As written, the bill would give more scrutiny and community input in permitting for projects that contribute to pollution: sewage treatment plants, landfills, incinerators and recycling centers, among others. The legislation also allows state agencies that oversee these permit applications (the Department of Environmental Management and Coastal Resources Management Council) to consider the pollution not just from individual projects, but cumulatively for the neighborhood.

Posted May 8, 2023

“Low millions” potentially for West Tisbury PFAS remediation

Mon, 08 May 2023 20:46:58 GMT

By Eunki Seonwoo, MV Times

West Tisbury may be facing some steep costs to deal with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

West Tisbury town administrator Jennifer Rand said during the Wednesday, May 3, meeting that a contract with Wilcox & Barton — estimated fee of $170,000 — will be for the next phase of meeting PFAS remediation requirements. The final costs of this phase will be revealed after that work is done, which includes sampling private wells, data analysis, installing point of entry treatment systems, among other tasks.

Posted May 8, 2023

Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches New Climate Resiliency Program

Mon, 08 May 2023 20:41:11 GMT

Governor Maura Healey and Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper today announced a new pilot program to support cities and towns across Massachusetts in updating and putting their climate change resiliency plans and projects into action. The Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Planning 2.0 (MVP 2.0) expands the MVP grant program, which provides communities with funding and technical support to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change. After a year of reviewing the initial MVP Planning Grant program and conducting extensive stakeholder input, EEA developed MVP 2.0 to include new methods, tools, and resources for updating MVP plans and actions.

“The climate crisis is one of our greatest challenges, but there is enormous opportunity in our response. We have the science, data, tools and commitment to help communities understand how climate change impacts them and take action to advance resiliency and preparedness,” said Governor Maura Healey. “With the next phase of the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, we will harness the incredible resources at our disposal and bring people together to protect our environment, grow our economy and build a more resilient future.”

“As a former mayor, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program on local communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our administration is about action – this new iteration of the project will take these resiliency plans and put them into action so our cities and towns are better prepared to withstand changing temperatures, flooding, and other climate impacts.”

MVP 2.0 provides communities with guidance and funding to center residents most impacted by climate change in the update process. Cities and towns will also receive innovative training on climate resilience best practices, equity, and environmental justice, revisit priorities in their current MVP plans based on this new knowledge and engagement and receive technical assistance and $50,000 of guaranteed funding to develop and implement an action project. A new web tool called Guides for Equitable and Actionable Resilience (GEAR) will launch with the program in the next few weeks and aid communities in understanding how local climate impacts may intersect with topics like housing and public health through data explorations, case studies, and key actions communities can take to build resilience.

“As we transition to clean energy, we also need strong protections against the climate impacts already burdening our residents,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper.  “We are excited to keep growing and evolving this program to meet the needs of our communities while achieving our climate goals.”

EEA will award funding to a maximum of 30 communities, five in each region, to undergo the two-year pilot program. Pilot communities will hire a vendor with skills in climate resilience, facilitation, and equity and build a community team with community liaisons, or community members who are from and/or have strong relationships with environmental justice and other priority populations who will be the most impacted by climate change. These community liaisons will be compensated for their time through grant funding.

“The emphasis on engaging environmental justice communities and organizations most impacted by climate change and requiring climate justice training for participants are exciting parts of this new pilot program,” said Undersecretary of Environmental Justice and Equity María Belén Power. “I look forward to working with the MVP program and other Commonwealth grant programs to ensure our funding supports our environmental justice and equity goals.”

Currently, 99 percent, or 349, of municipalities in Massachusetts have completed or are currently completing the original MVP Planning Grant process. Dunstable, Florida, Gill, Oakham, Peru, Russell, Shelburne, and Wales received awards this year. Communities that completed the initial MVP Planning Grant program are eligible to apply to implement their climate resilience priorities through the MVP Action Grant program.

Communities are encouraged to apply to MVP 2.0 as regional groups where feasible, and communities with MVP plans that are five years old are particularly encouraged to apply for the MVP 2.0 pilot to update their plans with the new process, tools, and data that are incorporated into the program. Federally-recognized and state-acknowledged Tribes and Regional Planning Agencies applying on behalf of a municipality or group of municipalities are also able to apply.

“We look forward to providing resources for community-based planning and climate resilience projects through the MVP 2.0 pilot and using this work to inform a full rollout to all communities anticipated next year,” said Undersecretary of Decarbonization & Resilience Katherine Antos. “We will also provide opportunities for communities to network, share lessons learned, and provide feedback to EEA as we continue to improve the program.”

The FY24 round of MVP Action Grant funding is also currently open for applications through May 4, 2023. MVP Action Grants provide funding for communities’ climate resilience priority projects focused on proactive strategies to address climate change impacts. This may include actions to invest in and protect environmental justice neighborhoods and improve public health, nature-based solutions to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and flooding, and climate resilience-focused regulatory updates, among others.

Communities participating in the MVP 2.0 pilot round will still be able to apply for and implement MVP Action Grants at the same time. After the pilot round, EEA intends to require all communities to undergo MVP 2.0 to maintain eligibility in applying for MVP Action Grants, starting with those with the earliest MVP plans.

###

Posted May 8, 2023

Honeywell International, Olin Corp. to Pay for Cleanup at Superfund Site Near Moundsville, WV

Mon, 01 May 2023 15:31:41 GMT

Contact Information

EPA Region 3 Press Office (R3press@epa.gov)

PHILADELPHIA (April 25, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) have entered a settlement with Honeywell International Inc. and Olin Corporation that requires the companies to pay cleanup costs and implement the cleanup remedy at the Hanlin-Allied-Olin Superfund Site, near Moundsville, West Virginia. According to EPA, a conservative estimate of the past and future cleanup costs covered by this settlement exceeds $8 million, which could be higher depending on the final future costs.

“This settlement reaffirms EPA’s commitment to make responsible parties pay for cleanups and prevent contamination from harming communities,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “The required cleanup will help bring economic activity to the Moundsville area and promote redevelopment and reuse possibilities for the future.”

The Hanlin-Allied-Olin Site is located approximately three miles south of Moundsville between the Ohio River, West Virginia Route 2, and the Moundsville Golf Course. Since 1953, the site has had various owners and operators, including Hanlin Chemicals, Allied Signal (now Honeywell), and Olin.

The major contaminant of concern at the site is mercury. This cleanup action will contain and remove the contamination, which will allow the community to benefit from reuse and improve the Ohio River for recreation and fishing.

The settlement was originally filed March 1, and was subject to a 30-day comment period. Having received no comments, the settlement was entered on April 19 in federal court for the Northern District of West Virginia.

The EPA website has more details about the history and cleanup on the site.

# # #

Posted May 1, 2023

DEEP Issues First Updates to Environmental Condition Assessment Form in a Decade

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 19:35:56 GMT

Publisher: Day Pitney Alert

Day Pitney Co-author(s) Harold M. Blinderman, Max D. Matt, Brianna E. Tibett

For the first time in 10 years, the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) revised its Environmental Condition Assessment Form (ECAF). Of most interest to the regulated community, the revised ECAF specifically asks whether consideration was given to and requires information relating to the potential presence of emerging contaminants, including per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), 1,4-Dioxane and perchlorate.

Posted April 25, 2023

The State of PFAS

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 19:25:55 GMT

The Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) updated their per- and poly-flouroalkyl substances (PFAS) tracking tables, which present current information sorted by State, in January 2023. The tables assist the regulated community in keeping up with changing requirements for evaluating, investigating and remediating PFAS in water, soil and sediment in each State. The ITRC tables include screening levels, standards, criterion, and guidance values (“published values”) for water and soil. While most standards are similar between States, comparison can be difficult as each adds PFAS compounds into its own existing framework of environmental regulations, in which the approach to the protection of receptors can vary significantly.

Posted April 24, 2023

NJDEP Releases Environmental Justice Regulations in the Register

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:08:16 GMT

On April 17, 2023, the NJDEP released the new Environmental Justice Regulations. You can view a copy of the document here;

Posted April 18, 2023

Cleaned-up brownfield gets new life in Perth Amboy, NJ

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:50:32 GMT

Officials on Thursday broke ground on a remediated brownfield site that will eventually host a high-capacity storage and distribution center.

The project, BridgePort II, is located near I-95 and the Outerbridge Crossing at 1160 State St., the former site of American Smelting and Refining Co.

Vazquez said the project developer, Bridge Industrial, is creating an "environmentally sensitive" final product, including efforts to prevent untreated sewage from being released into waterways, and roofs that can accommodate solar panels.

Posted April 14, 2023

EPA Awards $177 Million to Environmental Justice Groups

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:47:43 GMT

by Associated Press

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that it’s investing $177 million to create 17 technical assistance centers around the country to help environmental justice organizations successfully apply for federal funds

Better training on how to navigate the complex federal grant making process is something environmental justice organizations have been demanding since the beginning of the Biden administration. The community groups want to compete for federal money for projects including pollution cleanup, air quality monitoring and workforce development for jobs in wind and solar.

EPA administrator Michael Regan made the announcement in New York City with U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat at a community space popular for dancing and music built on top of a sewage treatment plant along the Hudson River.

Posted April 14, 2023

Fairfield looks to build apartments on brownfield by metro station

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 15:08:23 GMT

Josh LaBella, Connecticut insider

The town is trying to get state funds to help clean up a site on Black Rock Turnpike where a local developer wants to build hundreds of apartments.

Mark Barnhart, the community and economic development director, said the town has an opportunity to apply for grants from the state to help remediate and redevelop the property at 81 Black Rock Turnpike, noting it is next to Fairfield Metro Station.

"The site was once home to the Bullard Machine Tool Company, as was much of the surrounding area, including the existing train station," he said. "Earlier this year, the Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development put out funding availability. We would like to apply.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.ctinsider.com/fairfield/article/fairfield-brownfield-development-black-rock-trnpke-17880964.php

Posted April 13, 2023

PADEP to Host Environmental Justice Town Halls

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 15:06:24 GMT

by Cassie Miller, Pennsylvania Capital Star

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will host five more town halls across the commonwealth this month to hear from environmental justice communities about efforts to combat climate change.

Environmental justice communities are disproportionately affected by factors such as poor air quality, old housing and infrastructure, and limited transportation.

More than 4 million Pennsylvanians live in environmental justice communities statewide, according to the department.

Posted April 13, 2023

New 50-Story Affordable Housing Tower to Rise After Brownfield Cleanup Ends

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 17:59:52 GMT

A Miami real estate developer paid $89 million for the lot and plans to erect a 50 story affordable housing tower on the financial district site near the WTC–but first needs to clear the brownfield site of pollutants left behind by past commercial occupants. That work is just getting underway.

Kay Bontempo, Our Town (Downtown New York City)

A new 50-story, 400-unit affordable housing development is a step closer to reality now that the cleanup of a brownfield site has begun with plans to wrap it up before the end of the year.

The contaminated brownfield site of the former Kasser Scrap Metal and Rector Cleaners is finally being cleaned up. The location at 111-121 Washington Street, (a.k.a. 8 Carlisle Street), is located two blocks north of the World Trade Center and comprises a 11,255-square-foot vacant lot (just over a quarter-acre.) The developer Carlisle New York Apartments, LLC, purchased the lot in 2021 for $89 million from the Ohebshalom family, which was involved in a bitter family feud pitting father against son that ultimately was resolved with the son buying out the father’s stake.

The Miami-based developer plans to start construction on the quarter acre plot once the cleanup is completed, expected in seven to eight months.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.otdowntown.com/news/new-50-story-affordable-housing-tower-to-rise-after-brownfield-cleanup-ends-BH2458254

Posted April 3, 2023

EPA Announces $3 Million For New York to Plan Innovative Climate Projects Across the State

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 23:51:52 GMT

Funds from EPA’s New Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program were made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will award $3 million for New York to plan innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and build clean energy economies across the state. Earlier this month, EPA announced the availability of the funds, which represent the first funding going to states, local governments, Tribes, and territories from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program created by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Later this year, EPA will launch a competition for $4.6 billion in funding to implement projects and initiatives included in the plans. New York will be eligible to receive that implementation funding because it has opted in to receive the planning grant.

New York is among the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico that are eligible to receive $3 million each in EPA Climate Pollution Reduction planning grant funds. New York will use the funds to augment climate planning in collaboration with municipalities statewide and to conduct meaningful engagement with communities, including with overburdened communities throughout the state. New York State’s Climate Act passed in 2019 is among the most ambitious climate laws in the nation. New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues fostering a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. New York’s participation in the CPRG program will support its ongoing efforts to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions and ensure all communities equitably benefit in the clean energy transition.

“New York is once again proving itself to be a national climate leader. By signing on to this program, it is positioning communities across the state, large and small, to holistically reduce climate pollution and its impacts, especially for those most overburdened by environmental pollution,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The Inflation Reduction Act represents the most unique and important opportunity we have ever had to tackle the climate crisis. We’re happy to provide this critical support to New York State to establish healthier communities and create job opportunities.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said, "New York continues to lead the nation in our efforts to fight the climate crisis, creating good-paying jobs in the energy sector and cutting pollution that impacts some of our most vulnerable communities. Thanks to the leadership of the Biden Administration and our Congressional Delegation, New York is set to receive significant federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act that will advance innovative climate action and ensure a cleaner, greener environment for future generations."

Basil Seggos, Commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Co-Chair of the State’s Climate Action Council said, “With this support from our federal partners, New York will continue our collaborative, groundbreaking efforts to improve air quality, spur innovation, create jobs, and address the impacts of climate change. The Inflation Reduction Act will help us to reach our ambitious climate targets while ensuring those historically burdened by pollution are prioritized to achieve equity and justice, improve public health and quality of life, and create opportunities for the future. Thank you to the Biden Administration, EPA Administrator Regan, and EPA Region 2 Administrator Garcia for this continued partnership and support on climate.”

Doreen Harris, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Co-Chair of the State’s Climate Action Council said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, the opportunity to leverage current and future federal funding opportunities under the Inflation Reduction Act will allow us to deliver critical benefits to communities across the state, including those historically underserved, as we establish an equitable and just transition to a growing green economy. Our economy-wide efforts to advance clean energy and climate initiatives that address the most pressing climate challenges of our time are stronger thanks to the leadership and partnership from the Biden Administration and the EPA, and are providing meaningful health, economic, and environmental benefits that will be felt for generations to come.”

“This award for New York State will continue the incredible work of the CLCPA – which I helped get over the finish line – as New York continues to lead the pack in climate action,” said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. “This funding opens the way for even more federal assistance as the EPA continues administering the billions I secured for climate action through the Inflation Reduction Act. I will continue to fight tooth and nail to ensure New York gets the funding it needs to reduce emissions while promoting environmental justice and the workforce of tomorrow.”

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “New York State is leading the fight to tackle climate change and is paving the way to a greener future. I fought hard to pass the Inflation Reduction Act to bring home the most significant climate investment in our nation’s history. This $3 million investment from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, which was created by the IRA, will help New York continue its ambitious work in clean energy and will help New York reach its goal to reduce carbon emissions 40% by 2030. I thank President Biden for his leadership and I remain a committed partner in the Senate on achieving our decarbonization targets and protecting our environment for generations to come.”

“The impacts of climate change have touched communities all across the nation from Queens to areas throughout our state, but through groundbreaking and innovative strategies, we will continue to build clean energy economies and fight back against climate pollution,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06). “I am proud to have helped establish the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program through my support of the Inflation Reduction Act, and am thrilled that New York will be receiving $3 million through this program. New York State has some of the most ambitious climate laws in the nation. This grant will help continue New York’s efforts to develop strategies that fight climate change and further be a national leader on this issue."

“Climate change is an existential threat to our state, nation, and planet. That’s why New York needs bold solutions to tackle this crisis head on,” said Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (NY-07). “The $3 million in funding announced today will help develop innovative plans to increase renewable energy use and achieve net-zero emissions. This investment in cutting pollution and supporting our clean energy economy was made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act, which I was a proud supporter of.”

“Studies have proven time and time again that Black and Brown communities disproportionately bear the brunt of climate change. I was proud to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act last Congress, which was the largest investment in both combatting climate change and promoting environmental justice in American history. The announcement by the EPA today shows that these historic investments in tackling air pollution and combatting climate change are coming to the people of Brooklyn and New York State. I’m pleased to see that progress come to fruition, and I look forward to continuing to champion climate justice legislation to deliver for our communities and our environment,” said Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09).

“New York City is on the frontlines of the climate crisis so we must be a leader in innovation and the advancement of strategies to curtail pollution and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change,” Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) said. “New York State has some of the most rigorous climate laws in the nation and I’m thankful that funding in President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act will help us meet our ambitious goals. I’m looking forward to continuing to push the envelope at the federal level in the fight against climate change and for a clean energy future.”

“Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, New York will continue to be at the forefront of our nation’s fight against the climate crisis,” said Congressman Jerry Nadler (NY-12). “I’m proud to have voted to deliver this funding which will allow New York State to discover new ways to address climate pollution while creating good-paying jobs by expanding our clean-energy economy. I applaud both the EPA and NYSDEC for our shared commitment to advancing environmental justice, and will look forward to working with them as IRA funds continue to make their way to New York.”

“Combating both indoor and outdoor pollution to protect and improve the health and safety of people living in the Bronx, particularly those in public housing and adjacent to major highways, has been one of my highest priorities in Congress,” said U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15).“This substantial investment from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program will help communities like mine develop innovate strategies to not only fight pollution and greenhouse gas emissions but build clean energy economies for the future. It’s just one of the many reasons I’m proud to have supported the landmark Inflation Reduction Act – the most significant piece of climate-related legislation in American history.”

“This federal funding is desperately needed to help New York navigate the climate crisis and invest in strategies that will both reduce pollution and create good-paying, middle class jobs across the Hudson Valley,” said Representative Pat Ryan (NY-18). “I’m looking forward to working alongside our partners at EPA and NYSDEC to implement the Inflation Reduction Act and continue to lower carbon emissions.

“Last year, we took a powerful, critically-needed climate action by advancing our Inflation Reduction Act,” Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20) said. “Now, New York can access these investments and build upon their comprehensive planning efforts to ensure a just, equitable, and rapid clean energy transition. I’m proud of my work to deliver this funding, and it is my hope that, by making the most of this grant, New York will be empowered to secure future IRA funding and continue down its path in leading our nation in tackling the climate crisis.”

“It’s going to take concrete steps to combat the climate crisis, which is why I fought to pass the most significant climate bill in the history of our nation,” said Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25). “I’m grateful to the Environmental Protection Agency for awarding this Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to New York state so we can develop and implement innovative strategies to accelerate our transition to a clean economy.”

Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) said, “This is a $3 million investment in the health of New York residents and communities. The Inflation Reduction Act is continuing to deliver on the promise of a cleaner environment for our children as well as opportunity and jobs in a robust green U.S. economy.”

About the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program

The CPRG planning grants will support states, territories, Tribes, municipalities and air agencies, in the creation of comprehensive, innovative strategies for reducing pollution and ensuring that investments maximize benefits, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities. These climate plans will include:

Greenhouse gas emissions inventories;
Emissions projections and reduction targets;
Economic, health, and social benefits, including to low-income and disadvantaged communities;
Plans to leverage other sources of federal funding including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act;
Workforce needs to support decarbonization and a clean energy economy; and
Future government staffing and budget needs.

In program guidance released earlier this month, EPA describes how the agency intends to award and manage CPRG funds to eligible entities, including states, metropolitan areas, Tribes, and territories.

Next Steps

This funding for climate planning will be followed later this year by a national grant competition for $4.6 billion in implementation grant funding that will support the expeditious implementation of investment-ready policies created by the CPRG planning grants, programs, and projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term. Through the CPRG program, EPA will support the development and deployment of technologies and solutions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution, as well as transition America to a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans.

By summer 2023, EPA Regional Offices expect to award and administer the funding agreements once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.

More information on the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

CPRG Planning Grant Program Guidances

More information about New York’s Climate Scoping Plan and New York’s framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving net-zero emissions.

Posted March 30, 2023

Sustainable remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 23:48:10 GMT

by Deyi Hou et al, Nature

Abstract

Widespread pollution from industrial activities has driven land degradation with detrimental human health effects, especially in urban areas. Remediation and redevelopment of the estimated 5 million brownfield sites globally is needed to support the sustainable transition and increase urban ecosystem services, but many traditional strategies are often environmentally harmful. In this Review, we outline sustainable remediation strategies for the clean-up of contaminated soil and groundwater at brownfield sites. Conventional remediation strategies, such as dig and haul, or pump and treat, ignore secondary environmental burdens and socioeconomic impacts; over their life cycle, some strategies are more detrimental than taking no action. Sustainable remediation technologies, such as sustainable immobilization, low-impact bioremediation, new forms of in-situ chemical treatment and innovative passive barriers, can substantially reduce the environmental footprint of remediation and maximize overall net benefits. Compared with traditional methods, they can typically reduce the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by ~50–80%. Integrating remediation with redevelopment through nature-based solutions and sustainable energy systems could further increase the socioeconomic benefit, while providing carbon sequestration or green energy. The long-term resilience of these systems still needs to be understood, and ethics and equality must be quantified, to ensure that these systems are robust and just.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-023-00404-1

Posted March 30, 2023

Generation Bridge Announces Plans to Convert Oswego, NY Brownfield Site into Solar Project

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 20:05:39 GMT

Generation Bridge

Generation Bridge, LLC (the "Company") today announced plans to remove an inactive oil tank farm in Oswego, New York to make way for close to 25 megawatts ("MW") of solar energy by the year 2027. Generation Bridge, together with its affiliate, Generation Bridge II, LLC, is the owner of electric power generation facilities totaling more than 5,900 MW of installed capacity across New York and Connecticut.

The multi-year Oswego solar project will utilize land owned by and located roughly threeand-a-half miles south of the Oswego Harbor Power plant, which is the Company's latest commitment to hasten the transition from fossil fuel generation to clean, renewable energy.

The project is being developed by asset manager Eastern Generation, LLC. Generation Bridge and Eastern Generation are affiliates of ArcLight Capital Partners, a leading power infrastructure investor with an existing portfolio containing over 25 gigawatts of installed generating capacity.

…

For the entire release, see

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/generation-bridge-announces-plans-to-convert-oswego-ny-brownfield-site-into-solar-project-301763470.html

Posted March 14, 2023

With old Ames HQ in Rocky Hill demolished, state kicks in nearly $1 million for multi-use development

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 19:15:55 GMT

By DON R. STACOM, Hartford Courant (CT)

Now that the former Ames headquarters in Rocky Hill has been demolished, the state has awarded a nearly $1 million grant for Belfonti Companies to clean up hazardous debris and build a 213-unit apartment building there.

Along with a previous grant, the new funding means Connecticut will have put approximately $1.5 million toward the estimated $60 million or more redevelopment.

For the town and its legislative delegation, getting rid of the long-vacant 225,000 Ames building has been a priority for years. Most recently though Rocky Hill has developed a long-range plan to create a walkable town center directly around the 12-acre parcel on Main Street.

…

For the entire article, see
https://www.courant.com/2023/03/03/with-old-ames-hq-in-rocky-hill-demolished-state-kicks-in-nearly-1-million-for-multi-use-development/

Posted March 8, 2023

Southern New England’s Contaminated Landscape Costs Plenty to Clean Up

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:25:12 GMT

Region’s three states work to redevelop a District of Columbia-sized heap of contaminated brownfields

By Frank Carini, ecoRI News staff (RI)

Southern New England’s three states cover 17,322 square miles and a significant portion of that space has been adulterated by two-plus centuries of incineration, smelting, metal plating, textile manufacturing, etching, electroplating, and dumping.

Much of the environmental harm and public health deterioration that followed came after laws had been enacted but were often ignored and inadequately enforced.

The combination of apathy, selfishness, and greed that continues to place profit over the well-being of both nature and humans has led to polluted landscapes — the worse of those identified as Superfund sites or brownfields — often surrounded by marginalized neighborhoods that predominantly house low-wealth families and people of color. The remediation of these sites is frequently funded by taxpayers via government grants and/or bond funding, robbing budgets of money that could have been used to educate, house, and care for people to cover the expense of cleaning up after careless others.

…

For the entire article, see

https://ecori.org/southern-new-englands-contaminated-landscape-costs-plenty-to-clean-up/

Posted February 27, 2023

EPA News: EPA Mid-Atlantic Region schedules March 2 virtual listening session on PFAS Strategic Roadmap

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 14:46:17 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (February 16, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is holding a virtual listening session on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap for residents living in EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region on Thursday, March 2 from 6-8 p.m.

This Zoom meeting will provide information about EPA’s ongoing work under the PFAS Strategic Roadmap and what it means for the mid-Atlantic region, which includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The session will provide opportunities for communities to share feedback directly with EPA representatives about the actions described in the Roadmap. Residents interested in participating can register online at: https://pfascommunityengagement.org/register .

Background

In October 2021, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the Agency’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap—laying out a whole-of-agency approach to addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The Roadmap sets timelines by which EPA plans to take specific actions and commits to bolder new policies to safeguard public health, protect the environment, and hold polluters accountable. The actions described in the PFAS Roadmap each represent important and meaningful steps to safeguard communities from PFAS contamination. Cumulatively, these actions will build upon one another and lead to more enduring and protective solutions.

In November 2022, EPA released “A Year of Progress Under EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap,” which underscores key actions taken by the agency during the first year of implementing the PFAS Roadmap. EPA continues to implement a whole-of-agency approach, advancing science, and following the law to safeguard public health, protect the environment, and hold polluters accountable. Concurrently with this one-year progress report, EPA announced that it will hold virtual community engagement events in each EPA Region in 2023, which EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region is announcing today.

These engagements align with recommendations from the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council and EPA’s Roadmap commitment to engage directly with stakeholders. Recognizing the unique and pervasive impacts of PFAS on Tribal communities, EPA is also planning to hold a session specifically designed to hear from our Tribal partners.

More information on EPA’s efforts on PFAS is available at www.epa.gov/pfas

Posted February 17, 2023

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $75 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Address Emerging Contaminants like PFAS in Drinking Water in Pennsylvania

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 18:03:42 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 14, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today $75,086,000 from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will go to Pennsylvania to address emerging contaminants, like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water. A total investment of $2 billion is allocated to states and territories and will be made available to communities as grants through EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program. The funding will promote access to safe and clean water in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities while supporting local economies.

“Too many American communities, especially those that are small, rural, or underserved, are suffering from exposure to PFAS and other harmful contaminants in their drinking water,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we are investing in America and providing billions of dollars to strengthen our nation’s water infrastructure while safeguarding people’s health and boosting local economies. These grants build on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap and will help protect our smallest and most vulnerable communities from these persistent and dangerous chemicals."

"We cannot wait any longer to address water quality and the health impacts of PFAS in our neighborhoods,” said Adam Ortiz, EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. “This federal funding will help Pennsylvania communities impacted by PFAS to get access to clean, safe drinking water.”

“For years I have I urged multiple presidents’ administrations to get ‘forever chemicals’ like PFAS out of Pennsylvania drinking water and keep them out,” said U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). “This major investment, made possible by the infrastructure law, is a strong start to clean up PFAS contamination in Pennsylvania’s waters. I’m going to keep working with the Biden Administration to build on this progress and we won’t stop until every Pennsylvanian has safe, clean water in their communities.”

“The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will promote environmental justice and transform Pennsylvania for generations to come — and I’m thrilled that our region will receive infrastructure funding to specifically address contaminants, like PFAS, in our drinking water,” said U.S. Representative Madeleine Dean (D-PA 4th). “Pennsylvanians have a right to clean water, as guaranteed by our Constitution — yet our communities have suffered the harmful consequences of PFAS for decades. I’m grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for directing investments to ensure the health and safety of our neighbors, and I will continue to work with officials, on every level, to protect Pennsylvanians from PFAS.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $5 billion over five years to help communities that are on the frontlines of PFAS contamination reduce PFAS in drinking water. The $2 billion announced today to states and territories can be used to prioritize infrastructure and source water treatment for pollutants, like PFAS and other emerging contaminants, and to conduct water quality testing.

“Pennsylvania has been working to protect residents from PFAS contamination in drinking water and soil, and we welcome the resources from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that will help further these efforts for our communities,” said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Rich Negrin. “This federal funding will help upgrade the public water systems in Pennsylvania to filter out these harmful chemicals and ensure clean drinking water across the Commonwealth. The Biden administration’s efforts will protect Pennsylvanians for generations to come.”

EPA is also releasing the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Implementation document. The implementation document provides states and communities with the information necessary to use this funding to address local water quality and public health challenges. These grants will enable communities to improve local water infrastructure and reduce emerging contaminants in drinking water by implementing solutions such as installing necessary treatment solutions.

Today’s actions represent a significant milestone within the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitments to combat PFAS pollution and safeguard drinking water, and specifically EPA’s October 2021 PFAS Strategic Roadmap. Under the Roadmap, EPA is working across the agency to protect the public from the health impacts of PFAS. EPA has taken a number of actions to deliver progress on PFAS including:

Proposing to designate two PFAS as CERCLA hazardous substances. If finalized, this will be a critical step toward increasing transparency around releases of PFAS and holding polluters accountable for cleaning up their contamination.
Releasing drinking water health advisories. Acting in accordance with EPA’s mission to protect public health and keep communities and public health authorities informed when new science becomes available, the Agency issued drinking water health advisories for four PFAS.
Laying the foundation to enhance data on PFAS. This included an order under EPA’s National PFAS Testing Strategy requiring companies to conduct PFAS testing, and nationwide sampling through the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for 29 PFAS in public drinking water systems .
Expanding the scientific understanding of PFAS. The Agency issued more than 30 scientific publications by EPA researchers and released EPA’s PFAS Thermal Treatment Database.
Translating the latest science into EPA’s cross-agency PFAS efforts. This included updating EPA’s contaminated site cleanup tables, developing new PFAS methods and conducting toxicity assessments, and issuing draft national recommended water quality criteria to protect aquatic life.
Continuing engagement with the public. EPA’s PFAS work was informed by public webinars, stakeholder meetings, Congressional testimony, and engagement with EPA’s federal advisory committees.

In addition to this new grant, EPA is also working to propose a PFAS National Priority Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) in the coming weeks. The draft proposed rule is currently undergoing interagency review and EPA will issue the proposed rule for public comment when it clears the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The agency anticipates finalizing the rule by the end of 2023. Together, with today’s announcement, these actions highlight EPA’s commitments outlined in the PFAS Strategic Roadmap to protect public health and the environment from the impacts of PFAS. They also illustrate the benefits of investing in water—protecting public health and the environment, addressing key challenges facing communities, and creating jobs.

# # #

Posted February 15, 2023

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $18.9 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Address Emerging Contaminants like PFAS in Drinking Water in Maryland

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 18:02:40 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 14, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today $18,914,000 from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will go to Maryland to address emerging contaminants, like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water. A total investment of $2 billion is allocated to states and territories and will be made available to communities as grants through EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program. The funding will promote access to safe and clean water in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities while supporting local economies.

“We cannot wait any longer to address water quality and the health impacts of PFAS in our neighborhoods,” said Adam Ortiz, EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. “This federal funding will help Pennsylvania communities impacted by PFAS to get access to clean, safe drinking water.”

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing in Maryland’s communities, supporting our local economies, and improving the standard of living in people’s everyday lives,” said Governor Wes Moore. “Every Marylander should have a safe, sustainable source of drinking water and today’s action, in partnership with our leadership in Washington and local leadership across the state, will help us make that a reality.”

“Access to safe, clean drinking water is one of the most fundamental rights of every Marylander. I am extremely concerned by the number of emerging threats to our water supply, especially those presented by ‘forever chemicals’ like PFAS,” said Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD). “The sage commitment of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities deal with these challenges will support a cooperative, risk-based scientific approach to detect, evaluate and minimize the impact of contaminants. This will help to better protect every resident and the health of the Chesapeake Bay.”

“All Americans deserve access to safe, clean drinking water. But as harmful pollutants and contaminants like PFAS persist, the health of our communities and our environment is at risk. I fought to pass the infrastructure modernization law so we can deliver these critical investments to frontline communities working to address these dangerous chemicals and ensure greater access to clean water for everyone,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

Proposing to designate two PFAS as CERCLA hazardous substances. If finalized, this will be a critical step toward increasing transparency around releases of PFAS and holding polluters accountable for cleaning up their contamination.
Releasing drinking water health advisories. Acting in accordance with EPA’s mission to protect public health and keep communities and public health authorities informed when new science becomes available, the Agency issued drinking water health advisories for four PFAS.
Laying the foundation to enhance data on PFAS. This included an order under EPA’s National PFAS Testing Strategy requiring companies to conduct PFAS testing, and nationwide sampling through the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for 29 PFAS in public drinking water systems .
Expanding the scientific understanding of PFAS. The Agency issued more than 30 scientific publications by EPA researchers and released EPA’s PFAS Thermal Treatment Database.
Translating the latest science into EPA’s cross-agency PFAS efforts. This included updating EPA’s contaminated site cleanup tables, developing new PFAS methods and conducting toxicity assessments, and issuing draft national recommended water quality criteria to protect aquatic life.
Continuing engagement with the public. EPA’s PFAS work was informed by public webinars, stakeholder meetings, Congressional testimony, and engagement with EPA’s federal advisory committees.

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Posted February 15, 2023

Developer Wants to Build Lux Condos on E. 78th St, but DEC Says: Clean Up Brownfield Before Building 35 Story Tower

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:13:26 GMT

A West Coast real estate developer bought the nearly quarter acre plot at the corner of E. 78th St. and First Ave. for $73.5 million late last year with plans to build a luxury condo complex but first the NYS Department of Environment Conservation said containments of groundwater and soil must be cleaned up and is now seeking public input on a proposed plan.

by Keith J. Kelly, Westside Spirit (NY)

A San Francisco real estate developer bought the quarter acre lot at E. 78th St. and First Ave. for $73.5 million late last year with plans to erect a luxury condo apartment complex on the site that could stretch up to 35 stories high–but before any work can begin the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) says soil and grondwater contaminants must be cleared first.

Carmel Partners has big plans for the site. According to linecity, a blog which tracks real estate filings, the company has already filed plans with the building department for a 24 story, 209-foot-tall development that will total 195,299 square feet and include 182,020 square feet of residential space and of 13,279 square feet of commercial space. “The average size of an apartment, based on gross numbers, will be a very robust 1,936 square feet,” according to linecity, which said the developer is calling for 94 units.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/developer-wants-to-build-lux-condos-on-e-78th-st-but-dec-says-clean-up-brownfield-before-building-35-story-tower-YM2394890

Posted February 14, 2023

EPA News: EPA Announces New Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Superfund Cleanup Projects in Pennsylvania

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:11:33 GMT

Biden-Harris Administration BIL funding enables start of new cleanup projects at 22 Superfund sites, along with 100 other ongoing cleanups

WASHINGTON (Feb. 10, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the second wave of approximately $1 billion in funding today from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to start new cleanup projects at 22 Superfund sites, including the Jackson Ceramix, Inc. and Ryeland Road Arsenic sites in Jefferson and Berks counties and expedite over 100 other ongoing cleanups across the country.

“Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we are moving faster than ever before to progress clean up at contaminated sites – from manufacturing facilities to landfills – in communities across the country,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “But our work is not yet finished – we’re continuing to build on this momentum to ensure that communities living near many of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination finally get the investments and protections they deserve.”

There are thousands of contaminated sites across the country due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed.Superfund cleanups help transform and repurpose contaminated properties into residences, retail and office space warehouses, solar power generation, and more. In addition, these sites can support natural areas, parks, and recreation facilities, providing greenspace and safe places for families to play outside.

“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is making Pennsylvania healthier and more prosperous, including communities that have historically missed out on federal funding,” U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) said. “The people of Jefferson and Berks Counties deserve this funding and deserve to breathe cleaner air and drink cleaner water—rights guaranteed to them by our Commonwealth’s constitution.”

The Jackson Ceramix, Inc. Superfund Site, located in Falls Creek, Jefferson County, is a former china manufacturing facility that operated until 1985. Historical operations resulted in primarily lead contamination in soils, sediments, surface water and a nearby wetland. New BIL investments will be used to clean-up the Site and will include repairing the existing soil cover, thermal treatment, and removal of contaminated soils and sediments.

“We are very excited to be moving forward with the cleanup of the Jackson Ceramix Superfund site. We feel that once this project is completed it will open up this property for economic development in our community, providing a facility that will offer jobs for our extended community, and an increased tax base for our Borough,” said Chuck Case, Borough Manager, Falls Creek, Pa.

The Ryeland Road Arsenic Superfund Site, located in Heidelberg Township, formerly housed facilities that made pesticides, fungicides, paints and varnishes, and disposed of waste. Past operations contaminated soil and groundwater with arsenic, lead and other chemicals. New federal dollars will be used to further the cleanup efforts, which will include removing soil contamination.

"We’re thankful that the federal government is helping Heidelberg Township and for looking out for the wealth, health, and betterment of our community. We’re hoping to see this site turned into greenspace for future generations.” said David Randler, Chairman of the Board, Heidelberg Township.

The $1 billion investment announced today is the second wave of funding from the $3.5 billion allocated for Superfund cleanup work. With the first wave of fundingannounced in December 2021, EPA deployed more than $1 billion for cleanup activities at more than 100 sites across the country. Thanks to this historic funding, EPA started 81 new cleanup projects in 2022, including projects at 44 sites previously on the backlog. By starting four times as many construction projects as the year before, EPA is aggressively bringing more sites across the country closer to finishing cleanup.

"This funding brings communities that much closer to being rid of legacy contamination that’s been hindering recreational access, economic redevelopment, and ultimately – the peace of mind that comes with knowing one’s air, land, and water are safe,” said EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “EPA is steadfast in its efforts towards making that peace of mind a reality for all Pennsylvanians, regardless of the shortsightedness of industries past, while transforming contaminated properties and creating jobs in overburdened communities.”

“This funding brings communities that much closer to being rid of legacy contamination that’s been hindering recreational access, economic redevelopment, and ultimately – the peace of mind that comes with knowing one’s air, land, and water are safe,” said EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. "EPA is steadfast in its efforts towards making that peace of mind a reality for all Pennsylvanians, regardless of the shortsightedness of industries past, while transforming contaminated properties and creating jobs in overburdened communities."

EPA is committed to carrying out this work in line with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative by advancing environmental justice and incorporating equity considerations into all aspects of the Superfund cleanup process. Out of the 22 sites in this round of funding, 60% are in communities with the potential for environmental justice concerns based on data from EJSCREEN, a mapping and screening tool that provides EPA with a nationally consistent dataset and approach for combining environmental and demographic socioeconomic indicators.

Posted February 14, 2023

Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $66 Million to Help New Jersey Communities Address Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:09:15 GMT

Contact: Barbara Khan, (212) 637-3675, khan.barbara@epa.gov

NEW YORK (Feb. 13, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $66.1 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address emerging contaminants, like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), in drinking water in New Jersey. This investment, which is allocated to states and territories, will be made available to communities as grants through EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program and will promote access to safe and clean water in small, rural and disadvantaged communities while supporting local economies. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the availability of $2 billion.

“Too many American communities, especially those that are small, rural, or underserved, are suffering from exposure to PFAS and other harmful contaminants in their drinking water,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we are investing in America and providing unprecedented resources to strengthen our nation’s water infrastructure while safeguarding people’s health and boosting local economies. These grants build on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap and will help protect our smallest and most vulnerable communities from these persistent and dangerous chemicals.”

"This funding is part of the once-in-a lifetime investments we are making to transform infrastructure under the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “EPA is working with our state partners to deliver clean water to communities, protect public health, and advance environmental justice across New Jersey and the nation.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $5 billion over five years to help communities that are on the frontlines of PFAS contamination reduce PFAS in drinking water. EPA announced the funds for New Jersey as part of an allotment of $2 billion to states and territories that can be used to prioritize infrastructure and source water treatment for pollutants, like PFAS and other emerging contaminants, and to conduct water quality testing.

“I’m proud to work to deliver resources that ensure everyone has access to safe, clean drinking water. We know disadvantaged communities disproportionately bear the impact of contaminants in water, such as PFAS and lead. This latest infusion of federal funds—part of the historic investment in our water infrastructure under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—will allow New Jersey to expand access to clean water for everyone,” said Senator Cory Booker.

“Safe drinking water is a basic human right. That’s why I fought to ensure that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included significant funding to address PFAS contamination, especially in overburdened communities, and I’m glad to see that funding continues to make its way to New Jersey to do just that,” Congressman Frank Pallone said. “New Jersey has some of the highest levels of PFAS contamination in the country. While the state is working to address this public health threat by adopting protective state drinking water standards and pursuing natural resource damage cases, I’ve led efforts in Congress to address these toxic chemicals and ensure that everyone can trust the water coming out of the tap.”

“The Biden Administration’s allocation of more than $66 million demonstrates our shared commitment to clean water and healthy environments for all community members,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “Thanks to the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the determined advocacy of our congressional delegation, New Jersey can now double its efforts to protect our children and families from emerging contaminants like PFAS. These efforts will prove especially vital for our state’s rural and underserved communities, which deserve equitable and reliable access to safe water regardless of their zip code.”

“In New Jersey, we are paving the way for the nation in addressing PFAS in our water supplies and our environment,” said New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. “We are very grateful to the EPA and to our congressional delegation who share our commitment to protecting public health by making Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds available to help small and disadvantaged communities take steps to protect their water supplies.”

Proposing to designate two PFAS as CERCLA hazardous substances. If finalized, this will be a critical step toward increasing transparency around releases of PFAS and holding polluters accountable for cleaning up their contamination.
Releasing drinking water health advisories. Acting in accordance with EPA’s mission to protect public health and keep communities and public health authorities informed when new science becomes available, the Agency issued drinking water health advisories for four PFAS.
Laying the foundation to enhance data on PFAS. This included an order under EPA’s National PFAS Testing Strategy requiring companies to conduct PFAS testing, and nationwide sampling through the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for 29 PFAS in public drinking water systems .
Expanding the scientific understanding of PFAS. The Agency issued more than 30 scientific publications by EPA researchers and released EPA’s PFAS Thermal Treatment Database.
Translating the latest science into EPA’s cross-agency PFAS efforts. This included updating EPA’s contaminated site cleanup tables, developing new PFAS methods and conducting toxicity assessments, and issuing draft national recommended water quality criteria to protect aquatic life.
Continuing engagement with the public. EPA’s PFAS work was informed by public webinars, stakeholder meetings, Congressional testimony, and engagement with EPA’s federal advisory committees.

In addition to this new grant, EPA is also working to propose a PFAS NPDWR in the coming weeks. The draft proposed rule is currently undergoing interagency review and EPA will issue the proposed rule for public comment when it clears the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The agency anticipates finalizing the rule by the end of 2023. Together, with today’s announcement, these actions highlight EPA’s commitments outlined in the PFAS Strategic Roadmap to protect public health and the environment from the impacts of PFAS. They also illustrate the benefits of investing in water—protecting public health and the environment, addressing key challenges facing communities, and creating jobs.

To learn more about EPA’s roadmap laying out a whole-of-agency approach to addressing PFAS, visit EPA’s PFAS web page.

To learn more about New Jersey’s PFAS efforts, visit its PFAS web site.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

Posted February 14, 2023

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $84 Million to Help New York Communities Address Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:08:18 GMT

Contact: Barbara Khan, (212) 637-3675, khan.barbara@epa.gov

NEW YORK (Feb. 13, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $83.7 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address emerging contaminants, like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), in drinking water in New York. This investment, which is allocated to states and territories, will be made available to communities as grants through EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program and will promote access to safe and clean water in small, rural and disadvantaged communities while supporting local economies. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the availability of $2 billion.

“Too many American communities, especially those that are small, rural, or underserved, are suffering from exposure to PFAS and other harmful contaminants in their drinking water,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we are investing in America and providing unprecedented resources to strengthen our nation’s water infrastructure while safeguarding people’s health and boosting local economies. These grants build on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap and will help protect our smallest and most vulnerable communities from these persistent and dangerous chemicals.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $5 billion over five years to help communities that are on the frontlines of PFAS contamination reduce PFAS in drinking water. EPA announced the funds for New York as part of an allotment of $2 billion to states and territories that can be used to prioritize infrastructure and source water treatment for pollutants, like PFAS and other emerging contaminants, and to conduct water quality testing.

Senator Charles Schumer said, “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I fought to pass, communities across New York will finally have access to the funding they need to clean-up toxic PFAS pollution and ensure safe and clean drinking water. These federal funds will jumpstart critical projects and help communities big and small on the frontlines of PFAS contamination, all while creating good paying jobs to stimulating the local economy. I am proud to deliver over $83 million for New York to directly tack the issue of emerging contaminants and PFAS and I will keep pushing for speedy cleanups across New York: from Long Island to Newburgh and Niagara.”

“This is a historic investment that will help clean up some of the most dangerous and widespread contaminants in our drinking water,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “I’m proud to have fought to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide this funding to small and disadvantaged communities across New York and I look forward to continuing to work with the Biden administration to protect the environment and fight PFAS contamination.”

Proposing to designate two PFAS as CERCLA hazardous substances. If finalized, this will be a critical step toward increasing transparency around releases of PFAS and holding polluters accountable for cleaning up their contamination.
Releasing drinking water health advisories. Acting in accordance with EPA’s mission to protect public health and keep communities and public health authorities informed when new science becomes available, the Agency issued drinking water health advisories for four PFAS.
Laying the foundation to enhance data on PFAS. This included an order under EPA’s National PFAS Testing Strategy requiring companies to conduct PFAS testing, and nationwide sampling through the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for 29 PFAS in public drinking water systems .
Expanding the scientific understanding of PFAS. The Agency issued more than 30 scientific publications by EPA researchers and released EPA’s PFAS Thermal Treatment Database.
Translating the latest science into EPA’s cross-agency PFAS efforts. This included updating EPA’s contaminated site cleanup tables, developing new PFAS methods and conducting toxicity assessments, and issuing draft national recommended water quality criteria to protect aquatic life.
Continuing engagement with the public. EPA’s PFAS work was informed by public webinars, stakeholder meetings, Congressional testimony, and engagement with EPA’s federal advisory committees.

To learn more about EPA’s roadmap laying out a whole-of-agency approach to addressing PFAS, visit EPA’s PFAS web page.

To learn more about New York’s PFAS efforts, visit its PFAS web site.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

Posted February 14, 2023

Village of Herkimer Receives Great News: Awarded Grant by NYS to Complete Brownfield Opportunity Area Plan

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 14:52:39 GMT

The New York State Department of State has awarded the Village of Herkimer $173,250 to complete the Village of Herkimer Brownfield Opportunity Area Plan. The Village intends to complete a BOA plan for a 32-acre area along its Main Street corridor, to address blight, safety, and aesthetics of structures, a weak economy and low employment, and poor community engagement. Dana Sherry, Mayor of the Village of Herkimer, explains, “the Village of Herkimer has a strong municipal system and administrators that are dedicated to the completion of the BOA Plan and revitalizing the Village's downtown. The project will benefit from a partnership with the Herkimer County IDA that is directly supporting the Village's pursuit of the project.” Objectives to be achieved include determining the best use for blighted/potential brownfield areas, identifying public/private partnership opportunities, expansion of economic activity, and increased community engagement.

The proposed project will give the Village an opportunity to strategically analyze the

economic potential in its downtown corridor. Collaboration with the community as well as public and private partners and stakeholders will ensure that the BOA is geared toward a commitment to sustainability in the downtown center. “This award, in conjunction with our EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant, will allow us to double our resources and help us to complete this plan” said the HCIDA’s CEO John Piseck. Anticipated community benefits include the identification of strategic opportunities for redevelopment, expansion of economic activity, identification of private partners and available public funds to leverage investment, and increased community support of revitalization efforts and property rehabilitation. Please contact John J. Piseck by cell, 315-868-4928, or email, jpiseck@herkimercountyida.org, with any questions.

Posted January 4, 2023

EPA announced its final rule concerning the new ASTM Phase I ESA Process

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 15:47:03 GMT

It was only a matter of time before EPA announced its final rule concerning the new ASTM Phase I ESA Process and it’s designation as being compliant with CERCLA AAI.

The final rule was published today in the Federal Register (see link below) and it has an effective date of February 13, 2023.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/15/2022-27044/standards-and-practices-for-all-appropriate-inquiries

Posted December 16, 2022

The Nature Conservancy and Montclair State University Partner for Area-Wide Brownfield Plan in Historic Great Falls

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 18:54:43 GMT

By Stephen Merrill Smith

On the beautiful fall morning of October 19, 2022, representatives from BCONE (Stephen Merrill Smith, Esq.) and LSRPA (Candace Baker, LSRPA VP and Mike Salerno) met with representatives of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) at Great Falls Park in Paterson, NJ. The group met to tour the Paterson sites and learn about TNC’s plans to work with local partners to restore and create opportunities for public access along the Passaic River and its shorelines.

Nature Conservancy, New Jersey Director, Dr. Barbara Brummer greeted the group as it gathered in front of the historic Great Falls where two billion gallons of water flow over 77 feet every day. Dr. Brummer introduced the attendees and turned the tour over to TNC’s Cities Program Director Katie-Rose Imbriano, and TNC’s Manager of Cities Projects Dr. Johnny Quispe. Imbriano explained that Paterson is unique as the first industrially planned city in the United States. Alexander Hamilton and Pierre L’Enfant originated the idea of using three tiers of gravity-directed water raceways from the falls for industrial power. A series of raceways funneled the water from the falls to power water mills and turbines at several factories in the area of the redevelopment plan. The factories in this neighborhood produced the first submarine, the engine for Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, Samuel Colt’s gunsmithing operation, as well as a factory that produced more than 12,000 locomotives.

TNC’s Cities Program has a goal of benefiting at least 100,000 people through greening projects and supporting policy development in its two focal cities, Newark and Paterson. During the tour, participants were able to see a small portion of all the projects envisioned. To accomplish such an ambitious goal, TNC is working to support and partner with MSU, the City of Paterson, local leaders, and anchor institutions. One project we toured was the cleanup and redevelopment of the (Allied Textile Printing) ATP site. Dr. Quispe and Imbriano emphasized that it is critical for the project to ensure planning for equitable conservation in the largely overburdened neighborhoods along the Passaic River. Historically, communities along the river are prone to flooding, increasing their overall vulnerability. The project aims to ensure that community members have opportunities to provide input into plans and realize the benefits they wish to see within their community. Ultimately, one of the key goals is to connect communities to the Passaic River by creating public access and use nature-based solutions to reduce flooding impacts (recently by Hurricane Irene). Regarding the flooding, the State has bought out some of those properties, but there is a lot of work remaining. One site next to the river, will serve as an expression of the history of waterpower and industry because the three-tiered raceway power system is a significant industrial archaeological site in the United States, especially considering that the provenance of Hamilton is what drove it forward. Because it represents such a unique interaction between the environmental and the historical opportunities, the proposed Green Innovation Center at the ATP site provide an opportunity to showcase a world-class historical renovation and educational example of the raceways, demonstrating the rushing water and how it served as renewable power in the 19th century. Moreover, the project envisions improved access to the riverfront, examples of green urban runoff buffer zones next to rivers, as well as an extension of the river walk. Dr. Quispe noted that just north of where we were standing the construction we could hear was where the riverwalk work had recently broken ground; the design is to stretch out the riverwalk and connect it to the Northside communities of Paterson.

Additionally, Dr. Quispe held up a rendering of a green street landscape already that is currently being designed and slated for construction in 2024. Dr. Quispe emphasized that this was only a subset of a larger vision to construct green streets throughout Paterson that connect schools, parks, and the Passaic River. Dr. Quispe mentioned the Green Team (which included a local group of Paterson Flood Fighters, Waterspirit, New Jersey Future, and Rutgers’ Water Resources Group) had worked on initial design of the Green Street project on Fair Street. He re-emphasized that the team is planning to use this beautiful new green street to demonstrate to the community how practices such as green streets can alter a typical streetscape into connected green spaces that provide opportunities for integrating multi-modal transportation and utility upgrades. Along the tour we passed through the Power Arts District where there is a lot of renovation for artist housing. Resident artists in Patterson have made this a center of revival for the arts in the city.

At several points during the tour, especially during the presentation by Montclair State University President, Jonathan Koppell, it became clear that collaborating and communicating with all partners, including the State, the City of Paterson, the National Park Service, and Habitat for Humanity is key to the project’s success. There is a genuine desire to involve the community in envisioning the great possibilities for Paterson and the Passaic River. This is another area where BCONE and LSRPA could help – to become partners in the project to help with community involvement. TNC and MSU emphasized that they seek to solicit engaged community input so that the project ideas presented during the tour represent a cumulative vision of the community that serves the entire community.re community.

A highlight of the tour; Barbara treated us all to lunch at a Peruvian restaurant in Paterson.
In attendance were TNC Trustees and Conservancy Council members Barbara Brummer, Conservancy Director; Eric Olsen, Director of Conservation Programs; Katie-Rose Imbriano, Director of Cities Programs, Dr. Johnny Quispe, Manager of Cities Projects; Carrie VanDusen, Director of Philanthropy

EPA New Grant Opportunities for Brownfields

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 15:50:46 GMT

NOW OPEN! Check out EPA's new grant opportunities for brownfields technical assistance & research. Applications due February 14, 2023.

FY 2023 Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Grants

This solicitation is anticipated to be $5 million over a 5-year period of performance for each geographical region that corresponds to EPA’s 10 Regions, and $3 million for Nationwide Technical Assistance.

For more information: FY 2023 Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Grants

Apply Now:FY 2023 Guidelines for Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities (EPA-I-OLEM-OBLR-22-11)

FY 2023 Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants

For this solicitation we anticipate awarding five entirely new Nationwide Brownfields Technical Assistance cooperative agreements, which will focus on five different areas of technical assistance and research. Award amounts will range from $500,000 to $1 million over a 4-year or 5-year period of performance, depending on the subject area of focus.

The five focus areas are:

Apply now: FY 2023 Guidelines for Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants (EPA-I-OLEM-OBLR-22-12)

Here are the the four Region TAB coordinators:

Region I Tab: Nefeli Bompoti - University of Connecticut

Region 2 Tab: Colette Santasieri - NJIT

Region 3 Tab: Katie See - West Virginia University Research Corporation

Region 4 Tab: Clark Henry - ICMA

Posted November 28, 2022

Interactive Mapping Tools for Identifying Redevelopment Projects

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 20:13:50 GMT

by Jeff Campbell, Peak Environmental

Identifying real estate available for purchase is a simple process through the well-established commercial and industrial real estate markets that realtors, developers, lenders, insurers and attorneys participate in every day. Locating environmentally impaired and underutilized property that is available for purchase and redevelopment as part of a local or state redevelopment plan is another matter, yet it is the first critical step in the Brownfield process. State Brownfield programs that include formal designation of redevelopment areas, liability management, and financial incentives have greatly enhanced connections, leading to countless Brownfield success stories across the nation. Local governments actually hold title to a limited number of properties in need of redevelopment, therefore, privately owned properties represent the primary source of Brownfield opportunities.

November 17, 2022

ASTM E1527-21 Phase I ESA Standard Changes

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 20:13:02 GMT

by Jeff Campbell, Peak Environmental

The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) committee recently updated the ASTM E1527 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Standard (Phase I ESA). The current version, E1527-13, was published in 2013 and the updated version was approved by ASTM International in November 2021. The USEPA issued a rule in March 2022 adopting E1527-21, which was set to become final on May 13, 2022; however, due to adverse comments the rule is not yet final. Since it is anticipated that the EPA will address the comments and issue the rule in final soon, it is currently acceptable to use either version of the standard or a hybrid of the two. Here are a few key changes to look for in the 2021 standard.

Posted November 17, 2022

NJDEP Adds Interim Soil Standards for PFAS

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 20:11:54 GMT

by Jeff Campbell, Peak Environmental

In the October 17, 2022 NJ Register, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) posted interim soil remediation standards for several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds, using authority provided in NJAC 7:26D Remediation Standards, which does not require public or stakeholder participation. The interim standards are for the direct contact and migration to groundwater exposure routes, and include perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid and its ammonium salt (also known as GenX).

Posted November 17, 2022

NJDEP clarifies A-901 Applicability

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 20:10:37 GMT

by Jeff Campbell, Peak Environmental

Solid and hazardous waste regulations in New Jersey require permits to transport solid waste materials and to operate receiving facilities. In addition, services related to brokering, purchase, sale or disposition of these materials also require a license, commonly known as an A-901 license. In August, NJDEP issued a policy statement clarifying applicability of this license to LSRPs, as the management of waste is common in remediation projects. Because of this and the strict regulations under which LSRPs operate, LSRPs retained to remediate a property and associated staff are not required to hold an A-901 license for that project. However, everyone, including LSRPs must have an A-901 license for waste management projects that the LSRP is not formally retained.

View the article here: https://peak-environmental.com/2022/08/30/njdep-clarifies-a-901-applicability/

Posted November 17, 2022

BCONE Member, David J. Freeman and Matthew J. Sinkman to Chair Panels at Upcoming Superfund/Brownfield Program Update 2022

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 19:38:29 GMT

By: Matthew J. Sinkman and David J. Freeman in Development/Redevelopment on 11/08/2022

David J. Freeman and Matthew J. Sinkman of the Gibbons Environmental Group will serve as Panel Chairs at the upcoming annual Superfund/Brownfield Program Update 2022, presented by the Environmental & Energy Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.

The program will take place virtually on December 7, 2022. Mr. Freeman, Co-Chair of the conference, will moderate a panel regarding developments in the federal Superfund program over the past year. Mr. Sinkman will moderate a panel regarding renewable energy issues and the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP).

An outstanding faculty of government officials, attorneys, and consultants will participate on these panels as well as panels regarding statutory amendments to the BCP and proposed changes to BCP regulations, affordable housing issues, and a case law update. Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) and NYLCV Education Fund, will be the Keynote Speaker and discuss the results of the 2022 elections and what they mean for New York’s environmental agenda.

You can register for this timely program by clicking here.

Click Here to View Full Blog Post

Posted November 17, 2022

ICYMI: EPA Administrator Regan Launches New National Office Dedicated to Advancing Environmental Justice and Civil Rights

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 15:33:12 GMT

EPA’s historic Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights will position the agency to better advance environmental justice, enforce civil rights laws in overburdened communities, and deliver new grants and technical assistance

WASHINGTON (September 27, 2022) – In case you missed it, on Saturday, September 24, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced that EPA is establishing a new national office charged with advancing environmental justice and civil rights. The creation of the new Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights delivers on President Biden’s commitment to elevate these critical issues to the highest levels of the government and solidifies the agency’s commitment to delivering justice and equity for all.

Administrator Regan announced the creation of the new office alongside environmental justice and civil rights leaders in Warren County, North Carolina, which was the site of protests 40 years ago that launched the environmental justice movement. The office launch was covered by a number of outlets, including the Associated Press, The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, and was highlighted by leaders across the country, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Reverend Al Sharpton, Congressman G.K. Butterfield, Rev. Dr. William Barber II and more.

WATCH Administrator Regan’s office launch video HERE.

WATCH the full program from Saturday’s event in Warren County HERE.

READ the Administrator’s remarks HERE.

Posted September 29, 2022

NJEDA releases brownfields redevelopment incentive information for public feedback

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 19:20:49 GMT

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority released information on the Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program — a $300 million tax credit program designed to compensate developers of redevelopment projects located on brownfield sites for remediation costs — for public feedback.

Members of the public are encouraged to review the preliminary information and submit written feedback through an online form available on the Economic Recovery Act website. The NJEDA will also be hosting two listening sessions for public input on the proposed information.

Posted September 8, 2022

Decades in the works, ‘city within a city’ project set to begin in Windsor

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 16:11:03 GMT

By Emily DiSalvo, CT Insider (CT)

A 650-acre mixed-use development is coming to the site of a former brownfield.

Great Pond Village, located off of Day Hill Road, entered its next phase Tuesday after two decades of planning and brownfield redevelopment challenges delayed the project. The total investment in the phase is $14.4 million. The first phase of the project debuted in 2019 with the opening of a 230-unit luxury apartment complex.

The vision for the land includes a mixed-use neighborhood, rural neighborhood, village center, an employment district and an industrial/warehouse district.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.ctinsider.com/hartford/article/Decades-in-the-works-city-within-a-city-17362761.php

Posted August 12, 2022

Paterson to Benefit from Part of $6.5 Million in EPA Brownfields-Specific Funding Going to New Jersey Communities

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 17:52:14 GMT

Contact Information: John Senn, 212-637-3662, senn.john@epa.gov

NEW YORK (June 21, 2022) – Paterson, N.J. will benefit from the more than $250 million in funding recently awarded across the country to 265 communities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia was joined today by U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh and New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s Tim Sullivan to highlight the important work to be conducted in Paterson, N.J. using part of this funding. New Jersey communities received about $6.5 of that money, including a $2 million grant to New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to be used in communities like Paterson, N.J. The funding is in part from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides a total of $1.5 billion to advance environmental justice, spur economic revitalization, and create jobs by cleaning up contaminated, polluted, or hazardous brownfield properties.

NJEDA is receiving a $2 million grant to assess 73 contaminated sites in communities throughout the state. Brownfield sites in the 13 municipalities designated as high priority by the State of New Jersey due to historic disinvestment will be prioritized for work under this grant. In addition to Paterson, those municipalities are Atlantic City, Bayonne, Bridgeton, Camden, Jersey City, Millville, Newark, Paulsboro, Perth Amboy, Salem, Trenton, and Vineland. Grant funds also will be used to prepare cleanup and reuse plans and conduct community outreach.

The Brownfields Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver at least 40 percent of the benefits of certain government programs to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 86 percent of the communities selected to receive funding as part of today’s announcement have proposed projects in historically underserved areas.

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said, “EPA’s Brownfields Program breathes new life into communities by helping to turn contaminated and potentially dangerous sites into productive economic contributors. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are significantly ramping up our investments in communities, with the bulk of our funding going to places that have been overburdened and underserved for far too long.”

“Paterson will benefit from the powerful tool of brownfields, which helps overburdened communities in New Jersey address local inequities by providing a means to revitalize properties and promote environmental health, economic growth, and job creation,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The Brownfields program transforms communities, and BIL gives the program a huge infusion of funding with a historic $1.5 billion dollars that will be leveraged to make a real and lasting on-the-ground difference for communities across the country.”

Applicants selected for funding in New Jersey this year are:

City of Asbury Park, Cleanup Grant of $500,000
Camden Redevelopment Agency, Revolving Loan Fund Supplemental Grant of $3,500,000
Hamilton Township, Cleanup Grant of $500,000
New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Assessment Grant of $2,000,000 for projects statewide

The national list of the applicants selected for funding is available here: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-fy-2022-brownfields-assessment-rlf-cleanup-arc-grants-and-rlf

Since its inception in 1995, EPA’s investments in brownfield sites have leveraged more than $35 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. This has led to significant benefits for communities across the country. For example:

To date, this funding has led to more than 183,000 jobs in cleanup, construction, and redevelopment and more than 9,500 properties have been made ready for reuse.

Based on grant recipient reporting, recipients leveraged on average $20.43 for each EPA Brownfields dollar and 10.3 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfields Grant funds expended on assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund cooperative agreements.

In addition, an academic peer-reviewed study has found that residential properties near brownfield sites increased in value by 5% to 15% as a result of cleanup activities.

Finally, analyzing data near 48 brownfields, EPA found an estimated $29 million to $97 million in additional tax revenue for local governments in a single year after cleanup—2 to 7 times more than the $12.4 million EPA contributed to the cleanup of those brownfields sites.

Sen. Cory Booker said: “During my time as Mayor and as Senator, I have seen firsthand how the Brownfields program revitalizes communities. I am proud that the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is delivering significant investment in restoring brownfield sites across New Jersey. These federal dollars will protect the health and well-being of communities and promote unrealized economic opportunity.”

Sen. Bob Menendez said: “I have long championed critical federal programs like Brownfields and Superfund that help clean up contaminated waste sites, and I’m proud to have helped secure this funding in the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Today’s announcement will help communities across the state not only protect the environment and improve public health, but also spur new growth and economic opportunity for residents. I thank the Biden Administration for their continued support for our families and their steadfast commitment to environmental justice for underserved communities and communities of color that too often shoulder the burden of legacy pollution.”

“This federal support for New Jersey is an important tool for promoting public safety and protecting our air, land, and water. At the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and all across our state, the Biden Administration and our Democratic Congress are investing in your environment and improving quality of life,” said Congressman Pascrell, a cosponsor of the Green New Deal and author of the law establishing the Great Falls as a national park. “The Great Falls’ ATP site is a prime example of a landmark in need of refurbishment and preservation. Its historic value has been clouded by years of industrial waste and decay. With this federal investment in our state, we will continue the necessary work of cleaning up sites like this for New Jerseyans. I commend our mayor, Andre Sayegh, for his leadership and perseverance on this front. I also want to thank my friends at the EPA, NJDEP, and NJEDA for all they’ve done and continue to do for our communities. This funding is tremendous news for Paterson, for New Jersey, and for our environment. Let’s get to work.”

“Our path toward continued, equitable economic growth is paved by the steps we take today to clean up and cultivate a healthy, safe environment,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “This funding will allow New Jersey to transform brownfields into vibrant, productive assets, especially in under-resourced communities. Investments in the remediation of these sites are investments in future opportunities for all New Jersey residents and businesses.”

“Economic development and environmental protection go hand-in-hand, and in New Jersey, the EPA Brownfields Community-wide Assessment Grant serves as a vital resource for revitalizing vacant properties,” said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “For too long, financial barriers have prevented entities from developing contaminated sites due to the limited funding available for site assessments, planning, and cleanup. Today’s funding announcement will allow the DEP and the EDA to increase current programmatic efforts to redevelop and remediate contaminated sites, sparking community-wide economic revitalization and furthering Governor Murphy’s commitment to a stronger and fairer New Jersey economy and environment.”

“Supporting communities as they work to clean up, revitalize, and redevelop contaminated properties is critical for stimulating economic growth and building a stronger and fairer New Jersey economy,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey has made great strides to ensure the equitable environmental and economic well-being of every New Jersey resident, regardless of zip-code. Funding from the EPA Brownfields Community-wide Assessment Grant will allow the NJEDA to provide greater support for communities looking to remediate vacant and underutilized properties, therefore prioritizing the environmental, social, and economic needs of New Jersey’s neighborhoods and distressed communities.”

Paterson Mayor André Sayegh said: “We are extremely pleased with Paterson's ongoing partnerships with the US EPA Region 2, the NJ DEP and NJ EDA. This and other grant funding greatly assists us to take additional steps toward the reclamation of this highly significant early industrial site where Paterson started in 1792. Only through the environmental remediation of the site can it take its place as part of the Great Falls National Historical Park. This is a great step toward our shared vision and we are grateful for the continued support from our partners at the EPA, NJ DEP, and NJ EDA.”

Additional Background

A brownfield is a property for which the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Redevelopment made possible through the program includes everything from grocery stores and affordable housing to health centers, museums, greenways, and solar farms.

The next National Brownfields Training Conference will be held on August 16-19, 2022, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Offered every two years, this conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing former commercial and industrial properties. EPA co-sponsors this event with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Conference registration is open at www.brownfields2022.org.

For more on Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding

For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields

Posted June 22, 2022

Redeveloping for Resilience

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 18:48:01 GMT

By Colette Santasieri, PhD

With sea level continuing to rise, storms becoming stronger and more frequent, and flooding occurring more often than ever, communities are seeking ways to become more resilient to the negative impacts of climate change. Many of these same communities are plagued with vacant, former industrial and commercial properties that are either contaminated or perceived to be contaminated (aka brownfields). Some communities are tackling the problems of climate change and brownfields simultaneously by viewing the redevelopment of brownfield sites through the lens of resilience.

The City of Hoboken is vulnerable to flooding from coastal and intense rainfall storm events. The City has employed a comprehensive water management strategy focused on "Parks as Defense" to mitigate flood risk. This historically industrial city is using three brownfield sites as the platform to create resilience parks. Other cities including Camden are eying former gas stations and other brownfields to mitigated flooding by creating rain gardens.

The benefits of redeveloping brownfields for community resilience are many. From an environmental standpoint, contamination is remediated, public health concerns are lessened, and floodwaters are captured and then slowly released. Redeveloping brownfield sites for community resilience also address social equity issues. Minority and low income communities are disproportionately impacted by climate change. These same communities also contain a disproportionate amount of brownfield sites. Ridding environmental justice communities of brownfield sites, alleviating flood water impacts, and creating new land uses enjoyed by the community are positive outcomes in redeveloping for resilience.

The NJ Brownfields Assistance Center @ NJIT will be hosting a Redeveloping for Resilience webinar on Wednesday, June 29th at 10:00am. The webinar will showcase how some NJ communities have redeveloped brownfield sites into multi-purpose land uses that manage floodwaters and provide other community benefits. The webinar will also address land constraints and opportunities for implementing resilient development practices on brownfield sites. To view the webinar either in real time or post event, visit the NJ Brownfield Assistance Center’s website: https://www.njit.edu/njbrownfields/news-and-events.

Posted June 16, 2022

Maryland Department of Planning Brownfields Webinar Series in June

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 14:26:16 GMT

From Due Diligence to Redevelopment

The Maryland Department of Planning is pleased to announce its three-part Brownfields Webinar Series to be held this June. We will be holding three informative webinars throughout the month. Maryland's brownfields provide a unique opportunity for communities to meet economic development goals, environmental protection and sustainability goals, and help achieve local comprehensive plan visions and objectives. Maryland’s brownfields can also be assets for revitalization, reinvestment, and redevelopment. This webinar series will provide opportunities to learn the essential environmental and statutory requirements for brownfield property transactions from regulatory, legal, and consultant experts as well as assistance and know-how for redeveloping brownfields from federal, state, and real estate development specialists.

Posted June 6, 2022

“Smart” Bowery Farm transforms vacant former brownfield site in Bethlehem

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 14:24:21 GMT

Vertical agriculture saves energy and space in indoor operation

By Kathryn Finegan Clark, Bucks County Herald (PA)

No red barn, no fields to plow. It’s a farm but it looks like a giant warehouse.

That’s because it’s Bowery Farm Bethlehem, a smart farm housed in a 156,000-square-foot structure where plants are grown indoors in vertical stacks using artificial light and a fraction of the water that traditional farming requires.

Every step of the process from seed to final packaging is plotted and monitored with a computer operating system. For the consumer this means no pesticides, no GMOs, no need to wash produce and fresher greens and herbs.

…

Bowery Farming has transformed a nearly 9-acre plot in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park VII on Feather Way into sustainable vertical indoor farmland designed to serve 50 million people in a 200-mile radius. A brownfields area once devoted to burning coal ash is now producing leafy greens and herbs.

…

For the entire article, see

https://buckscountyherald.com/stories/smart-bowery-farm-transforms-vacant-former-brownfield-site-in-bethlehem,17526

Posted June 6, 2022

Brownfield site: $500,000 federal grant will help clean-up at former Emkay site in Arcade

Mon, 23 May 2022 13:47:53 GMT

BROWNFIELD ZONE: Funds to help remediate former Emkay plant

By Matt Surtel, Batavia Daily News (NY)

A total of $500,000 in federal funding has been awarded to help clean up a brownfield site in the village.

The brownfield clean-up grant was awarded to WCBC North LLC, which is managed by the Wyoming County Business Center. The site was most recently the former Emkay Dairy Processing plant.

“On behalf of the community, I am very grateful the WCBC North, LLC, has been awarded an EPA Brownfield Cleanup grant of $500,000 to assist with the mitigation of the former Emkay dairy processing facility in the Village of Arcade,” said Manager James Pierce of the WCBC North LLC in a news release. “This abandoned and contaminated property has been a public health hazard for over 20 years, and the grant funding is a critical first-step in cleaning up and developing a clear path for future site development.”

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.thedailynewsonline.com/top_story/brownfield-site-500-000-federal-grant-will-help-clean-up-at-former-emkay-site-in/article_98286acd-3bb4-5512-848d-ab848580bd91.html

Posted May 23, 2022

Camden Grant is Part of $6.5 Million in New Brownfields Funding Going to Transform NJ Communities

Mon, 23 May 2022 13:34:20 GMT

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is transforming communities across NJ and especially in Camden. That is the message delivered today by EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia, Senator Cory Booker, Congressmember Donald Norcross, Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen and New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette in Elijah Perry Park in Camden. EPA will be awarding four grants totaling $6.5 million in Brownfields funding for communities across New Jersey. The largest of these grants—$3.5 million—will be awarded to the Camden Redevelopment Agency and will be loaned and granted for site cleanups, including the Elijah Perry Park. There are many communities in Camden with environmental justice concerns that experience a high concentration of vacant, contaminated and underutilized areas throughout the City of Camden.

These grants are part of the larger $254.5 million in Brownfields Grants to 265 communities across the nation. The grants are supported by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides a total of $1.5 billion to advance environmental justice, spur economic revitalization, and create jobs by cleaning up contaminated, polluted, or hazardous brownfield properties.

“With today’s announcement, we’re turning blight into might for communities across America,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “EPA’s Brownfields Program breathes new life into communities by helping to turn contaminated and potentially dangerous sites into productive economic contributors. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are significantly ramping up our investments in communities, with the bulk of our funding going to places that have been overburdened and underserved for far too long.”

"Camden has a proven track record in transforming communities through its brownfields program, which serves as a model for other communities," said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "The Brownfields program is a powerful tool made only more potent thanks to President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides a total of $1.5 billion to help transform communities by promoting equitable environmental health, economic growth, and job creation across the country."

Brownfield projects can range from cleaning up buildings with asbestos or lead contamination, to assessing and cleaning up abandoned properties that once managed dangerous chemicals. Once cleaned up, former brownfield properties can be redeveloped into productive uses such as grocery stores, affordable housing, health centers, museums, parks, and solar farms.

EPA’s Brownfields grants and other technical assistance programs like the RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative are also helping to build the clean energy economy. Today’s announcement includes a former coal mine in Greene County, Pennsylvania, that will become a 10-megawatt solar farm, and a former dump site in the Fort Belknap Indian Community in Montana that will be converted to a solar farm, saving local residents an estimated $2.8 million in energy costs over 25 years, among many others.

This announcement includes approximately $180 million from the historic $1.5 billion investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help turn brownfield sites across the nation into hubs of economic growth and job creation, along with more than $75 million from Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations. The national list of the applicants selected for funding is available here: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-fy-2022-brownfields-assessment-rlf-cleanup-arc-grants-and-rlf.

To date, this funding has led to more than 183,000 jobs in cleanup, construction, and redevelopment and more than 9,500 properties have been made ready for reuse.
Based on grant recipient reporting, recipients leveraged on average $20.43 for each EPA Brownfields dollar and 10.3 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfields Grant funds expended on assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund cooperative agreements.
In addition, an academic peer-reviewed study has found that residential properties near brownfield sites increased in value by 5% to 15% as a result of cleanup activities.
Finally, analyzing data near 48 brownfields, EPA found an estimated $29 million to $97 million in additional tax revenue for local governments in a single year after cleanup—2 to 7 times more than the $12.4 million EPA contributed to the cleanup of those brownfields sites.

Representative Donald Norcross said:

“I helped pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve the quality of life for residents in South Jersey. Cleaning up old commercial and industrial sites to protect our neighborhoods from hazardous waste and polluted environments has been a longtime priority for me. I’m proud to have supported this funding and will continue to fight in Congress for policies that protect our environment and reduce the health burdens that Brownfield sites place on our communities

“Our path toward continued, equitable economic growth is paved by the steps we take today to clean up and cultivate a healthy, safe environment,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “This funding will allow New Jersey to transform brownfields into vibrant, productive assets, especially in under-resourced communities. Investments in the remediation of these sites are investments in future opportunities for all New Jersey residents and businesses.”

“Economic development and environmental protection go hand-in-hand, and in New Jersey, EPA’s robust brownfields cleanup incentives serve as a vital resource for revitalizing vacant properties,” said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “This funding will be especially critical in Camden, which has been undergoing a significant transformation by cleaning up brownfield sites, combatting illegal dumping and turning vacant properties into community assets, such as the Kroc Community Center. For too long, financial barriers have prevented entities from developing contaminated sites due to the limited funding available for site assessments, planning, and cleanup. Today’s funding announcement will allow the DEP and the EDA to increase current programmatic efforts to remediate and redevelop contaminated sites, sparking community-wide economic revitalization and furthering Governor Murphy’s commitment to a stronger and fairer New Jersey economy and environment.

Senator Cory Booker said: “During my time as Mayor and as Senator, I have seen firsthand how the Brownfields program revitalizes communities. I am proud that the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is delivering significant investment in restoring brownfield sites across New Jersey. These federal dollars will protect the health and well-being of communities and promote unrealized economic opportunity.”

Senator Bob Menendez said: “I have long championed critical federal programs like Brownfields and Superfund that help clean up contaminated waste sites, and I’m proud to have helped secure this funding in the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Today’s announcement will help communities across the state not only protect the environment and improve public health, but also spur new growth and economic opportunity for residents. I thank the Biden Administration for their continued support for our families and their steadfast commitment to environmental justice for underserved communities and communities of color that too often shoulder the burden of legacy pollution.”

Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen said: “I commend President Biden’s Administration and our congressional delegation of Senator Bob Menendez, Senator Cory Booker, and Congressman Donald Norcross for their efforts to ensure Camden receives this critical allocation. These contaminated sites are tremendous environmental challenges, public health risks, and problematic for future growth. The $3.5 million Brownfields Revolving Loan funding will help to provide a solution to these longtime nuisance properties. The US Environmental Protection Agency have been an outstanding partner, and this is yet another example of their pledge to our City. This program is a step in the right direction as we improve the quality of life throughout Camden.”

Camden City Council President Angel Fuentes said: “This is great news for Camden and our residents. Environmentally challenged communities like Camden have been viewed as dumping ground for far too long. This funding will go a long way to change that mindset and clean up our City. These otherwise useless sites can now be transformed into community assists and catalysts for new development opportunities.”

Camden Redevelopment Agency Board Chairperson Ian Leonard said: “The Camden Redevelopment Agency (“CRA”) is pleased to receive a $3.5 million in supplemental Brownfield Revolving Loan Funds awarded by the EPA. EPA has long been such a staunch supporter of the City of Camden, the CRA, and its strategic partners’ collective efforts to uplift and improve the quality of life for Camden residents. As an industrial legacy city, development in Camden almost always involves addressing contaminated property. The ability to effectuate positive change in redeveloping our city with partners like the EPA and the DEP at the state and federal level is key to achieving those environmental justice changes in Camden that we all envision.”

Camden Redevelopment Agency Interim Executive Director Olivette Simpson said: “The Camden Redevelopment Agency and the City of Camden are excited to have the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) select us for an award of $3.5 million in additional Brownfields Revolving Loan funding (RLF). For several decades, EPA has been a committed partner to the City and a true champion for the residents of Camden. EPA’s support has helped the CRA and the City to make substantial investments within our residential neighborhoods that have suffered the injustices associated with living among high concentrations of vacant, contaminated and underutilized property. These investments have allowed for the cleanup of new and existing recreation and park spaces and former abandoned factories where new housing will be constructed. With the supplemental EPA RLF funding, we are able to continue this important work to remediate former industrial and illegal dumping sites for productive and equitable reuse.”

“Supporting communities as they work to clean up, revitalize, and redevelop contaminated properties is critical for stimulating economic growth and building a stronger and fairer New Jersey economy,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey has made great strides to ensure the equitable environmental and economic well-being of every New Jersey resident, regardless of zip-code. Funding from the EPA Brownfields Community-wide Assessment Grant will allow the NJEDA to provide greater support for communities looking to remediate vacant and underutilized properties, therefore prioritizing the environmental, social, and economic needs of New Jersey’s neighborhoods and distressed communities.”

Additional Background

For more on Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding

For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields

Posted May 23, 2022

EPA Withdraws Final Rule That Would Have Recognized ASTM E1527-21 While Continuing To Recognize ASTM E1527-13

Thu, 05 May 2022 17:36:38 GMT

NYCBP Member, Larry Schnapf, weighs in on this recent decision by the EPA.

As we prediced, EPA received numerous negative comments to its Direct Final Rule that would have recognized that the new ASTM E1527-21 phase 1 standard may be used to comply with the All Appropriate Inquires (AAI) rule for asserting certain landowner liability defenses and qualify for brownfield grants.

All of the comments criticized EPA’s plan to allow the obsolete E1527-13 to continue to be used to comply with AAI. The commenters uniformly objected to EPA’s approach because they believed it would cause confusion in the marketplace and create a loophole that would allow substandard phase 1 providers to undercut the market. None of the comments posted on the EPA website for the rulemaking supported this dual approach. I submitted negative comments which can be read

Read more...

Posted May 5, 2022

BCONE Comments on New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Proposed Part 375 Revisions

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 18:19:42 GMT

Based on our participation in the BCP Consortium, BCONE recently commented on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Proposed Part 375 Revisions. Here is an excerpt with a link to the entire statement.

The Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (“BCONE”) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to serve as a primary resource for information on brownfields and brownfields redevelopment in the Northeast region of the United States, from Maine to Maryland; advance public awareness and understanding of benefits, opportunities, and best practices of brownfield redevelopment; and foster collaborative relationships among brownfield developers, property owners, government agencies, and community groups. Its membership includes the leading environmental, scientific and engineering practitioners, governmental agencies and community groups who regularly work on remedial investigation, remediation, and redevelopment projects throughout the Northeast. BCONE is particularly strong in the metropolitan NY region of NYS, NJ, CT, and PA. Click here to read the entire document.

Posted April 21, 2022

EPA Releases Final Strategic Plan to Protect Public Health, Address Climate Change, and Advance Environmental Justice and Equity

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 15:48:46 GMT

The Environmental Protection Agency published its final Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan to accompany EPA's FY 2023 President’s Budget. The Strategic Plan provides a roadmap to achieve EPA’s and the Biden-Harris Administration’s environmental priorities over the next four years.

This Strategic Plan furthers the agency's commitment to protecting human health and the environment for all people, with an emphasis on historically overburdened and underserved communities. For the first time, EPA’s final Plan includes a strategic goal focused exclusively on addressing climate change, as well as an unprecedented strategic goal to advance environmental justice and civil rights. At the foundation of the Plan is a renewed commitment to the three principles articulated by EPA’s first Administrator, William Ruckelshaus — follow the science, follow the law, and be transparent – while adding an additional fourth principle: advance justice and equity

“This final strategic plan is the result of tireless work across EPA to develop a comprehensive strategy that delivers on our mission to protect all people from pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I’m confident that our plan meets the moment. Our solutions are designed to confront the challenges in front of us, where achieving justice and equity are central to addressing climate change and environmental protection.”

The Strategic Plan outlines seven goals and four cross-agency strategies. The strategies articulate essential ways of working to accomplish EPA’s goals and mission outcomes. The Plan also includes a suite of measures that will help the Agency monitor progress and ensure accountability for achieving its priorities to protect human health and the environment for all Americans.

More information on EPA’s Strategic Plans can be found at: Strategic Plan.

Posted March 31, 2022

Letter to Governor Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 19:00:12 GMT

Letter to Governor Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins from The Building & Realty Institute of Westchester & the Mid-Hudson Region, Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast, The Business Council of Westchester, Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Local Development Corporation of East New York, Long Island Builders Institute, The New York Building Congress, New York City Brownfield Partnership, New York League of Conservation Voters, Real Estate Board of New York, SoBro, Center for Creative Land Recycling, USGBC Long Island, New York State Association for Affordable Housing, Sullivan County Partnership, Upstate United.

We want to thank you for your commitment to the Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) and the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program (BOA) and urge the reauthorization of the BCP and additional improvements to these programs in the FY ’23 budget that you are in the process of finalizing.

The BCP is working in New York. Since its inception, over 502 projects have been completed statewide, with 50% of the projects in economically distressed En-Zones and many in Environmental Justice and Brownfield Opportunity Areas. The program has created over 6,000 affordable housing units and $17.61 billion in private investments, cleaned up contaminated sites which may not otherwise have been remediated, and is increasing public health benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving climate and air quality, which furthers environmental justice goals to promote healthier communities.

Posted March 28, 2022

Push to renew the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Law as part of the budget

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 18:57:46 GMT

By Zack Fink, Spectrum News 1 NY

Developers are looking to build an eight-story mixed use development on a site in Brooklyn that will contain 10,000 square feet of retail space, and 108 units of affordable housing.

But first, it must undergo a massive remediation due to previous contamination from dry cleaning chemicals and oil from an auto body shop that once stood here. The developers received tax breaks for that cleanup through the state’s Brownfields Cleanup Program.

Posted March 28, 2022

BCONE and NYCBP Member, Lawrence Schnapf, Publishes Article on Implications of the New ASTM Phase 1 Standard

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 17:33:36 GMT

The article was published in The Practical Real Estate Lawyer with an acknowledgement to Chemmie Sokolic (The Falcon Real Estate Group) for his assistance on the industry issues.

According to Schnapf, "In mid-November, ASTM International (ASTM) published the updated version of its “Standard Practice for Environmental Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process” (E1527-21). The new standard replaces the 2013 version (E1527-13), which ASTM now considers a “historical standard.” However, E1527-13 may continue to be used until EPA formally recognizes the latest version." Click here to read the article in its entirety.

Expect Adverse Comments as EPA Drops Ball on ASTM Recognition

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 18:26:03 GMT

By Larry Schnapf

In our prior blog, we announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) would publish a proposed rule and direct final rule proposing to amend and amending the All Appropriate Inquiries rule (“AAI”) to reference the revised ASTM E1527-21 ‘‘Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process’’ (“E1527-21”) and allowing it to be used to satisfy the AAI requirements.

Posted March 22, 2022

Interesting information from Recent NY Times Article on how some developers are revitalizing landscapes by recreating habitats like tidal pools and salt marshes

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 14:16:01 GMT

Article entitled “Restoring Nature While Building” by Patrick Sisson appeared in the Square Feet column on in the Commercial Real Estate page of the March 16, 2022 New York Times.

This caught our eye: “People don’t have to use the word ‘sustainability” anymore because it’s expected, said Charles A. Birnbaum, founder and president of the Cultural Landscapes Foundation, and education and advocacy group. “People expect a level of performance from their landscapes. There is a power of place there waiting to be unlocked.”

This information appealed to us because we have been looking for data on the positive financial impacts of green space on developments. “A series of trends have made these projects more valuable, said Matt Norris, director of the Building Healthy Places Initiative at the Urban Land Institute. For residents, the health benefits of outdoor access are more apparent, especially in the pandemic. For developers, offices and homes next to parks can accrue up to 20 percent more value, and added green space can help projects earn community support and even unlock zoning incentives.”

Posted March 18, 2022

Cleanup Continues at Nuhart Plasctics Site Ahead of New Mixed-Use Construction

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 15:48:34 GMT

By Kirstyn Brendlen, Brooklyn Paper (NY)

Cleanup is moving along at the former NuHart Plastic Manufacturing plant in Greenpoint as a developer prepares to build two mixed-use buildings on the heavily contaminated lot.

The western half of the 1-acre site, located between Dupont, Franklin, and Clay streets, was named to the state Superfund list in 2010 after potentially-hazardous chemicals were discovered in the soil, left over from nearly 50 years of plastic and vinyl production at the NuHart factory, which closed in 2004. Last year, Madison Realty Capital started taking ownership of the plot after its old owner filed for bankruptcy protection. Taking over NuHart West also means taking responsibility for the Superfund activities deemed necessary by the state, and Madison also applied for and began a Brownfield cleanup of NuHart East.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.brooklynpaper.com/cleanup-nuhart-plastics-ahead-new-construction/

Posted March 17, 2022

New Connecticut Spill Reporting Requirements Effective March 4

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 18:53:15 GMT

Day Pitney Author(s) Harold M. Blinderman Elizabeth C. Barton Brianna E. Tibett Taylor C. Amato

As of March 4, the Release Reporting Regulations, Sections 22a-450-1 through 22a-450-6 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (hereinafter referred to as the Spill Reporting Regulations), are in effect.

As reviewed in a prior alert, the Spill Reporting Regulations define when and how releases of oil or petroleum; chemical liquids; solid, liquid or gaseous products; or hazardous waste (collectively, referred to as reportable materials) must be reported to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and they also define what information must be included in any report. There are three categories of release thresholds that will trigger reporting requirements: (1) releases of 5 gallons or more of oil and petroleum; (2) any quantity of certain high-risk releases (i.e., releases that enter the waters of the state, a wetland or a storm sewer, etc.) and releases of materials of special concern as outlined in Appendix A of the Spill Reporting Regulations; and (3) releases of 1.5 gallons or 10 pounds or more of all other reportable materials not covered by (1) or (2). A flowchart available on DEEP's website illustrates when reporting of a release of reportable materials is required.

Posted March 14, 2022

N.Y. can’t squander this shot at environmental justice

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 19:11:53 GMT

By Bill Wilkins, New York Daily News

Thirty-two years ago, my wife and I made the decision to buy a home and raise our family in East New York — a community where she grew up, at the time considered a low-income area with not much hope of economic revival or prosperity. Since then, we have raised three great kids, two of whom have earned graduate degrees from top universities. And as the director of economic development and housing for the local development corporation serving the area’s industrial base, I’ve seen how a thriving local economy can lift nearby families and move a community from poverty to prosperity — but only after the remnants of past pollution have been removed from the area.

Posted March 5, 2022

The Editorial Board: $50,000 fee in proposed extension of the state’s successful brownfield program is a killer

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 14:09:48 GMT

by John Hickey, Buffalo News

New York State needs to renew its brownfield cleanup program, an environmental reclamation effort that has prepared the ground for millions of dollars’ worth of development in Western New York and across the state. What is not needed is an onerous application fee.

Gov. Kathy Hochul smartly included a 10-year extension of the brownfield program in her proposed budget, but the language includes a proposed $50,000 application fee. The existing law imposes no such expense.

Posted March 3, 2022

March 2022 Issue of New Jersey Business Magazine Features Article on Brownfield Site Inventory by NJDEP's Commissioner

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 15:09:59 GMT

An article in the March 2022 edition of New Jersey Business Magazine featured NJDEP's Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, who discussed the brownfield site inventory. You can find the article on pages 38-43 at the following link: https://editions.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=18790&i=738649&p=40&ver=html5

Thank you to New Jersey Business Magazine and our friends at the Licensed Site Remediation Professionals Association (LSRPA) for sharing this information.

Posted March 1, 2022

EPA Announces Appointment of David Cash as Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 16:53:09 GMT

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan announced that President Biden has appointed Dr. David Cash to become EPA’s Regional Administrator for Region 1. Dr. Cash will lead the implementation of the Biden-Harris environmental agenda in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and in 10 Tribal Nations. Dr. Cash’s appointment began on February 7, 2022.

“Dr. Cash brings deep experience in environmental policy, equity, and economic justice. I know he will ensure voices throughout Region 1 are heard on key issues,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Dr. Cash has hit the ground running and I’m very excited to welcome him to the team.”

“I am deeply honored to serve as the EPA Region 1 Administrator, to champion the bold climate, environment and justice agenda of the Biden-Harris Administration and EPA Administrator Regan,” said Dr. Cash. “I eagerly anticipate working with the world-class staff at EPA, elected and state officials and Tribes, as well as engaging all New England communities, especially those most vulnerable and historically overburdened. Given my conviction that wise and equitable environmental policy goes hand-in-hand with robust economic policy, together we can solve our most pressing environmental challenges while creating jobs, leaving clean air and water to our children, and crafting a just transition to a clean energy future.”

Dr. Cash has spent his career in public service harnessing science, innovative policy and participatory decision-making to solve challenges and seize opportunities at the intersection of environment, economy and equity. In his most recent position, Dr. Cash was the Dean of the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He spent a decade in Massachusetts state government where he held a range of senior positions. As Assistant Secretary of Policy in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in Governor Deval Patrick's Administration, he was an architect of nation-leading climate, clean energy and environmental justice policies. All of these initiatives were grounded in the notion that wise environmental policy, economic policy and policies for equity can and should go hand-in-hand. Dr. Cash then served as a Commissioner in the Department of Public Utilities, followed by serving as the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. With this rare experience of being both an environment and an energy commissioner, he had the unique perspective of understanding the importance of breaking down silos and focusing on complex issues in much more comprehensive and integrative ways. In these roles, he collaborated in government and with communities and the private sector to craft and implement innovative science-based policies around climate, environmental justice, energy, job creation, water, land use, waste management, and grid modernization. Dr. Cash holds a Ph.D. in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He and his wife Annie Weiss, a psychotherapist, live in the Boston area and have two young adult daughters.

Posted February 25, 2022

Looking for Project Experiences with Brownfields Tax Credit Program

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 14:35:47 GMT

The LSPA Regulations Committee is working with NAIOP - the Massachusetts Commercial Real Estate Development Association, to identify examples of brownfield projects that have encountered difficulties getting adequate tax credits, relative to what the state has historically provided. This is part of an effort to assess how the July 2021 regulations and administrative procedures to the brownfields tax credit program are working.

Specifically, we are looking for three types of situations.

Projects that may have been approved in the past but now are not. These might include dig and haul projects that involved both the excavation of contaminated soil to achieve MCP closure and excavation for the purpose of building a subsurface parking garage; or projects where Historic Fill was the primary contaminant that was addressed simultaneously under the MCP and by doing the construction.
Projects where MassDOR is questioning the LSP’s site decisions; for example, suggesting that certain actions weren’t needed or that an AUL would have been sufficient for closure.
Projects where brownfields tax credits are critical for the project’s pro forma, but where MassDOR denies those credits. For example, in the case of community development corporations and other non-profits, that often pull together their financing from multiple sources with almost no cushion should anything in the pro forma not materialize.

Please contact Lisa Campe, LSP, Woodard & Curran, at lcampe@woodardcurran.com, 781-613-0586 (office), or 781-929-4740 (cell) if you have any project experiences you are willing to share.

Posted February 24, 2022

State declares Albany's Sheridan Hollow a Brownfield Opportunity Area

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 18:36:48 GMT

Designation meant to speed up revitalization in neighborhood affected by pollution, disinvestment

Steve Hughes, Albany Times-Union (NY)

The state declared 106 acres in Sheridan Hollow a Brownfield Opportunity Area, which is meant to help the city's revitalization efforts in the neighborhood.

The Affordable Housing Partnership of the Capital Region pushed the nomination that led to the state's declaration, announced on Tuesday. The area's boundaries are Clinton Avenue, Pearl Street, Elk Street and Lexington Avenue.

Susan Cotner, the partnership's executive director, said the designation was the result of years of working that involved community meetings and researching the area's history. The partnership is located in Sheridan Hollow.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Sheridan-Hollow-declared-a-Brownfield-Opportunity-16921228.php

Posted February 21, 2022

Murphy Administration Releases New Tool for Brownfield Cleanup and Redevelopment to Improve Economic and Environmental Outcomes for New Jersey Communities

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 20:01:35 GMT

The Murphy Administration is making it easier to identify once contaminated and blighted properties that present unique opportunities for economic development and environmental improvement. In collaboration with the Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the Department of Environmental Protection has enhanced its Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping application, creating a Brownfields Inventory mapping layer that makes valuable information about brownfields sites easily accessible, helping investors, developers, community leaders, Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRPs), and the public identify brownfields with redevelopment potential.

Cleaning and redeveloping brownfields can help to revitalize neighborhoods, improve public safety, create jobs, enhance the tax base, establish open space, and catalyze regional growth. Every brownfield remediation is restoring injured natural resources and helping to preserve resources within greenfields and woodlands that are providing valuable services to the public and might otherwise be developed.

“Brownfields place a tremendous economic, environmental, and public health burden on communities. This mapping enhancement will help people identify where brownfields are located and what government programs exist to help remediate the contaminated sites in the hopes of encouraging investment to bring these properties back to their full potential usage,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who also serves as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. “Revitalizing these sites is not only good for the economy, but it is helping clean up decades of misuse and abuse in our most disadvantaged neighborhoods.”

“Every brownfield site that is cleaned up and redeveloped represents an investment in both the economic and environmental health of our communities,” said Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. “Viewing environmental improvements as sound investments has positioned DEP to drive economic growth in communities across New Jersey, and this new tool will better enable those in both the private and public sectors to join us in enhancing our residents’ quality of life, especially in our urban and underserved communities.”

“Governor Phil Murphy recognizes the value of remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites as an essential element of smart planning that will advance a stronger fairer New Jersey economy,” said NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan. “The comprehensive suite of technological and financial tools the NJEDA and its partners at the Department of Community Affairs and Department of Environmental Protection will amplify the economic and environmental impact of the State’s investment, revitalizing dormant sites and driving job creation through productive reuse of long inactive properties.”

Based on information accessible through DEP records and available through the DEP Brownfields Program and the DCA New Jersey Community Asset Map, the Brownfields Inventory GIS layer provides details on potential target sites, including acreage, cleanup status, and property owner contact information. At present, the tool includes sites located in municipalities participating in DEP’s Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI): Camden, Trenton, Perth Amboy, Bayonne, Bridgeton, Jersey City, Millville, Newark, Paterson, Paulsboro, Salem, and Vineland. DEP intends to include opportunities in additional municipalities in future versions of the tool.

As defined by state law, brownfield sites are abandoned, idled, or underused industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. Many cities have numerous brownfield sites within their borders but don’t have capacity or awareness on how to identify and market them. Developers are interested in finding brownfield opportunities but previously had no mechanism to find them unless they were being advertised by a commercial realtor. This GIS enhancement will fill this void.

In addition, Licensed Site Remediation Professionals, who are responsible for the investigation and remediation of thousands of sites across the state, will be able to supply important information on brownfield sites to their clients, whether a municipality or redeveloper, raising the level of awareness of redevelopment opportunities. The LSRP will also be able to access the CCI representative in the city of interest.

The CCI program supports environmental and community revitalization, equitable economic development, and enhanced public health outcomes in designate communities. A DEP liaison works closely with these underserved cities to build relationships and better understand the specific needs of their assigned city.

The NJEDA recently announced that it is accepting applications for the new Brownfields Impact Fund, which provides grant funding and low-interest loans to public sector and non-profit organizations, as well as low-interest loans to for-profit organizations, to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites throughout the state.

While applicants from any city can now apply, only applicants with projects located in the 12 CCI communities will be considered for the first 90 days the application is available. After April 20, applications from non-CCI communities will also be considered. The application and more information are available at https://www.njeda.com/brownfieldsimpactfund

The program is first-come, first-served, with consideration given to the CCI communities for the first 90 days the application is available.

Posted February 17, 2022

Statewide Coalition Applauds the Inclusion of Brownfields Cleanup Program and Brownfield Opportunity Areas in Governor Hochul's Budget

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 18:27:34 GMT

Upon Reauthorization and Renewal, These Two Programs will Continue to Address Environmental Justice, Economic Development, and Affordable Housing in Communities Across the State

A statewide coalition representing environmental advocates, environmental justice organizations, economic development organizations, and business groups released a statement in support of Governor Hochul’s inclusion of the Brownfields Cleanup Program and the Brownfields Opportunity Area program in her proposed budget. The coalition applauds Governor Hochul for making a long-term commitment to this program by proposing an extension of the program for 10 years. Additionally, the reforms thatare included to provide additional resources to projects in disadvantaged communities and encourage renewable energy development on brownfield sites goes a long way to address environmental justice issues, combatting neighborhood blight, and providing thousands of homes statewide for New Yorkers who need it the most.

Since reauthorization of the Brownfields Cleanup Program (BCP) in 2015, over 400 sites have participated in every county of the state. The program has generated more than $17 billion in economic development and created more than 6,000 units of affordable housing. With this longterm extension of the program, more New Yorkers will benefit from much-needed housing in disadvantaged communities. The proposed language will build upon the 2015 reforms of the BCP and provide further transparency. The BCP does more than clean up pollution—this program goes a long way to address the environmental justice issues in disadvantaged communities.

Additionally, strengthening the Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program will bring added benefits to the designated BOAs in disadvantaged and urban communities, while a new focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing environmental justice in BOAs will help New York achieve the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

"The New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program not only promotes the cleanup of contaminated and underutilized properties throughout the State but also generates much-needed job opportunities for local communities during and after redevelopment. The proposed extension of tax credit incentives will continue to encourage developers to invest in brownfield sites and elevate economic development in New York. The Partnership’s members are appreciative of the Program’s proposed extension and look forward to their enactment," said Ezgi Karayel, President of the NYC Brownfield Partnership.

“The success of the New York State BCP is a model for all the states in the northeastern United States. Its impact on producing environmentally protective, high quality redevelopment projects in environmental justice areas is impressive as is the increase in creation of more affordable housing and industrial projects on formerly contaminated properties throughout New York State, said Rick Shoyer, President of the Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast. “The fact that New York State’s tax credits are at a sustainable level and are more supportive of the costs of high-quality cleanups and less on development costs is a model for other states in our region."

“We would like to thank Governor Hochul for her leadership on the vital issue of brownfield remediation,” said Jolie Milstein, President and CEO of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing. “The Brownfields Cleanup Program is a critical tool for building affordable housing in historically disadvantaged communities, and our members enthusiastically support its 10-year extension. We look forward to engaging with the State on the details of the program and the accompanying regulations.”

"The coalition was pleased to see the Governor’s commitment to these programs and believe the language is an important first step in enhancing these critical programs. We are concerned that certain aspects of the proposal and the accompanying regulations will prevent some projects from moving forward and therefore look forward to working with the Governor and the Legislature to address these concerns," said Patrick McClellan of the New York League of Conservation Voters.

The coalition again applauds Governor Hochul’s leadership as her administration continues to lead our state’s economy forward and help New York communities sustainably recover. Reauthorization and reform of the Brownfields Cleanup Program and strengthening the Brownfield Opportunity Areas program is the path forward for everyone working to achieve environmental justice, expand affordable housing, and invest in New York’s renewal.

The coalition looks forward to working with Governor Hochul and the leaders in the New York State Assembly and Senate to enact these proposals that will benefit all New Yorkers.

Real Estate Board of New York

New York League of Conservation Voters

New York State Association for Affordable Housing

NYC Brownfield Partnership

Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast

Long Island Builders Institute

The Building & Realty Institute (BRI) of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region

Posted February 14, 2022

Panel: Environmental, social and governance goals play a growing role in CRE investing

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 18:40:39 GMT

Just a reminder that ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), was topic of a terrific program that BCONE held in 2021, followed by a wine tasting. Do our members want to hear more on the topic? Have more wine tastings? Both?

By Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ

Jeff Milanaik is like many other developers, even those at the top of their field: Three to five years ago, so-called ESG initiatives — short for environmental, social and governance — were not on his mind when it came to Bridge Industrial’s fast-growing portfolio.

That changed when the firm set its sights on attracting new investors and an ambitious geographic expansion that even included opening an office in London.

February 7, 2022

Mayor Adams Announces Appointments of Climate Leadership Team, Streamlines Multiple City Environmental Agencies Into One

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 18:18:55 GMT

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointments of his climate leadership team that will focus on environmental protection and environmental justice across New York City. Mayor Adams appointed Rohit T. Aggarwala as chief climate officer and commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Vincent Sapienza as chief operations officer of DEP, and Kizzy Charles-Guzman as executive director of the new Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) — which consolidates multiple city agencies into one. Mayor Adams highlighted these accomplished environmentalists’ proven track record of promoting cleaner air, advancing climate resiliency, and protecting New Yorkers.

February 7, 2022

New York environmental justice leaders propose new definition for "disadvantaged communities"

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 18:15:59 GMT

In 2019, New York State passed a historic law to cut greenhouse gas emissions from every part of its economy. But for some, the most significant part of the legislation was its focus on environmental justice and equity. The law, titled the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, required that 35 to 40 percent of future benefits of state investments in clean energy, energy efficiency, housing, workforce development, transportation, and pollution reductions would have to serve “disadvantaged communities.”

Health board "satisfied" with status of remediation efforts at Lunt property in Greenfield

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 20:23:46 GMT

By Mary Byrne, Greenfield Record (MA)

The Board of Health indicated at its meeting Wednesday that it is satisfied with the environmental cleanup status of the former Lunt Silversmiths property on Federal Street.

“We have to get it to be as good as we can but it’s never going to be perfect, which is unfortunate, but it’s the truth. We do the best we can,” said Board of Health Chair Nancee Bershof. “I’m satisfied the best has been done that can be done, and it sounds like my board members are as well.”

…

She noted that the measurements collected between 2012 and 2018 to monitor the efficacy of mitigation systems put in place — including a passive ventilation system — were above what is allowed of residential range, but “almost fell within the residential range.” The property is designated as a commercial/industrial property, which has higher acceptable thresholds for TCE measurements.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.recorder.com/Health-board--satisfied--with-status-of-remediation-efforts-at-Lunt-property-in-Greenfield-44782699

Posted January 31, 2022

The NYC Brownfield Partnership Presents Infographic of NYS Brownfield Cleanup Program

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 16:27:01 GMT

The following infographic summarizes the findings of the 2021 study conducted by the NYU SPS Schack Institute of Real Estate with support from the New York City Brownfield Partnership.

How Devco does it: Inside $1.5 billion pipeline — and decades of high-profile New Jersey projects

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 17:00:11 GMT

By Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ

For an organization that seemingly thrives on complexity — from vast construction projects to its intricate capital stacks to managing public- and private-sector stakeholders — the success of New Brunswick Development Corp. has hinged on one rather simple objective.

Chris Paladino can’t help but crack a smile at something that sounds so obvious or intuitive.

Applications for Brownfields Impact Fund Open January 20th

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 16:34:14 GMT

Applications for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Brownfields Impact Fund are now available. This program will provide low-interest loans ranging from $50K to $350K for brownfield cleanup projects. Additionally, grants are available to eligible entities (non-profits and government entities) for $25K to $350K for brownfield cleanup projects.

Learn more and prepare to apply at https://www.njeda.com/brownfieldsimpactfund.

Loans made through the program will have up to a twenty-year term based on the remediation and project redevelopment timeframe. Principal and interest will be deferred through the end of Year 4 (with interest to accrue and capitalize during this period). Interest rates on loans made through the program will be between one and two percent, with reductions available for projects that achieve NJEDA state goals based on the project location.

More information and complete eligibility criteria are available at https://www.njeda.com/brownfieldsimpactfund.

Applications for the Brownfields Impact Fund program will be accepted on a rolling basis. Loans and grants will be awarded on a first come, first served, based on the readiness of the application and the availability of funds. For the initial 90 days after program launch, only applications for projects located in the target Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI) cities (Bayonne, Bridgeton, Camden, Jersey City, Millville, Newark, Trenton, Paterson, Paulsboro, Perth Amboy, Salem City, and Vineland) will be considered. This will prioritize investment in these communities which have high instances of brownfields, poverty, health disparities and need for revitalization. After 90 days, the program will be open throughout the state.

If you have questions about the Brownfields Impact Fund or the application process, please reach out to the NJEDA Brownfields Team at bfimpactfund@njeda.com.

January 14, 2022

Pawtucket’s Remediated Brownfields Improve River, Community Health

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 16:32:27 GMT

By Rob Smith, EcoRI News (RI)

The future of a city is built directly on its past. In another lifetime, Pawtucket was Rhode Island’s beehive of industrial activity, and as a result, has some of the highest concentrations of highly polluted brownfield sites in the state.

The Blackstone and Seekonk rivers, once known as some of the most impaired rivers nationwide, have made impressive recoveries over the past few decades, and the city has aggressively remediated and redeveloped its polluted landscape.

“If a brownfield site has been identified and the right steps have been taken to cap and close it … then they’re relatively safe, especially for things like canoe or kayak access,” Kate McPherson, riverkeeper at Save The Bay, said.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.ecori.org/public-safety/2022/1/10/pawtuckets-remediated-brownfields-improve-river-community-health

Posted January 14, 2022

Campbell Has "Souped Up" Plans for BCONE Social, Digital Outreach

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 18:32:59 GMT

By Steve Dwyer

The first order of business is to take a long perusal of the BCONE website, where you’ll find some new and dynamic features that populate the site across widgets such as Events, NSCW, News/Resources, Scholarships, Memberships and Members Only functions.

Next, you might subtlely notice more local and state officials establishing a greater interest in BCONE. This is not by accident: The outreach is picking up thanks to efforts by the BCONE Marketing and Communications Committee to build a bridge to local officials, where more and more ultimately view BCONE as a trusted resource—even partner—in the effort to improve local urban redevelopment fortunes.

These BCONE Marketing efforts are being carried out by the organization’s skillful Marketing and Communications Committee, which is oversee by…a New Jersey hydrogeologist. Wait, what?

Yes indeed, Jeffrey S. Campbell, PG, LSRP and partner with Peak Environmental LLC, East Brunswick, N.J., might have a BS in geology from Long Island University and graduate studies degree in hydrogeology from University of Rhode Island -- and has established a solid career in this vital area. But, marketing is one of his side passions.

Campbell has an affinity for strategizing around marketing and social media, and BCONE is a beneficiary of those skills. The chairman of the Marketing and Communications Committee, Campbell has served on it since 2019. He was the most recent installation to the BCONE board of directors, sworn in at the October meeting.

We caught up with Jeff, a resident of Point Pleasant, N.J., recently to discuss his affiliation with BCONE, plans for 2022, as the Marketing and Communications Committee chairman, and much more.

Q: When did your affiliation with BCONE start?

A: I had been a member for awhile, where there was always general interaction. In my day job at Peak Environmental we rode [BCONE’s] coat tails when it came to being out in front of industry regs, incentives—those kinds of things. About three years ago someone at BCONE asked me to get on a committee, and I became a co-chair on Marketing and Communications and eventually to chairman. Prior to that, in 2018-19, I was given committee options that were available, and Marketing made a lot of sense. In the summer of 2021, I received an email alerting me to board nominations that were coming. I thought it was essential to become even more active as a board member [than a committee member] -- I thought that the feedback I received [to be elected a board member] was very positive. And, this is the first time I have been part of any formal board.

Q: Can you talk about the success stories that have occurred as a member of the Marketing and Communications Committee, and also about the process needed to achieve results?

A: If I or someone else thinks that an idea is solid, we have gotten a lot of support to carry it through. At that point, you can prioritize where you want to focus your efforts…to get the most bang for the buck. We are very fortunate, on all committees really, to have people willing to work. About the Marketing and Communications committee success stories, we wanted to make the website the ‘center of the universe’ where more new visitors would hit the ‘join’ button. On the membership side, we simplified the process by establishing and making more clearly the membership ‘types,’ via an easy matrix. We listed state-by-state technology requirements, all part of a ‘one-stop’ library across state levels. We provide exposure to board members’ [and their businesses] as part of a web slideshow—plus BCONE sponsors are eligible to receive a slideshow.

One current initiative is to better engage local municipal members—all done via better outreach to officials, where we’re able to inform them about BCONE resources, digital and traditional. We also were able to engage with these folks about their local brownfield portfolios and redevelopment goals and priorities. This outreach has produced a win-win for external partners and BCONE.

Q: What is on your to-do list as it relates to actionable items for 2022?

A: Building a more robust content repository is always a goal—having enough to be able to promote the BCONE organization better. One thing we want to be better at is having BCONE members, as they go about their private-side businesses, to try and find a way to promote the organization on social media—Twitter, Facebook, etc. Online, we have the resources that folks would want to tap into, and establishing keywords on social media platforms is how to make that happen. This is one way that will allow it to grow. When members do social media for their companies, they could also disseminate posts that would benefit BCONE via creating unique [BCONE-driven] hashtags.

Q: How is outreach going with people in some of the other smaller states, outside the Tri-State area and Massachusetts?

A: In some of these states, such as Delaware and Maryland, we want to let these people know we’re here and to swap event notifications. At the recent NCSW that included Maryland, we reached out to trade organizations in Baltimore City, Delaware and beyond, to make it known that we’re here-- reach out and see what kinds of hits we get. I think that NCSW reinforced how good our administrative BCONE team is for coordinating everything, and it showed that with the speakers…there is a willingness on the part of professionals to raise their hands and say, ‘yes I can help grow this effort locally.’

Posted January 10, 2022

New Land Revitalization Documents

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 18:14:25 GMT

EPA’s Land Revitalization Program can help communities identify possibilities for reusing a contaminated, or potentially contaminated site. Site reuse planning typically creates exciting opportunities within the redevelopment process. Check out to help your community get started on identifying site reuse opportunities.

3 new documents are now available in the LR Toolkit :

Revitalization-Ready: A Guide for Revitalizing Land in Your Communit: a step-by-step process for identifying reuse possibilities for contaminated sites.
Preparing Your Plan for Site Reuse (pdf) helps a community evaluate the financial feasibility of different brownfields revitalization scenarios.
Creating a Brownfields Investment Package (pdf) explains how to compile relevant site information into a highly visual communications and marketing document.

Posted January 10, 2022

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: A Historic Investment in Brownfields

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 18:11:30 GMT

Following the passage of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be making significant investments in the health, equity, and resilience of American communities. With unprecedented funding to support our national infrastructure, EPA will improve people’s health and safety, help create good-paying jobs, and increase climate resilience throughout the country.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests more than 1.5 billion through EPA’s highly successful Brownfields Program. This means that blighted and polluted sites in communities across America will be assessed, cleaned up and made available for safe reuse, spurring job creation and economic opportunity in areas that need it most. See below for the BIL Brownfields Factsheet that outlines high-level program messages on the first page and the draft/subject to change spending plan with timeline on the second.

BIL Brownfields Factsheet: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-12/bil-brownfields-fy22-draft-plan.pdf

See full factsheet on BIL’s investments for EPA: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/fact-sheet-epa-bipartisan-infrastructure-law

Posted January 10, 2022

NJ PACT Update: New Jersey Announces CO2 Emissions Limits for Stationary Sources

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 18:54:35 GMT

During the first term of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, his administration announced ambitious plans both to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for climate change and to change land use rules to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels and other effects of climate change. The State dubs this initiative “NJ PACT—New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats.”

On December 6th, in the waning days of Murphy’s first term and before the start of his second term, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) proposed its most significant set of NJ PACT regulations to date, which focus on limiting emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from stationary sources. The proposed rule has three parts. First, it places emissions limits on CO2 from electric generating units (EGUs), i.e., the combustion or steam-generating equipment that generates electricity at power plants. These limits will become more stringent over time. Second, it creates a regulatory presumption that certain large boilers fired by fossil fuels should be replaced by electric boilers when they reach the end of their useful lives. Finally, the rule bans the sale and use of No. 4 and No. 6 fuel oil in New Jersey. This rule, each portion of which is described in more detail below, will have a significant impact in the coming years. Various elements of this wide-ranging rule will impact diverse industries, including energy, manufacturing, commercial real estate, education, and healthcare, to name a few. Parties that may be affected by the restrictions should consider whether to comment on the proposed rule or even start to plan for potential operational impacts of new regulation.

Posted December 20, 2021

DEP's Dirty Dirt Law

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:47:25 GMT

We thank our member AWT Environmental for this information.

As many of you know, the NJDEP has expanded the reach of the A901 program to include the management of recyclable soil and fill materials that were previously handled outside of the hauler licensing requirement. The law was signed by the Governor on January 20, 2020, with a recent Compliance Advisory Update on September 10, 2021. The law requires companies and persons engaging in the act of hauling or brokering “dirty dirt” to obtain an A901 license in order to continue engaging in these activities. The LSRPA and other organizations are actively working with the Department to receive clarifications on the applicability of this requirement as well as exemptions for certain persons and activities. The program continues to develop as we speak.

While it is beyond AWT’s scope to interpret the law and its applicability to any certain person or organization, here are a few resources for your review to help guide you with determining how it might affect your business:

Posted December 20, 2021

NJ Brownfields Impact Fund Approved. Application to Open in 2022

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 18:47:56 GMT

Robert Lamilla, Parker McKay Blog

Recently, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (“NJEDA”) announced the launch of the new Brownfields Impact Fund, a new program offering loans and sub-grants to eligible applicants across New Jersey to promote remediation of contaminated sites. Applications for the Brownfield Impact Fund are expected to open early 2022, but interested parties can complete a pre-qualification form found on the NJEDA’s website.

Posted December 14, 2021

Brownfield cleanup work has Springfield residents looking to the future

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 19:53:53 GMT

By Adam Sullivan, WCAX TV-3 News (Burlington, VT)

Vermont is investing $25 million to clean up old contaminated properties across the state.

One of the brownfield sites is a former machine tool plant in Springfield that has sat empty for decades.

Work is ahead of schedule at the former Jones and Lamson Machine Company plant, a demolition project that in some ways represents the past present and future of this community.

“Most of the 270,000-square-foot building is no longer there,” said Bob Flint of the Springfield Regional Development Corporation.

…

For the entire article, see
https://www.wcax.com/2021/12/06/brownfield-cleanup-work-has-springfield-residents-looking-future/

What will be a major environmental or sustainability concern for property owners in 2022?

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 19:44:59 GMT

from Real Estate New Jersey

The publication assembled a panel of industry experts to tackle this month’s question. You can find out the answers of several industry experts by clicking on the link here.

Posted December 1, 2021

State announces completion of Starbuck Island in Green Island

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 19:43:33 GMT

Troy Record

Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced the completion of the Starbuck Island redevelopment project, a $65 million investment that transformed more than 11-acres of contaminated oil storage brownfield into a high-density, vibrant waterfront community in the Village of Green Island, Albany County.

Starbuck Island connects Green Island to downtown Troy and is now home to nearly 270 residential units, a salon, a restaurant and parking.

“The transformation of Starbuck Island into a new engaging waterfront neighborhood is a testament to the state’s brownfield cleanup program and economic development incentives,” Hochul said. “With the project now complete, residents and visitors to the newest community on the Hudson River can enjoy the many amenities, spectacular views, and local businesses, spurring additional investments to the region.”

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.troyrecord.com/2021/11/28/state-announces-completion-of-starbuck-island-in-green-island/

Posted December 1, 2021

FACT SHEET: EPA & The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 19:42:24 GMT

The fact sheet highlights Brownfields Revitalization: 1.5 billion to scale up community-led brownfields revitalization. This means that blighted and polluted sites in communities across America will be assessed, cleaned up and made available for safe reuse, spurring job creation and economic opportunity in areas that need it most.

View the full fact sheet: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/fact-sheet-epa-bipartisan-infrastructure-law

Posted December 1, 2021

NJDEP Implements New Jersey Environmental Justice Law Through Administrative Order

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 20:31:01 GMT

By Kendall M. St.Ange, ENVSP, Project Scientist of TRC Companies

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mr. St.Ange is an Aspiring Professional from member company TRC. He will be providing a series of updates/blog posts related to Environmental Justice (EJ) in NJ: a hot topic as all of you know. Mr. St.Ange has observed that EJ requirements do not apply to LSRPs and remediation permits but also anticipates that questions and conflicts may arise despite that exemption. He has shared this post to “… add more value to the organization and encourage others to actively participate…”

On September 22, 2021, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Commissioner announced the issuance of Administrative Order (AO) No. 2021-25 to implement New Jersey’s Environmental Justice (EJ) Law. This order is effective immediately, and applicants seeking to site new major source facilities, renew major source permits or expand existing facilities with major source permits (e.g., Title V air permits) in overburdened communities are affected. There are more than 4.5 million people that live within 331 municipalities that are overburdened communities in the state of New Jersey.

The Administrative Order requires an enhanced public participation process that requires facilities to:

Hold a public hearing meeting as determined by the Environmental Justice Law.
To the extent consistent with applicable law, have a public comment period that is a minimum of sixty (60) days. If there is written request from members of the respective overburdened community, the public comment period may be extended by thirty (30) days to provide information related to “information regarding existing conditions within the overburdened community and potential facility-wide environmental and public health stressors that could result in adverse impacts upon the overburdened community were the regulated activity approved.”
Respond to and address the concerns raised by individuals from the overburdened community during the public comment period, which may include the need to perform additional analysis as deemed necessary by the NJDEP.
Solicit concerns from the overburdened community regarding environmental or public health stressors posed by the facility.
Adhere to special conditions placed on permits approved by the NJDEP. Special conditions may be placed to avoid or minimize public health stressors to the maximum extent allowed by law.

NJDEP has the authority to reopen or further extend the public comment period on a case-by-case basis, as consistent with applicable law and statues.

Title V permit holders in overburdened communities in New Jersey must take steps to address new and multi-faceted environmental justice regulations and should do so in an effective manner to avoid business difficulties and manage public relations issues. This AO has the potential to significantly impact project schedules for new projects or facility expansions. Therefore, identifying EJ-related concerns during the planning phase is critical to a successful project and benefits both the business and the community.

Posted November 22, 2021

Cherrytree Group celebrates Ambrosino’s 10 year anniversary in tax credit analysis and procurement

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 14:36:25 GMT

by Warren Kirshenbaum

After 10 years in business, the Cherrytree Group has been fortunate to have been able to grow to a level of strength and stability: recently surpassing $100 million in tax credits placed on behalf its clients. It’s a total team effort — but a key member of our team has been a young lady from Boston’s North Shore who has become a rising star not just at Cherrytree, but within the field of tax credit analysis and procurement nationwide.

Posted November 18, 2021

NY State Bar Association's Endorsement of Proposed Bill on NY State Brownfield Cleanup Act

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 14:30:45 GMT

Gibbons P.C. shared with BCONE its recent blog regarding the New York State Bar Association’s (NYSBA) endorsement of a proposed bill amending and extending the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Act.

BCONE is collaborating with the New York City Brownfield Partnership (NYCBP), the NYSBA, and other interested organizations on this important topic.

Please go here to read the Gibbons P.C. article in its entirety, including important links to the proposed bill and explanatory reports and detailed analysis.

A quick summary of the bill:

Extends, from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2032, the deadline for sites to be accepted into the Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) and qualify for tax credits. Additional time would also be provided for sites to obtain their Certificates of Completion (COCs), claim site preparation tax credits, and obtain tangible property credits after issuance of COCs.
Expands the ability for sites in Potential Environmental Justice Areas and Brownfield Opportunity Areas to qualify for enhanced tax credits.
Increases the incentives for renewable energy projects on BCP sites.
Expands the effectiveness of the BCP in addressing soil vapor issues, including clarification of the types of soil vapor-related expenditures that qualify for tax credits.

Posted November 18, 2021

Worth the Wait: Cramer Hill Waterfront Park

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 19:33:03 GMT

by BRS, Inc.

Built on the site of the former Harrison Avenue Landfill, the Cramer Hill Waterfront Park has everything!

Amphitheater
Fishing plaza
Hiking/biking paths and trails
Historic/educational signage
Kayak launch
Picnic area
Playground
Sensory garden
Shoreline observation areas
Summit vista with panoramic views of the Delaware River,
Petty's Island, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, and Philadelphia

In addition to the landfill closure and park construction, the project involved the restoration and creation of approximately seven acres of freshwater tidal wetlands; over 3,000 feet of bioengineered vegetative shoreline, including 450 feet of living shoreline in three areas along the back channel of the Delaware River; habitats for wildlife including endangered species; over 375,000 plantings; and a two-acre tidally fed fishing pond (which we heard has already yielded an impressive catch at the community opening event!).

The opening of the park represents the completion of the cleanup and redevelopment of the former Harrison Avenue Landfill, a long-time municipal dump which closed in the early 1970s. It is the culmination of a decades-long effort to assess, remediate, plan, and construct a crown jewel of open space amenities and habitat restoration on what was once an open dumping area and longtime neighborhood eyesore. The Cramer Hill Waterfront Park joins the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, sited on the eastern end of the former landfill. The Kroc Center, opened in 2014, provides over 8,000 residents with educational, recreational, social service, fitness, art, worship, and early childhood care center amenities.

The effort included resources and technical assistance provided by the Camden Redevelopment Agency, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, with the heavy lift for cleanup and redevelopment conducted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Natural Resource Restoration. Camden County will oversee maintenance and operations of the park while the Camden Community Partnership will offer a range of community programming.

For a virtual field trip video of the site, check out these videos from NJDEP and Upstream Alliance.

Images courtesy of NJDEP.

Posted November 15, 2021

Developers break ground on housing, nonprofit space at Paterson mill property

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 14:02:25 GMT

By Joshua Burd in Real Estate NJ

A joint venture has broken ground in Paterson on a $26 million project that will bring affordable housing and space for a local nonprofit to the site of a historic mill building.

Located at Mill and Ellison streets, the development will include a new ground-up, four-story building with 68 apartments over structured parking, according to a news release. Plans also call for the restoration of the 19th-century Argus Mill property, which will house another six units, as well as programming and office space for the Grandparents Relatives Care Resource Center, or GRCRC, an agency that will provide supportive services to residents.

Posted November 5, 2021

Insiders see growing (but measured) demand for new, more targeted state incentive program

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 14:00:43 GMT

By Joshua Burd in Real Estate NJ

The state has approved its first two awards under the new Emerge program, prompting one observer to note that the Economic Development Authority is “open for business” more than two years after the lapse of the jobs-based Grow New Jersey tax incentive.

That may be true, but industry experts caution that New Jersey may not see a flurry of new applications under Emerge and, in turn, a spike in large office deals in the immediate months ahead. State officials agree, as they manage a program that was designed to be more discerning than its predecessor and address concerns about ballooning subsidies of the past.

Posted November 5, 2021

New law aims to increase Delaware’s lagging number of community solar installations

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 20:11:15 GMT

On Friday September 17, 2021 Delaware Governor John Carney signed three unique bills all seeking to tackle different environmental issues, Senate Bills 2, 21, and Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 24.

Posted November 1, 2021

MJ Painting plans to start Franklin Street brownfield cleanup next month

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 19:37:29 GMT

By Rick Miller, Olean Times Herald (NY)

Mike John Painting Contractor Inc., is about to start one of the biggest brownfield cleanups in the city of Olean to make way for a new paint shop and administrative offices.

Company president Mike John Sr. plans to spend $9.6 million on the brownfield cleanup and construction of a 15,000-square-foot building.

The company, which has its headquarters, warehouse and paint shop at 291 Homer St., received a promise of tax breaks worth about $730,750 over 14 years from the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency.

Under the agreement with the IDA, MJ Painting pledged to retain its 47 employees and create five new employee positions.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/mj-painting-plans-to-start-franklin-street-brownfield-cleanup-next-month/article_a2e1620f-671d-5e37-a685-0dec9628288e.html

Posted October 13, 2021

MJ Painting plans to start Franklin Street brownfield cleanup next month

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 15:48:32 GMT

By Rick Miller, Olean Times Herald (NY)

Mike John Painting Contractor Inc., is about to start one of the biggest brownfield cleanups in the city of Olean to make way for a new paint shop and administrative offices.

Company president Mike John Sr. plans to spend $9.6 million on the brownfield cleanup and construction of a 15,000-square-foot building.

Under the agreement with the IDA, MJ Painting pledged to retain its 47 employees and create five new employee positions.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/mj-painting-plans-to-start-franklin-street-brownfield-cleanup-next-month/article_a2e1620f-671d-5e37-a685-0dec9628288e.html

Posted October 11, 2021

FY22 Brownfields Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup Grant (ARC) Competition Applications Due December 1, 2021

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 18:29:11 GMT

The FY22 Brownfields Assessment, RLF and Cleanup Grant Guidelines are now available in www.grants.gov and on the OBLR MARC Grant Application Resources webpage along with other General Program Resources. The application submission deadline is December 1, 2021.

Prospective applicants can also access the information through the Brownfields Newsroom and Solicitations for Brownfield Grants pages.

Headquarters is planning for two National Applicant Outreach Webinars this year and will send/post the links to join the webinars when the information is available.

Wednesday, October 13, 2021 @ 1 PM ET - This webinar will discuss the FY 2022 guidelines for entities applying for:

Community-wide Assessment Grant funding
Site-specific Assessment Grant funding
Cleanup Grant funding
RLF Grant funding

Thursday, October 14, 2021 @ 2 PM ET - This webinar will discuss the FY 2022 guidelines for entities applying for:

Community-wide Assessment Grants for States and Tribes

Link to Guidelines

Posted October 6, 2021

Retail is rekindled on a former brownfield site in Baltimore

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 18:26:34 GMT

By Al Urbanski, Chain Store Age

Two Baltimore guys named David Bramble and Peter Pinkard recently accomplished something few in town thought could be done. This month they opened Yard 56 and brought a supermarket, a gym, and several restaurants to a location that was a contaminated brownfield site since the Porcelain Enamel Manufacturing Company closed its factory there in 2006.

Bramble is the son of Joy Bramble, publisher of The Baltimore Times, and the Rev. Peter Bramble, rector of St. Katherine of Alexandria Episcopal Church, and he still lives in the house he grew up in in the Madison Park neighborhood. He worked as a real estate attorney in town before he and Pinkard formed MCB Real Estate and became developers. They now own and operate 10 million sq. ft. of properties up and down the Interstate 95 corridor, though the 20 acres of it on Eastern Avenue in Baltimore is their crowning achievement.

…

For the entire article, see

https://chainstoreage.com/retail-rekindled-former-brownfield-site-baltimore

Posted October 6, 2021

Rockland Council nixes Park and Ride idea for vacant lot, considers Brownfield remediation

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 17:42:47 GMT

Penobscot Bay Pilot (ME)

The idea of creating a parking lot off of a narrow residential street in Rockland has no immediate future after City Council scrapped the notion during a special Sept. 27 meeting. Giving that Brownfield site a future, however, is of immediate focus for those councilors and for the City.

The property in question was once a junkyard, and after the derelict house was demolished, someone in Public Works suggested that the site could be paved and used for parking, according to City Manager Tom Luttrell.

Through the years, as various ideas for parking options for the area were considered, the Maine Department of Transportation began to devise a grant for the 9 - 15 Rockland Street location that would include design and construction.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/rockland-council-nixes-park-and-ride-idea-turns-brownfield-remediation/152379

Posted October 6, 2021

Brownfield Development and Offshore Wind Power - A Great Combination

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:01:03 GMT

Brownfield clean-up and offshore wind power is a great combination for New Jersey, as we learn in the Bottom Line with Jerry Keenan.

Click here to listen to Jerry Keenan's message.

Zoning Change Could Shape Marathon Site’s Future Would allow homes, offices, retail, parking on empty Kemble lot

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 20:51:52 GMT

By Michael Turton, Highlands Current (NY)

A proposed zoning change could determine the future of the former Marathon Battery property, Cold Spring’s last remaining, significant tract of undeveloped, privately owned land.

The property has sat idle for more than 40 years because of its long history of pollution, which began in 1952 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built a 46,000-square-foot battery factory on the northern, 7-acre portion of the site.

The Sonotone Corp., which operated the factory, purchased 5 additional acres at the southern end of the property in 1966, using it, in part, to dispose of toxic waste.

The Marathon Battery Corp. purchased the factory in 1969. The following year, the federal government sued Marathon to stop the discharge of toxic chemicals.

…

For the entire article, see

https://highlandscurrent.org/2021/09/17/zoning-change-could-shape-marathon-sites-future/

Posted September 20, 2021

Abandoned Springfield, Vt., factory the focus of event hailing state brownfields cleanup money

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 20:50:08 GMT

By John Lippman

An abandoned and sprawling machine tool factory at the gateway to downtown, long a ghostly reminder of the region’s economic decline, will finally be demolished and the site remediated thanks to a new funding program from the state to clean up some of Vermont’s worst contaminated sites.

The 270,000-square-foot former Jones & Lamson Machine Co. building on Clinton Street, aka Route 11, once employed 1,500 factory workers and was the crown of Springfield’s manufacturing hub. It will be receiving an estimated $3.7 million administered through Vermont’s Brownfield Economic Revitalization Alliance program, said Bob Flint, executive director of the Springfield Regional Development Corp., which owns the 14-acre property.

“It’s an understatement to say this is just another brownfield site. This beats them all,” Flint said Thursday in front of the entrance of the Jones & Lamson factory, now overgrown with ivy, during an event to trumpet the state setting aside money from a $210 million budget surplus for brownfield cleanup. In attendance were Gov. Phil Scott and other state, federal and town officials.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.vnews.com/Springfield-gets-state-funding-to-demolish-and-clean-for-Jones-Lamson-brownfield-site-42502336

Posted September 20, 2021

EPA Announces First Validated Laboratory Method to Test for PFAS in Wastewater, Surface Water, Groundwater, Soils

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 18:01:25 GMT

Contact Information: EPA Press Office, press@epa.gov

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), published a draft of the first EPA-validated laboratory analytical method to test for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in eight different environmental media, including wastewater, surface water, groundwater, and soils. This method provides certainty and consistency and advances PFAS monitoring that is essential to protecting public health.

“This new testing method advances the science and our understanding of PFAS in the environment, so we can better protect people from exposure,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This illustrates the progress we can make when working with federal partners in an all of government approach. I want to thank the Department of Defense for its leadership on this issue and for working with us to achieve this important milestone.”

A partnership between EPA and the Department of Defense’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program has produced draft Method 1633, a single-laboratory validated method to test for 40 PFAS compounds in wastewater, surface water, groundwater, soil, biosolids, sediment, landfill leachate, and fish tissue. Until now, regulated entities and environmental laboratories relied upon modified EPA methods or in-house laboratory standard operating procedures to analyze PFAS in these settings. With the support of the agency’s Council on PFAS, EPA and DoD will continue to collaborate to complete a multi-laboratory validation study of the method in 2022.

“This is one of many examples of strong EPA – DoD Collaboration on issues of national importance. Currently the Department is working with EPA, other federal agencies, academic institutions, and industry on over 130 PFAS-related research efforts, and we expect further progress in the future,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environment and Energy Resilience Richard Kidd.

This draft method can be used in various applications, including National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. The method will support NPDES implementation by providing a consistent PFAS method that has been tested in a wide variety of wastewaters and contains all the required quality control procedures for a Clean Water Act (CWA) method. While the method is not nationally required for CWA compliance monitoring until EPA has promulgated it through rulemaking, it is recommended now for use in individual permits.

Draft Method 1633 complements existing validated methods to test for PFAS in drinking water and non-potable water.

For more information on CWA Analytical Methods for PFAS, visit:

https://www.epa.gov/cwa-methods/cwa-analytical-methods-and-polyfluorinated-alkyl-substances-pfas.

For Frequent Questions about PFAS Methods for NPDES Permits, visit:
https://www.epa.gov/cwa-methods/frequent-questions-about-pfas-methods-npdes-permits.

Background:
Draft Method 1633 complements existing Safe Drinking Water Act methods to test for 29 PFAS compounds in drinking water and a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act method for 24 PFAS compounds in non-potable water.

EPA publishes laboratory analytical methods (test procedures) that are used by industries, municipalities, researchers, regulatory authorities and other stakeholders to analyze the chemical, physical, and biological components of wastewater and other environmental samples. EPA regularly publishes methods for CWA compliance monitoring on its CWA Methods website. Doing so does not impose any national requirements to use the method. Only after EPA promulgates a CWA analytical method through rulemaking (at 40 CFR Part 136) does it become nationally required for use in NPDES permit applications and permits.

The work the agency is doing to provide new laboratory analytical methods reflects the work that the EPA Council on PFAS is undertaking to support federal, state, local, and Tribal efforts to protect all communities from the harmful impacts of PFAS contamination.

# # #

Posted September 14, 2021

Ocean State Steel's brownfield site to be redeveloped into East Point

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 13:33:06 GMT

By Chris Martin, New England Real Estate Journal

The East Providence Waterfront Commission approved an ambitious development plan that will reclaim a brownfield, provide new housing including much needed affordable units as well as vital public access to the Seekonk River.

In Rumford along the Seekonk River and Omega Pond lies what will be East Point—a 27-acre site that will breathe new life into three long-dormant parcels. This site was last home to Ocean State Steel, which left the property in environmental ruins in 1994. The parcels have since been remediated, but what remained was a derelict eyesore on what some call one of the most beautiful stretches along the Seekonk River.

The development team behind East Point is Noble Development, led by Richard Baccari from Churchill and Banks and rounded out by Northeast Engineers on civil design, Union Studios on architectural design and Kevin Alverson on Landscape design. East Point will add 392 single and multi-family units in addition to apartments to the housing stock in East Providence.

…

For the entire article, see

https://nerej.com/ocean-state-steel-s-brownfield-site-to-be-redeveloped-into-east-point-by-chris-martin

DEC program eyed for Amsterdam brownfield site

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 20:26:52 GMT

By Ashley Onyon, Amsterdam Recorder (NY)

The couple that holds a purchase option agreement for the former Nathan’s Waste and Paper Stock Co. on the South Side has submitted a Brownfield Cleanup Program application to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The Common Council in April approved a six-month purchase option agreement for 111 Erie Terrace with Mary and Michael Keegan of Schenectady. The contract provides the husband and wife the exclusive right to purchase the property for $250 by exercising their option.

The deal was sought by city officials and the Keegans to provide the couple time to investigate the environmental condition of the brownfield site. The roughly two acre property was operated as Nathan’s Waste and Paper Stock, a junkyard, from 1971 to 1993. A pair of partially collapsed buildings currently stand at the site that has remained vacant since the closure of the junkyard.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.recordernews.com/news/local-news/191926

Posted August 5, 2021

Brownfield cleanup study proposed for Westwood golf course

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 17:18:50 GMT

Buffalo News (NY)

Mensch Capital Partners, the private group that has owned the Westwood Country Club property in Amherst for the past decade, is ready to start work on an environmental cleanup of the former golf course.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking public comment on a proposal that Mensch submitted under the Brownfield Cleanup Program. Previous investigations found metals in the soil, so the purpose of the new study is to determine the type and extent of any contamination in the soil, surface water or ground water of the 170-acre site.

Work will include installing and sampling soil borings, test pits and groundwater wells; testing surface water and sediments; and completing a radiation survey to see if anything is producing higher radiation levels.

…

For the entire article, see

https://buffalonews.com/business/local/brownfield-cleanup-study-proposed-for-westwood-golf-course/article_1f3bc146-eb01-11eb-a4b7-4f500c7f3a40.html

Posted August 1, 2021

ITRC Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Guidance Document Update

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 14:18:39 GMT

We talked about PFAS during the 2021 NSCW Hot Topics Panel and will try to keep updated data on the BCONE website for our members who are interested.

ITRC’s PFAS Team is pleased to announce the release of the updated PFAS-1 Technical and Regulatory Guidance Document. This update includes a brand new section on Surface Water Quality and significant revisions for Ecological Risk Assessment. Other sections of the document have also been selected for additional content, including information in Chemistry and Terminology, Best Management Practices for Firefighting Foams, Phase Partitioning, PFAS Uptake into Plants, Ecological Toxicology, and Site Characterization.

ACCESS THE UPDATED GUIDANCE DOCUMENT

The 400+ page document also includes case studies and stakeholder perspectives, discusses technical challenges in addressing PFAS, and provides additional references to relevant scientific literature. The ITRC PFAS team is continuing their work to develop more extensive updates and new content that will be published later this year.

Posted July 20, 2021

Brownfields To Green Destinations: The History Of Pittsburgh’s Riverfront Trails

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 21:12:00 GMT

By Katie Blackley, WESA Public Radio (Pittsburgh, PA)

An “industrial wasteland.” That’s how Pittsburgh’s riverfronts were once described. More than 30 years ago, city officials and developers tried to imagine a greener, healthier future for the land along the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers.

In many ways, they’ve succeeded — today, the Three Rivers Heritage trail spans 33 miles, with multiple planned extensions. The trails attract cyclists, runners and families, and are home to thousands of native plants and animals.

But the road to creating a clean, nature getaway from the city’s bustling urban communities was hard.

…

For the entire story, see

https://www.wesa.fm/development-transportation/2021-07-13/brownfields-to-green-destinations-the-history-of-pittsburghs-riverfront-trails

Posted July 19, 2021

Completion of $7 million mixed-use development in Buffalo

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 17:19:20 GMT

Redevelopment project received $500,000 through Better Buffalo Fund

Niagara Frontier Publications (NY)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced completion of a $7 million project to redevelop a brownfield into affordable housing and retail space in a revitalizing part of north Buffalo. Supported by the Better Buffalo Fund and located in the heart of the Hertel Avenue Business District, the five-story mixed-use building includes ground-floor retail space, residential apartments on the upper floors, and underground parking.

"Our efforts to build back a better New York depend on projects that bring new opportunity to residents and businesses alike," Cuomo said. "This project, like many others supported through targeted investments from the Better Buffalo Fund, is helping to transform a once-vacant site into a vibrant mixed-use space that will bring new vitality to an area of the city that is on the rise."

…

For the entire release, see

https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/current/2021/07/08/147285/completion-of-7-million-mixed-use-development-in-buffalo

Posted July 12, 2021

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe resumes Brownfield demolition initiative after halt through pandemic

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 18:09:37 GMT

By Vincent Gallo, Northern New York Newspapers

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe is moving forward with its Brownfield program after a brief hiatus, in order to focus on the demolition of abandoned homes and structures located on tribal land.

The program is picking up once more, after halting production in 2019. Several Tribal programs at the time, collaborated to tear down and remove three of 25 total structures in the community that were deemed unsafe. One was located at Raquette Point while the other two were on Route 37.

The Tribe had planned to resume work last year, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts have since resumed and the Tribe has removed two additional abandoned homes, officials said.

“The Brownfield program was put on hold in March 2020, due to the pandemic when most Tribal staff were furloughed,” SRMT Director of Communications Brendan White said Friday. “Only very limited essential service staff continued working. The Tribe slowly recalled workers with most returning between June and September.”

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.nny360.com/news/stlawrencecounty/st-regis-mohawk-tribe-resumes-brownfield-demolition-initiative-after-halt-through-pandemic/article_7e5ee565-67db-52c1-bd93-86d54e844c45.html

Posted June 29, 2021

State Touts Incentives To Build Solar Farms On Brownfields

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 13:15:31 GMT

Rhode Island energy officials say a program that encourages solar developers to build on contaminated properties has been 'very successful.’

By Mary Serreze, Richmond Patch (RI)

The state's Office of Energy Resources (OER) announced today that it is renewing its incentive program to encourage solar developers to build their arrays on brownfields.

Brownfields are former industrial or commercial sites where future use is affected by environmental contamination. Such locations can be ideal for renewable energy projects, the OER said in a news release. The agency has committed an additional $1 million in state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) proceeds to the program, adding to the $2 million allocated between 2019 and 2020.

"Accelerating our state's adoption of clean energy resources through the utilization of previously-disturbed sites is vital to achieving our greenhouse gas emissions reduction mandates while preserving Rhode Island's natural environment," stated Energy Commissioner Nicholas S. Ucci.

Ucci declared that the state's program to expand solar arrays on brownfields was "very successful in its first two years." He said the program helps the state reduce carbon emissions, creates jobs, and helps cities and towns make good use of contaminated properties.

…

For the entire article, see

https://patch.com/rhode-island/richmond-ri/state-touts-incentives-build-solar-farms-brownfields

Posted June 14, 2021

Demolition of smokestacks a milestone in Tonawanda Coke cleanup, but "much more work to be done"

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 19:36:17 GMT

by Stephen T. Watson, Buffalo News (NY)

For a century, critics say, the Tonawanda Coke plant released toxins that spread into the air and water throughout the surrounding neighborhoods.

It should take just 15 seconds to bring down the plant’s most visible features – three towering smokestacks – in a controlled implosion shortly after sunrise Saturday.

It’ll come as a milestone in the transformation of the sprawling brownfield site.

“Our state was built on these industries. And they are perfectly suited for the industry of tomorrow,” said developer Jon M. Williams as he drove a Buffalo News reporter and photographer on a recent tour of the property. “You’ve got water. You’ve got power. You’ve got transportation. And you’ve got scale.”

…

For the entire article, see

https://buffalonews.com/news/local/demolition-of-smokestacks-a-milestone-in-tonawanda-coke-cleanup-but-much-more-work-to-be/article_96a9d8ca-c014-11eb-a8af-7786b2daed77.html

Posted June 10, 2021

EPA Announces the Selection of Six Communities in Pennsylvania to Receive $3 Million in Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Funding

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 19:32:28 GMT

Will help underserved communities ‘Build Back Better’ and address Environmental Justice concerns

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the selection of 151 communities to receive 154 grant awards totaling $66.5 million in Brownfields funding through its Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) Grants. This includes $3 million for communities in Pennsylvania.

This funding will support underserved and economically disadvantaged communities across the country in assessing and cleaning up contaminated and abandoned industrial and commercial properties. Approximately 50 percent of selected recipients will be receiving EPA Brownfields Grant funding for the first time and more than 85 percent are in small communities.

“Through our Brownfields Program, EPA is delivering on the Biden Administration’s commitment to lifting up and protecting overburdened communities across America, especially communities that have experienced long periods of disinvestment and decay,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These assessment and cleanup grants will not only support economic growth and job creation, but they will also empower communities to address the environmental, public health, and social issues associated with contaminated land.”

These MAC grants include:

$8.8 million for 11 Multipurpose Grants, which will provide funding to conduct a range of eligible assessment and cleanup activities at one or more brownfield sites in a target area.
$42.2 million for 107 Assessment Grants, which will provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach.
$15.5 million for 36 Cleanup Grants, which will provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the recipient.

The MAC grant recipients in Pennsylvania are:

JASTECH Development Services, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cleanup Grant $423,088

EPA has selected JASTECH Development Services, Inc., for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up two brownfield sites in West Philadelphia located at 6122 and 6150 Lancaster Avenue. Historically, 6122 Lancaster operated as a filling station, motorcycle repair facility, and auto repair shop and storage facility. 6150 Lancaster was formerly a building supply and construction materials company. The 6122 Lancaster site is contaminated with semi-volatile organic compounds and 6150 Lancaster is contaminated with heavy metals and hydrocarbon-related materials. Grant funds also will be used for reuse planning and community engagement activities. The sites are located in an environmental justice community.

Butler County, Pennsylvania

Assessment Grant $600,000

EPA has selected Butler County for a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to complete the county’s site inventory, conduct 12 Phase I and 15 Phase II environmental site assessments, and prepare four cleanup plans and two reuse plans. Grant funds also will be used to host up to 36 Steering Committee meetings and 24 public meetings. Assessment activities will focus on 14 sites throughout distressed regions of Butler County. Coalition partners are the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the County of Butler, Butler Economic Development Corporation, and the City of Butler.

McKeesport, Pennsylvania

Cleanup Grant $500,000

EPA has selected the City of McKeesport for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Former Penn-McKee Hotel located at 122 Fifth Avenue. The now-vacant property operated as a hotel from the 1920s until the early 1990s. Its restaurant and ballroom were the centers of social life in McKeesport. It is contaminated with inorganic materials.

North Side Industrial Development Company, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Assessment Grant $600,000

EPA has selected the North Side Industrial Development Company for a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Coalition grant funds will be used to complete a site inventory and select sites for assessment, conduct 14 Phase I and 14 Phase II environmental site assessments, and complete four cleanup plans. Grant funds also will be used for community engagement, including 12 coalition meetings and 12 public meetings. Coalition partners are the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County.

SEDA-Council of Governments, Shamokin, Pennsylvania

Assessment Grant $300,000

EPA has selected the SEDA-Council of Governments for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct six Phase I and three Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used for cleanup and reuse planning activities and to conduct community outreach activities, including the facilitation of 12 community meetings. The target area for this grant is the City of Shamokin, a former railroad, mining, and mill town. Assessment activities will focus on five priority brownfield sites located in flood zones or historic areas.

Somerset County Economic Development Council, PA

Assessment Grant $600,000

EPA has selected the Somerset County Economic Development Council for a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Coalition grant funds will be used to conduct 15 Phase I and 11 Phase II environmental site assessments, as well as complete four cleanup plans and prepare reuse plans for three areas. Grant funds also will be used to host 12 coalition meetings and 24 public meetings. Assessment activities will focus on 16 priority sites throughout Somerset County, with a focus on Somerset Borough. Coalition partners are Somerset Borough, Somerset, Inc., and the Redevelopment Authority of Somerset County.

The list of all the fiscal year 2021 applicants selected for funding is available here: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-fy-2021-brownfields-multipurpose-assessment-and-cleanup-grants.

EPA anticipates that it will award the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied by the selected recipients.

Since its inception in 1995, EPA's Brownfields Program has provided nearly $1.76 billion in grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return them to productive reuse. This has led to significant benefits for communities across the country. For example,

To date, communities participating in the Brownfields Program have been able to attract more than $34.4 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding after receiving Brownfields funds. This has led to over 175,500 jobs in cleanup, construction, and redevelopment.

Based on grant recipient reporting, recipients leveraged on average $20.13 for each EPA Brownfields dollar and 10.3 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds expended on assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund cooperative agreements.

In addition, an academic peer-reviewed study has found that residential properties near brownfield sites increased in value by 5% to 15.2% because of cleanup activities.

For more on the Brownfields Grants:https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding

For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields

Posted June 10, 2021

EPA Announces the Selection of Maryland Communities to Receive $600,000 in Brownfields Assessment Funding

Tue, 25 May 2021 19:18:54 GMT

Will help underserved communities in Baltimore County and Frederick ‘Build Back Better’ and address Environmental Justice concerns

PHILADELPHIA (May 24, 2021) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the selection of 151 communities to receive 154 grant awards totaling $66.5 million in Brownfields funding through its Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) Grants. This includes $600,000 for communities in Baltimore County, and Frederick, Maryland.

“Through our Brownfields Program, EPA is delivering on the Biden Administration’s commitment to lifting up and protecting overburdened communities across America, especially communities that have experienced long periods of disinvestment and decay,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These assessment and cleanup grants will not only support economic growth and job creation, but they will also empower communities to address the environmental, public health, and social issues associated with contaminated land.”

“Turning previously contaminated properties into usable land creates new opportunities, jobs and economic development for our communities,” said Senator Ben Cardin, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.“This federal investment in reclaiming brownfield projects in Frederick will enhance public health and quality of life for residents. I look forward to seeing the continued success of brownfield reclamation projects across Maryland.”

“Maryland is excited to receive a grant from the EPA in an area of our state that was an industrial center for decades and significantly contributed to our great nation,” said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “We look forward to working with federal, state, and local partners so we can continue to bring this area back to its full potential and create a healthier and more sustainable future for our citizens.”

The MAC grant recipients in Maryland are:

Frederick, MD Assessment Grant - $300,000

EPA has selected the City of Frederick for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct up to six Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments and conduct cleanup and reuse planning for sites along the Carroll Creek Corridor and in East Frederick. Grant funds also will be used to form the East Frederick Brownfields Steering Committee and conduct other community outreach activities. Priority sites include a former vehicle parking and storage site, a construction storage and stockpile yard, a former coal gasification plant, the Frederick Bricks Works site, former Bluegrass Quarry properties, and a former gas station.

Maryland Department of Planning, Baltimore County, MD - $300,000

EPA has selected the Maryland Department of Planning for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 17 Phase I and eight Phase II environmental site assessments. Assessment activities will be focused on two priority sites: Batavia Landfill in Rosedale and 12110 Pulaski Highway in Joppa, which formerly operated as a storage shed manufacturing facility. Grant funds also will be used to facilitate four community meetings other community outreach activities.

The list of all the fiscal year 2021 applicants selected for funding is available here:https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-fy-2021-brownfields-multipurpose-assessment-and-cleanup-grants.

EPA anticipates that it will award the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied by the selected recipients.

Since its inception in 1995, EPA's Brownfields Program has provided nearly $1.76 billion in grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return them to productive reuse. This has led to significant benefits for communities across the country. For example,

Communities in Maryland had been awarded over $16 million in brownfield grant funds since 1997 and have leveraged $425 million dollars as a result.
To date, communities participating in the Brownfields Program have been able to attract more than $34.4 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding after receiving Brownfields funds. This has led to over 175,500 jobs in cleanup, construction and redevelopment.
Based on grant recipient reporting, recipients leveraged on average $20.13 for each EPA Brownfields dollar and 10.3 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds expended on assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund cooperative agreements.
In addition, an academic peer-reviewed study has found that residential properties near brownfield sites increased in value by 5% to 15.2% because of cleanup activities.
Finally, analyzing data near 48 brownfields, EPA found an estimated $29 million to $97 million in additional tax revenue for local governments in a single year after cleanup—2 to 7 times more than the $12.4 million EPA contributed to the cleanup of those brownfield sites.

For more on the Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding

For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields

Posted May 25, 2021

How do “green bonds” contribute to sustainable development?

Mon, 24 May 2021 13:48:00 GMT

As the new product in international markets, "Green Bonds" can contribute singinfactly to the funding of green projects and may be a good complement to brownfields funding.Plans for residential use have been proposed for the Former Sprague Electric facility in NH.

by Nikos Avlonas, President and Founder of Center of Sustainability and Excellence and Visiting Professor University of Illinois

Not a new film of the popular series, a new type of bond known as “green bonds” are an investment tool which can, with what they generate, contribute to tackling climate change. As a consequence, more capital managers are attracted by the idea of investing in these bonds. Following the Paris Agreement, “green bonds” found the spotlight. While there are still questions over what exactly they accomplish, there is rising interest on behalf of many organizations and companies over their actual scope.

Syosset Brownfield Site Gets Cleanup Plan From State

Tue, 18 May 2021 14:12:22 GMT

The state will oversee the work to clean the former Cerro Wire site, which is contaminated with copper and chemicals.

By Alex Costello, Syosset Patch (NY)

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has released a plan to clean the site of a former copper plant in the area before it is converted into warehouses.

The lot used to be the site of The Cerro Wire and Conduit Company, which produced steel electrical conduits, hot-rolled copper rods and steel strips for the construction industry from the 1950s through the 1980s.

Studies of the site have found that it is heavily contaminated by copper, as well as chemicals used during the manufacturing process.

…

For the entire article, see

https://patch.com/new-york/syosset/syosset-brownfield-site-gets-cleanup-plan-state

Posted May 18, 2021

A Climate Resilient Community In Newburyport Rises From Toxic Ashes

Tue, 18 May 2021 13:51:13 GMT

By Bruce Gellerman, WBUR Public Radio (Boston, MA)

Just off Route 1 in Newburyport, a bit of the future is under construction. A huge orange crane hoists a three-story concrete slab and flips it precisely in place, forming the wall of a home. The crane accomplished in five days what would have taken weeks using standard building techniques.

"The construction system has not been done before in this scale for residential," says Boston developer David Hall, who with his partner, architect Keith Moskow, modified the commercial building method known as "tilt-up construction" to create the Hillside Center for Sustainable Living. They're building the village on a remediated brownfield, after removing 3,000 tons of toxic ash.

"There were places where it was 8 feet deep," Hall says with a laugh. "It was a dump.”

Hall and Moskow had decades of experience building on urban brownfields and saw the possibilities in this hazardous waste site. "We jumped on it," said Hall, "and created this vision of what could be."

…

For the entire story, see

https://www.wbur.org/earthwhile/2021/05/14/climate-change-resilient-community-hillside-center-newburyport

Community solar brownfield project enters service in New Jersey

Tue, 18 May 2021 13:49:35 GMT

The 3.1 MW installation on a closed landfill will power up to 700 households with clean energy, dedicating 55% of its capacity to low- and moderate-income subscribers.

By Tim Sylvia, PV Magazine

New Jersey is celebrating the completion of the first community solar project to be constructed on a closed landfill as part of the Board of Public Utilities’s (NJBPU’s) Community Solar Energy Pilot Program.

The 3.1 MW installation was built by New Jersey developer Soltage, and will power up to 700 households with clean energy, dedicating 55% of its capacity to low- and moderate-income (LMI) subscribers.

…

For the entire article, see

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2021/05/14/community-solar-brownfield-project-enters-service-in-new-jersey/

Posted May 18, 2021

DEC announces partnerships to redevelop former industrial sites in Niagara and Orleans counties

Mon, 17 May 2021 13:37:27 GMT

Niagara and Orleans Counties ramping up more brownfields projects.

A new agreement between state agencies and municipalities in Orleans and Niagara counties will promote the redevelopment of dozens of potentially contaminated properties in the two counties.

The agreement is designed to remove contaminated properties from tax foreclosure lists and put them back into productive use, while addressing any potential contamination.

Posted May 17, 2021

EPA Announces the Selection of Four Projects in New Jersey to Receive $1.9 Million for Brownfields Cleanup and Assessment

Wed, 12 May 2021 17:34:19 GMT

The grant awards help underserved communities Build Back Better and address Environmental Justice concerns

May 11, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing that four New Jersey entities have been selected to receive a total of $1.9 million to assess and clean up contaminated properties under the agency’s Brownfields Program. Nationwide, 151 communities will receive 154 grant awards totaling $66.5 million in EPA Brownfields funding through its Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Grants.

“Cleaning up brownfields helps protect the environment and serves as a catalyst to jumpstart much needed economic growth in New Jersey communities, often in historically underserved areas,” said EPA acting Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan. “These grants address decades-old sources of pollution and bring together a broad spectrum of stakeholders who work in concert to make their communities better and more sustainable places to live, work and play.”

The selectees and projects in New Jersey are:

• Hainesport Township ($500,000 cleanup grant): Grant funds will be used to clean up the Former Paul's Tank Cleaning Service site at 1225 Industrial Boulevard. The cleanup site operated from 1962 to 1982 as an industrial tank cleaning facility that cleaned out residual waste from tanks at schools, factories, and ships that operated on Philadelphia's waterfront. Today, the site is a relatively flat and vacant parcel contaminated with PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, tetrachloroethene, and heavy metals. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community outreach activities.

• New Jersey Economic Development Authority ($300,000 assessment grant): Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 10 environmental site assessments in Paterson, Perth Amboy, and Bayonne. Grant funds also will be used to develop two conceptual designs for the City of Bridgeton, prepare two cleanup plans, and conduct community outreach activities. Priority sites include the Allied Textile Printing site in Paterson, the Rudyk Park Expansion Areas 1 and 2 in Perth Amboy, the 5-acre Block 452.02 site in Bayonne, which was part of a former Standard Oil complex, and a 28-acre former dump in Bridgeton.

• City of Salem ($800,000 multipurpose grant): Grant funds will be used to conduct six environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to clean up sites in the target area, prepare one site reuse vision and three reuse plans, and conduct community outreach activities. The target area is Salem’s historic Waterfront Industrial Zone. Priority sites include the Tri-County Oil site at 1 Front Street, the 6-acre Aluchem heavy industrial site at W. Broadway, and the McCarthy’s Bar site at 190 Griffith Street.

• City of Trenton ($300,000 assessment grant): Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments and prepare four cleanup plans. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community engagement activities. Trenton plans to prioritize former dry cleaner sites in the city, including Eagle Cleaning and Dyeing, Bell Boy Cleaners, Suds Brothers, and Schofield Cleaners.

“Hainesport Township is grateful to the EPA for being awarded this competitive grant. These funds will allow us to conduct an environmental cleanup of a defunct tank cleaning and storage facility, known locally as Paul’s Tank Farm. This remediation is critical to the economic development of this area and the many opportunities it will generate for the Hainesport community,” stated Hainesport Mayor Leila Gilmore.

“Revitalizing brownfields is crucial to achieving Governor Murphy’s environmental justice goals and building toward his vision for a stronger, fairer New Jersey,” said New Jersey Economic Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “This grant funding will help us continue our work to help communities throughout New Jersey transform vacant, contaminated properties into vibrant community assets that improve residents’ lives and drive economic growth.”

Salem Mayor Charles Washington Jr., said: “The City has set forth a vision to redevelop Salem’s waterfront and the city’s BDA with economically sustainable green energy jobs. This is an exciting time for the City of Salem as we continue to set our sights on our redevelopment goals, and this opportunity from the EPA brings us closer. The technical support for our brownfield inventory received from partners such as NJ DEP CCI and NJ CCLR have been helpful in moving the city along with our redevelopment efforts and together with the support of the EPA the city’s revitalization efforts and partnerships, will continue to keep moving forward.”

“On behalf of the City of Trenton, I am proud that we were selected to receive a Brownfields Hazardous Assessment Grant from EPA this year,” said Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora. “We have an excellent relationship with EPA dating back to the 1990s, and thanks to EPA’s grant resources and technical assistance over the years, we’ve been able to investigate, remediate and redevelop numerous brownfields sites in Trenton. This $300,000 grant will help us continue that great work for the 84,000 residents who call this city home.”

“The Brownfields program has been a crucial tool for cleaning up contaminated sites, protecting public health, and spurring local economic growth throughout the country – particularly in New Jersey, which has hundreds of these sites. The funding announced today will help revitalize these spaces so that they can be returned to good, productive use,” said Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. “Removing public health hazards like those at Brownfields sites not only protects the health of nearby communities and families, but also spurs investment in the local economy by allowing these spaces to be transformed into parks, businesses, community centers, and more. I’m proud to have sponsored the reauthorization of the Brownfield program and glad to see the results of that work reach New Jersey, and I’ll make sure we continue to build on this progress in Congress.”

“This federal investment in Paterson will build on the progress that we’ve already made at the Great Falls. This is tremendous news for our community and I thank my friends at the EPA for their support and hard work," said Rep. Bill Pascrell. "Central to my efforts in Congress is ensuring that our environment is protected and preserved for future generations. That includes cleaning up contaminated and abandoned industrial areas, such as the Allied Textile Printing site here at the Great Falls National Historic Park. By providing a much needed federal investment to restore this historic landmark, we will be able to transform what is currently a dilapidated and dangerous stretch of land into a community space for generations to come. I look forward to working with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and Biden administration on the next steps and will keep working until this important work is complete.”

Today’s grant announcement includes:

$8.8 million for 11 Multipurpose Grants, which will provide funding to conduct a range of eligible assessment and cleanup activities at one or more brownfield sites in a target area.

$42.2 million for 107 Assessment Grants, which will provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach.

$15.5 million for 36 Cleanup Grants, which will provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the recipient.

The list of the fiscal year 2021 applicants selected for funding is available here: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-for fy-2021-brownfields-multipurpose-assessment-and-cleanup-grants

EPA anticipates that it will award the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied by the selected recipients. Since its inception in 1995, EPA's Brownfields Program has provided nearly $1.76 billion in grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return them to productive reuse. This has led to significant benefits for communities across the country. For example,

To date, communities participating in the Brownfields Program have been able to attract more than $34.4 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding after receiving Brownfields funds. This has led to over 175,500 jobs in cleanup, construction, and redevelopment.
Based on grant recipient reporting, recipients leveraged on average $20.13 for each EPA Brownfields dollar and 10.3 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds expended on assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund cooperative agreements.
In addition, an academic peer-reviewed study has found that residential properties near brownfield sites increased in value by 5% to 15.2% as a result of cleanup activities.
Finally, analyzing data near 48 brownfields, EPA found an estimated $29 million to $97 million in additional tax revenue for local governments in a single year after cleanup—2 to 7 times more than the $12.4 million EPA contributed to the cleanup of those brownfield sites.

For more on the Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-epa-brownfield-grant-funding. For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields

Posted May 12, 2021

Retail is rekindled on a former brownfield site in Baltimore

Tue, 04 May 2021 19:39:30 GMT

By Al Urbanski, Chain Store Age

…

For the entire article, see

https://chainstoreage.com/retail-rekindled-former-brownfield-site-baltimore

New York Legislative Tracker: Budget Proposal

Mon, 03 May 2021 20:00:05 GMT

Redevelopment tax credits are included in the Executive Budget.

Welcome to our second post dedicated to providing a summary of the proposed tax changes in Governor Cuomo’s Executive Budget for fiscal year 2022. The Executive Budget proposes to enact new taxes, credits, and other initiatives, aimed largely at mitigating the revenue shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and are broken down into the following categories:

Posted May 3, 2021

SunPower brings two brownfield projects to Baltimore

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 18:02:49 GMT

The solar energy projects are expected to offset around one-third of the electric demand of the county’s public buildings.

By Tim Sylvia, PV Magazine

SunPower said it will work with Baltimore County to build two brownfield solar projects on the sites of former landfills.

The projects will generate 30 MW of clean energy, equivalent to the power used by one-third of the county’s municipal buildings, including government facilities. The installations will be located on the closed Hernwood and Parkton landfills, and will be the first large-scale solar energy projects in the county.

Construction is expected to begin in 2022 and the two will enter service by 2023.

Under power purchase agreements (PPAs), the county will pay no upfront costs; SunPowerand its financiers will cover the cost of developing and constructing the arrays. Over the 25-year PPA timeline, Baltimore County will pay a flat, fixed rate per kilowatt-hour. Through Maryland’s aggregate net metering rule, Baltimore Gas & Electric will credit the solar generated at the landfills against electric loads at other county buildings.

…

For the entire article, see

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2021/04/21/sunpower-brings-two-brownfield-projects-to-baltimore/

Posted April 27, 2021

Amsterdam OKs purchase option for brownfield site

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 18:02:01 GMT

By Ashley Onyon, Amsterdam Recorder (NY)

The Common Council revisited and approved a purchase option agreement for a South Side brownfield site on Tuesday.

The city tabled the pact earlier this month over concerns about the property’s value compared to the $250 purchase price if the option is exercised.

The council tabled a resolution during the April 6 meeting that would have authorized the city to enter a one-year purchase option agreement for the potential sale of 111 Erie Terrace to Mary and Michael Keegan of Schenectady. The site at one time was operated as Nathan’s Waste and Paper Stock Co.

The deal approved Tuesday lasts for six months, but it can be extended.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.recordernews.com/news/local-news/188334

Posted April 27, 2021

The NYS Brownfield Cleanup Program: Budget Updates and Looking Ahead to an Extension

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 15:43:20 GMT

Kramer Levin provides a good summary of the program and its status.

Governor Cuomo’s FY 2022 Budget provides relief to participants in the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) that risk losing their Tangible Property Tax Credit due to pandemic-related and other delays.

Background on the BCP

The BCP provides state oversight, liability protection and tax incentives for the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated real property, known as brownfield sites. Hundreds of brownfield sites statewide have been remediated through the program. Sites that are accepted into the BCP are eligible for two different types of tax credits: a Site Preparation Tax Credit (covering remediation and other costs) and the more valuable Tangible Property Credit for redevelopment costs (covering the structures built on the site). Since the passage of legislation in 2015, sites in New York City must meet additional criteria to be eligible for the Tangible Property Credit. They must be located in an Environmental Zone (En-Zone) which is an area of high poverty or unemployment; have an associated cleanup cost that is 75% or more of the property value (so-called “upside down” properties); be “underutilized” per New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) regulations; or be redeveloped for affordable housing.

Posted April 19, 2021

Case study: Multi-faceted solar technologies bring complex brownfield site to life in New York

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 16:45:26 GMT

Solar Power World

Amphenol Aerospace Operations, a division of Amphenol Corporation, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of interconnect products, providing the military, commercial aerospace and industrial markets with the cabling and connectors they need to operate. Located in Sidney, New York, the firm has a large presence in Delaware County, directly supporting more than 1,000 jobs in the Southern Tier region. In fall 2018, Amphenol Aerospace announced it would create a solar farm on top of a previous factory site. The resulting 6.3-MW project lowered Amphenol’s dependence on the local energy grid and turned a damaged site back into productive property.

The Amphenol land was a Department of Environmental Conservation–listed brownfield and had been a manufacturing site for 80 years. The manufacturing plant had also suffered significant damage during two major flooding events within the past decade. The flooding and environmental concerns made for a complex project, but it was one that EnterSolar was excited to take on as commercial project developer and EPC.

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For the entire article, see

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2021/04/case-study-multi-faceted-solar-technologies-bring-complex-brownfield-site-to-life-in-new-york/

Posted April 12, 2021

Governor Murphy Highlights Brownfields Redevelopment Tax Credit, Launches Loan Program Supporting Brownfields Remediation

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:45:56 GMT

Murphy Administration promotes redevelopment through tax credits and loans.

In February, Governor Phil Murphy highlighted two programs that will support the transformation of contaminated brownfields into vibrant community assets.G

The Brownfield Redevelopment Incentive will provide tax credits to support brownfields remediation projects and the Brownfields Loan Program makes low-interest loans of up to $5 million available to brownfield redevelopment projects for all aspects revitalization, including assessment, investigation, and demolition.

Posted April 12, 2021

RIPTA Powers Up With Solar Energy From East Providence Brownfield

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 18:20:53 GMT

ecoRI News (RI)

A ground-mounted solar installation erected on a former oil terminal in East Providence will allow the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) to save money on electric costs.

Under a remote net energy agreement with the project’s developer, Kearsarge Energy, RIPTA will receive energy credits for power generated by the 6,000-plus waterfront solar panel array on Dexter Road. RIPTA officials estimate that buying the credits from Kearsarge will save the transit authority at least $250,000 annually.

“As we move toward adding more zero-emission electric buses, we know that they will need charging infrastructure and that finding economical and eco-friendly energy sources is of increasing importance,” said Scott Avedisian, RIPTA’s chief executive officer.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.ecori.org/renewable-energy/2021/3/30/ripta-powers-up-with-solar-energy-from-brownfield-site

On a former brownfield site, an environmentally friendly Newburyport rental community grows

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 17:38:03 GMT

by Linda Laban, Boston Real Estate (MA)

Community-focused, environmentally friendly living.

That’s how Hall and Moskow Property Management and Development describes its ambitious net-positive Hillside Center for Sustainable Living in Newburyport, which recently completed phase one.

…

Given that the development is located on a former brownfield site, once a dump for coal ash and trucks and cars, a massive cleanup operation preceded the construction of the development, let alone any edible plantings.

“We pulled 110 semis worth of soil out of here. What’s left is clean,” Hall confirmed.

…

For the entire article, see

http://realestate.boston.com/new-developments/2021/01/19/hillside-newburyport-rentals/

An Overview of New Jersey’s Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 17:36:26 GMT

We want to share this information from BCONE member, Riker Danzig.

By Riker Danzig, Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP, Lexology

New Jersey is rolling out a new tax incentive program for the redevelopment of underused, contaminated properties, known as “brownfield sites.” In fact, on January 7, 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020, P.L.2020, c.156 (the “Economic Recovery Act”), a broad piece of legislation that provides support for a variety of programs and policies related to jobs, small businesses, sustainable energy, and many other areas. Sections 9 through 19 of the Economic Recovery Act establish the Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program Act (the “Program”), which supplements the existing Brownfield and Contaminated Site Remediation Act. Put simply, the Program allows the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (“EDA”) to award up to $50 million in tax credits annually for six years to redevelopment projects in need of financial assistance to address environmental contaminants or hazardous building material, such as asbestos.

This article provides an overview of the Program and certain issues that developers may face based on our experience with similar incentive programs, including the predecessor to the Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=40ac0f24-ec20-4c8f-8b1a-e332693b74e1

Hall Industries finds a huge space to make huge metal parts in Grove City

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 17:35:42 GMT

By Anya Litvak, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)

Making really big things requires really tall cranes, and Ellwood City-based Hall Industries Inc. has finally found a huge building that can handle them.

The metal fabricator is taking over an empty, old factory where the Cooper-Bessemer Corp. once churned out compressor engines. More recently, it was being used as a warehouse, said Tony Kaper, vice president of operations at Hall Industries.

Hall Industries will acquire the 468,000-square-foot Cooper Industrial Commons — a brownfield site in Grove City — and will renovate and purchase new machinery and equipment and provide employee training.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2021/02/13/Hall-Industries-Grove-City-Cooper-Industrial-Commons-brownfield-DCED/stories/202102120147

Developers pitch apartment complex in south Allentown at former iron foundry and quarry site

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 17:34:34 GMT

By Charles Malinchak, Allentown Morning Call (PA)

What was once the site of a 19th century Allentown iron foundry and quarry is set to be transformed into a 190-unit apartment complex, according to testimony before the city’s Zoning Hearing Board on Monday night.

The estimated $45 million project is on a 17-acre parcel on the city’s South Side and would consist of six, three-story apartment buildings with units ranging from one to three bedrooms, said Geoff Long, a representative of the project’s developer, Ingerman of Collingswood, New Jersey.

The developer went before the board Monday night seeking a variance to level some of the steep slopes on the property with grades that otherwise would not have been allowed to be altered under city zoning ordinances.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-zoning-apartment-complex-20210216-vgcyymfjv5enpcze4fj3ubqxde-story.html

Town of Amherst to take over Westwood Country Club

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 17:33:33 GMT

By Hannah Buehler, WKBW TV-7 News (Buffalo, NY)

For the past nine years, the future of the Westwood Country Club property has been in question.

Neighbors and passers by have seen “no trespassing” signs and some reading “contaminated brownfield” whenever near Westwood Country Club.

“For the past nine years, the future of Westwood has been in question,” said Amherst Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa.

Now, finally a plan. A trade off between the Town of Amherst and Mensch Capital, which owns the 170 acres of green space.

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For the entire story, see

https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/town-of-amherst-to-take-over-westwood-country-club

$5.1M Cold Point facility completed at west Rome site

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 16:02:00 GMT

Rome Sentinel (NY)

Although the construction season might just be starting to heat up, Cold Point Corporation’s new 50,000 square-foot $5.1 million manufacturing facility in west Rome has just been completed, according to an announcement Thursday by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

Cold Point specializes in the design and manufacture of water source heat pumps, packaged terminal air conditioners, condensing units, as well as packaged heat pumps and air conditioners for direct replacement, renovation, and new construction applications.

The completion of the facility marks a milestone for the signature project from Rome’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative plan and a strategic site identified in the Erie Boulevard Brownfield Opportunity Area, which, officials said, will help to attract talent and a 21st century workforce to downtown Rome by establishing an advanced manufacturing facility with more than 50 employees within a five-minute walk to the downtown core.

...

The new $5.1 million facility is located at the northwest corner of Henry and South Jay streets and included construction of a 50,000 square-foot advanced manufacturing facility on the former Rome Cable Complex 3 brownfield site.

…

For the entire article, see

https://romesentinel.com/stories/51m-cold-point-facility-completed-at-west-rome-site,112210?

Orem asking residents with land to do brownfield testing

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 14:19:01 GMT

Interesting community participation in redevelopment as part of larger plans.

A few years back, Orem residents were asked to share with the city what they envision Orem looking like in the future.

The ongoing project name used by the city’s long-term planners is Imagine Orem. In 2019, Imagine Orem added the Geneva Road Plan, which included cleaning up blighted land that may have remains of hazardous materials from the United States Steel Geneva Plant.

Posted March 29, 2021

NJ Economic Recovery Package Spurs Jobs And Development With Business Tax Incentives

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:40:24 GMT

NJ Tax incentives total ~$14B.

Michael Goodman, Adam Young - Fox Rothschild LLP

New Jersey businesses now have access to about $14 billion in tax incentives designed to encourage companies to create and maintain jobs, complete development and redevelopment projects, rehabilitate qualified New Jersey historic properties, and establish and retain new supermarkets and grocery stores in food desert communities.

Posted March 22, 2021

Sparta Township Council Seeks Brownfield Designation to Complete Landfill Closure

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 16:00:43 GMT

By Jennifer Dericks, Tap Into Sparta (NJ)

The Sparta Township Council passed a resolution referring the site of the former township dump to the Planning Board for evaluation as a potential “Brownfield Area in Need of Redevelopment.”

According to engineer Stan Puszcz of CP Engineering, the 79.11 acre township owned site on Price’s Lane operated as the municipal landfill from 1967 to 1985.

He said, “The purpose of the resolution is to address the landfill that is 80% closed and the township wants to close it fully.”

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For the entire article, see

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/sparta/sections/government/articles/sparta-township-council-seeks-brownfield-designation-to-complete-landfill-closure

Posted March 17, 2021

Vacant P3 Building Site to Be Cleaned Up With Brownfields Grant

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 18:40:02 GMT

Mission Hill Gazette (MA)

The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) announced that MassDevelopment has awarded the agency a $250,000 Brownfields Redevelopment grant to provide environmental remediation at P3 in Roxbury – just across the street from Boston Police Headquarters on the Mission Hill border.

The environmental remediation completed under the grant will be a key step toward making the redevelopment of the site more feasible so that it can meet the goals identified by the community in PLAN: Nubian Square.

“The development of P3 is long overdue to provide residents of Roxbury and the City of Boston with good jobs, affordable housing, and space for arts and culture,” said BPDA Director Brian Golden. “Moving forward with the redevelopment of this site 2021 will allow us to deliver on the community’s priorities for the vacant parcel.”

…

For the entire article, see

http://missionhillgazette.com/2021/03/05/vacant-p3-building-site-to-be-cleaned-up-with-brownfields-grant/

New York's brownfield cleanup program marks successful year

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 19:38:52 GMT

Brownfield redevelopents were key part of 2020 NY State economic redevelopment.

State cleanup program continues to promote comprehensive cleanups, economic redevelopment in communities

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos announced another year of successful environmental cleanups as part of the state’s brownfield cleanup program (BCP). In 2020 alone, a total of 48 certificates of completion were issued and 94 new sites were accepted to the BCP, helping to protect public health and the environment across New York while, the DEC said, bolstering local economies through redevelopment.

Posted March 8, 2021

Jackson awarded $300,000 to assist companies with brownfield sites

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 15:27:50 GMT

Brownfields funding is active in Michigan.

Jackson County has been awarded $300,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help brownfield sites that have potential to be redeveloped.

Brownfields are plots of land which are either unusable or thought to be unusable in their current state. They have or may have a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant that could prevent development. Under Michigan law, brownfields can also include properties that are blighted, functionally obsolete or owned by the Land Bank Authority.

Posted March 3, 2021

Why new brownfield designation is good news for Brooklyn industry

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 20:46:46 GMT

It's been a year since NY State designated 721-acres as a new Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) in Brooklyn’s Industrial Business Zone (IBZ) which includes parts of Greenpoint, East Williamsburg and Bushwick.

On December 17th of 2019, the New York Department of State designated a 721-acre area in North Brooklyn’s Industrial Business Zone (IBZ) which stretches from eastern Greenpoint into parts of East Williamsburg and Bushwick as a new Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA).

The BOA program aims to revitalize communities with a neighborhood-wide approach and encourage remediation and redevelopment of contaminated sites into productive and job creating properties by means of (1) tax incentives administered through the State’s Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) and (2) financial grants to local organizations and not-for-profits to work to align these new developments with the local communities visions and priorities.

Posted February 25, 2021

New England: More Than The Sum Of Its Parts

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 19:02:56 GMT

Dominique Cantelme sees development opportunities all over New England.

The New England region—consisting of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont—in the northeast corner of the USA, offers immense diversity. Each state has its own history and culture with scenic beauty, ranging from rivers and lakes, towering forests, mountains, farmland and countryside to rocky coastlines and sandy beaches.

New England is bounded to the north by Canada, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by Long Island Sound and to the west by New York state. A center of industrial manufacturing and a supplier of natural resource products, including granite and lobster, about half of the region’s exports consist of industrial and commercial machinery, such as computers and electrical equipment.

Posted February 15, 2021

An Overview of New Jersey’s Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 19:51:40 GMT

By Riker Danzig, Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=40ac0f24-ec20-4c8f-8b1a-e332693b74e1

Posted February 11, 2021

Carteret approves three massive warehouses near NJ Turnpike

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:59:32 GMT

City of Carteret is converting underutilized properties to econominc contributors.

The borough planning board last week approved 1 million square feet of warehouse space at 300 Salt Meadow Road.

Property owner CHI Acquisitions LP will build three warehouses on the site, located in an industrial district behind New Jersey Turnpike Exit 12 in the northeast section of the borough.

Posted February 8, 2021

Brownfield cleanup planned at riverfront site in North Tonawanda

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 17:59:39 GMT

Another large project in Tonawanda is progressing.The state Department of Environmental Conservation released a brownfield investigation plan last week for a riverfront site in North Tonawanda, which could host an expansion of an apartment complex next door.

The site at 624 River Road belongs to DLV Properties, a subsidiary of Visone Co. of Clarence, and includes a one-story, nearly 18,000-square-foot medical office, built in 1997.

Posted February 1, 2021

In response to Covid Crisis, Governor Proposes to Extend Brownfield Tax Credits for Some Sites

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 16:30:57 GMT

Much like with the Great Recession of 2008, the Covid crisis has caused many brownfield projects to stall. As a result, BCP projects that received their Certificate of Completion (COCs) in 2010-11 are at risk of losing the right to claim the tangible property tax credit since the ten year period to put the property into service has or is fast expiring.

In response, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed executive budget for Fiscal Year 2022 would provide an extra two years for owners of certain brownfield projects that received COCs between March 20, 2010 through January 1, 2012 to claim the qualified tangible property tax credit. In other words, projects whose ten-year would expire between March 20, 2020 and December 31, 202 will now have an additional two years to complete their project and claim their tax credits.

The text appears in Part AA of Section VII (Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation).

Discussions continue about extending the 12/31/2022 and 03/26/2026 tax credit sunsets.

The post In response to Covid Crisis, Governor Proposes to Extend Brownfield Tax Credits for Some Sites appeared first on Schnapf LLC.

Posted January 28, 2021

On a former brownfield site, an environmentally friendly Newburyport rental community grows

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:56:48 GMT

Linda Laban, Boston Real Estate (MA)

Community-focused, environmentally friendly living.

That’s how Hall and Moskow Property Management and Development describes its ambitious net-positive Hillside Center for Sustainable Living in Newburyport, which recently completed phase one.

…

“We pulled 110 semis worth of soil out of here. What’s left is clean,” Hall confirmed.

…

For the entire article, see

http://realestate.boston.com/new-developments/2021/01/19/hillside-newburyport-rentals/

Posted January 22, 2021

Final Clean Up of Chronic Pollution at Historic Mill Site

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 15:00:52 GMT

By Tim Faulkner, ecoRI News (RI)

The Lonsdale Company left behind a legacy of pollution. It’s just now being completely remediated. (DEM Bureau of Environmental Protection photos.

A nearly 200-year-old hangover from the Industrial Revolution is finally getting cured, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cleans a stubborn oil leak along the Blackstone River in Rhode Island.

The 30-acre Lonsdale mill complex and village in Lincoln and Cumberland dates back to 1831 with the construction of mills, homes, and amenities for workers. Most of it was built in a floodplain. The precursor to today’s live-work community was started by Nicholas Brown Jr., the namesake of Brown University, and his future brother-in-law Thomas Ives to became one of the largest mill complexes in the country.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.ecori.org/pollution-contamination/2020/11/15/more-cleanup-of-chronic-pollution-at-historic-mill-site

Getting "Black Mayonnaise" Out of One of America’s Dirtiest Waterways

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 14:59:43 GMT

A long-awaited dredging of the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, a Superfund site, has begun in earnest. It may not be finished for at least a decade.

By Mihir Zaveri, New York Times

In the middle of the Gowanus Canal, across from a luxury apartment complex and waterfront promenade, a yellow excavator was perched atop a floating barge. Again and again this week, it plunged its claw into the murky water, emerging each time with a scoop of fetid black muck. After more than 150 years, the famously filthy canal in Brooklyn is finally being cleaned out.

Since the mid-1800s, industrial pollutants, raw sewage and storm runoff have accumulated in the waterway, making it one of the most contaminated in the country. As the surrounding industrial wasteland gave way in recent decades to gleaming apartments, and as restaurants and bars popped up on streets dominated by warehouses and parking lots, the noxious sediment — known as “black mayonnaise” because of its color and consistency — lurked below the water’s surface.

Now the canal is undergoing its own transformation. The Environmental Protection Agency has begun a $1.5 billion project to remove the sludge and clean the Gowanus.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/nyregion/gowanus-canal-dredging-redevelopment.html

Brockton gets $250,000 grant to clean up downtown Corcoran site where housing is planned

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:57:18 GMT

By Cody Shepard, Brockton Enterprise (MA)

The city has received a $250,000 state grant to remove toxic materials from the vacant downtown Corcoran Supply Company property, which officials say is the first step toward redeveloping the property into downtown housing.

The Corcoran Supply Company is a three-story, 65,000-square-foot building located on 1.2 acres of downtown property at 308 Montello St.

The property is considered a brownfield and the grand funds will be used to assess and remediate issues related to fuel storage tanks, contaminated soil, asbestos and lead paint, which have all made the site unfit for use.

"Removing these pollutants will clear the way for the property to be developed into 62 new units of workforce and affordable housing for the city," Mayor Robert Sullivan's office said in a statement.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/environment/2021/01/05/brockton-corcoran-supply-company-building-downtown-property-brownfield-cleanup-grant-housing/4125843001/

Posted January 19, 2021

McGuire plans rehab of North Buffalo tool factory into apartments near "Chandlerville"

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:56:13 GMT

By Jonathan D. Epstein, Buffalo News (NY)

McGuire Development Co. wants to turn a longtime tool factory in North Buffalo into apartments, adding to the growing residential options in a new neighborhood that's being dubbed "Chandlerville."

The Buffalo-based development firm plans to renovate the 33,000-square-foot Buerk Tool complex at 293-315 Grote St. into 33 market-rate apartments.

The two-story brick building will include one- and two-bedroom units, with the exact sizes and rents still to be determined, said McGuire President Danielle Shainbrown.

…

For the entire article, see

https://buffalonews.com/news/local/mcguire-plans-rehab-of-north-buffalo-tool-factory-into-apartments-near-chandlerville/article_3b02904e-503d-11eb-8720-6b96dd7c68d8.html

Posted January 19, 2021

DEC may allow Niagara County to foreclose on contaminated sites without paying to clean them

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:52:27 GMT

By Thomas J. Prohaska, Buffalo News (NY)

For years, contaminated sites in Niagara County have been, in effect, exempt from property taxes, because the county wouldn't foreclose on them if the taxes went unpaid.

The reason was that taking title to a brownfield or other polluted site – or even one thought to be contaminated – would make the county liable for the costs of cleaning up the site.

Now the county says it has struck an agreement with the state Department of Environmental Conservation under which the county can foreclose on as many as 86 contaminated or possibly contaminated sites without being stuck with the remediation cost.

…

For the entire article, see

https://buffalonews.com/news/local/dec-may-allow-niagara-county-to-foreclose-on-contaminated-sites-without-paying-to-clean-them/article_27896b2a-438e-11eb-81bb-43de6d24ce37.html

Posted January 19, 2021

City of Salisbury, NC Brownfields Program

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 22:13:42 GMT

Good example of local government integrating brownfields, housing and economic revitalization.

https://salisburync.gov/Government/Community-Planning-Services/Community-Plans/Brownfields-Program

Posted January 18, 2021

Brockton gets $250,000 grant to clean up downtown Corcoran site where housing is planned

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:32:35 GMT

By Cody Shepard, Brockton Enterprise (MA)

The Corcoran Supply Company is a three-story, 65,000-square-foot building located on 1.2 acres of downtown property at 308 Montello St.

"Removing these pollutants will clear the way for the property to be developed into 62 new units of workforce and affordable housing for the city," Mayor Robert Sullivan's office said in a statement.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/environment/2021/01/05/brockton-corcoran-supply-company-building-downtown-property-brownfield-cleanup-grant-housing/4125843001/

Posted January 11, 2021

City wins brownfields grants for solar farm sites

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 15:22:12 GMT

by Valley Breeze (RI)

The city recently received $484,400 in brownfields remediation grants for cleanup at three polluted sites around the city, including two sites proposed for reuse as solar farms.

The largest grant was $292,800 for the redevelopment of the former Seville Dye property on First Avenue. The funds will be used to install a bioventing remedial system on the city-owned site to address petroleum-impacted soils. The city has proposed a 1.5-megawatt solar array for the site.

Another grant of $100,000 was awarded for site preparation at 92–176 Sunnyside Ave, two adjacent former industrial parcels the city has also proposed for reuse as a solar farm.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.valleybreeze.com/2020-12-22/woonsocket-north-smithfield/city-wins-brownfields-grants-solar-farm-sites#.X-esBC1h1p8

Posted January 4, 2021

Converting brownfields into useful sites

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 20:18:49 GMT

Waste Today promotes the benefits of brownfield redevelopment projects.

Converting hazardous sites into flourishing properties comes with a long list of unknowns.

On top of the potential risks, conversion can involve years of hard work, financial challenges and even legal constraints that hinder making the vision a reality.

However, Mark Thimke and Bruce Keyes, attorneys at Milwaukee-based Foley & Lardner LLP who specialize in brownfield redevelopment, say numerous laws have changed in the past decade to create more resources and further simplify the process of breathing new life into brownfields—properties that are difficult to redevelop or reuse due to the presence of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants.

Posted December 21, 2020

The Value of Brownfield Remediation

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 20:40:33 GMT

Detailed economic analysis for the University of Chicago matches high resolution housing data and remediation benefits to conclude positive economic results.

Kevin Haninger, Lala Ma, and Christopher Timmins

Abstract

The US Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Program awards grants to redevelop contaminated lands known as brownfields. This paper estimates cleanup benefits by combining administrative records for a nationally representative sample of brownfields with high-resolution, high-frequency housing data. With cleanup, we find that property values increase by an average of 5.0% to 11.5%. For a welfare interpretation that does not rely on the intertemporal stability of the hedonic price function, a double-difference matching estimator finds even larger effects of up to 15.2%. Our various specifications lead to the consistent conclusion that Brownfields Program cleanups yield positive, statistically significant, but highly localized effects on housing prices.

Posted December 15, 2020

Turning Brownfields into Parks

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 17:43:05 GMT

The Trust for Public Land makes the case for re-use as public spaces and surrounding economics will respond.

By Peter Harnik and Ryan Donahue

Back in 1975, the rusted pipes and immense corroded tanks of Seattle’s Gas Works Park seemed bizarre and incongruous against its verdant lawns. If old factory brownfields were repellent, and green parks were alluring, how could the two ever mate? But the imagina- tive flash by landscape architect Richard Haag broke that mold, and the reuse of that polluted property gave rise to an icon.

Posted November 23, 2020

Promoting More Equitable Brownfield Redevelopment

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 20:54:56 GMT

A critique of the Brownfields concept from the Lincoln Institute.

Nancey Green Leigh

Because many brownfield sites are located in areas with depressed property values, the cost of remediation and redevelopment can be greater than the expected resale value. These sites, referred to here as low-to-no market value brownfields, are rarely addressed under current policies and programs. Rather, the current practice of many brownfield redevelopment projects is to select only the most marketable sites for remediation and redevelopment, essentially perpetuating the age-old "creaming" process. Private and public developers' avoidance of the lowest market value parcels typically excludes disadvantaged neighborhoods from programs aimed at redeveloping brownfields and creates the potential for widening existing inequalities between better-off and worse-off neighborhoods.

Posted November 16, 2020

Reinventing Merrimac Paper mill

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 21:29:58 GMT

Lawrence, MA kicks off redevelopment of 19th century paper mill.

by Allison Corneau

Six years after fire ripped through the Merrimac Paper Company site, plans are underway to redevelop the 19th-century paper mill on the south bank of the Merrimack River.

City officials and local environmental experts held a virtual public meeting over Zoom last week to outline the first of many steps necessary to redevelop the site before overhauling the property that once employed as many as 275 people. The former paper company on South Canal Street sits on three lots totaling 4.75 acres, according to a study prepared by Credere Associates, the firm hired by the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission to analyze Brownfields cleanup alternatives.

Posted October 26, 2020

EPA meets with federal agencies in New Castle to discuss redevelopment

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 21:27:14 GMT

Consistent activity and opportunity for brownfields redevelopment in southeastern Pennsylvania.

by Brandon Brown, WFMJ

EPA representatives and city leaders toured various blighted properties to see circumstances on the ground and to provide New Castle with EPA assessment assistance and expertise on redevelopment.

The US Environmental Protection Agency joined federal partners to meet with New Castle and Lawrence County Economic Development leadership and community leaders to discuss how EPA can assist the city in the redevelopment of former Brownfields and sites in Opportunity Zones that had become tarnished from past industrial activity.

Posted October 26, 2020

$18 million: The price tag to revitalize Ansonia, mayor says

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 17:25:09 GMT

Redeveloping former industrial site brownfield in Ansonia CT has support of US Senators and will be a major step in community revitalization.

Mayor David Cassetti and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal stood on the concrete bridge leading to the former Ansonia Copper and Brass site and looked at the sprawling 60-acre complex of vacant, rusted metal hulks that once churned out products 24/7.

“Once we get these buildings down, we’ll have a blank canvas,” Cassetti told the senator. “A developer can paint whatever picture he wants and submit it to the city for approval.”

October 19, 2020

KAD approved for clean-up funding through the state’s Brownfields Initiative

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 16:01:55 GMT

Redevelopment brings new manufacturing to Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development today announced that KAD Properties LLC has been approved for $51,718 in funding from the State’s Brownfield Initiative to remediate the former LW Greenwood property in East Randolph. KAD Models and Prototypes, Inc is a growing prototype manufacturing shop located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and more recently East Randolph.

Posted October 13, 2020

Brownfield funding to remediate former Tip Top Tire site

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 16:00:05 GMT

Small scale redevelopment project in Vermont with state funding suppport benefits local community.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) today announced that Twin Pines Housing has received $65,000 in grant funding from the State’s Brownfield Initiative to work with Evernorth (formerly Housing Vermont) to remediate the former Tip Top Tire site in Wilder and construct four units of affordable housing.

Posted October 13, 2020

Albany Community Trust awarded brownfield clean-up grant

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 15:34:30 GMT

Vermont Brownfield funding supports small town economics and creates community space.

Albany Community Trust, Inc. has received $17,850 in grant funding from the State of Vermont’s Brownfield Initiative to remediate the former Albany General Store property.

The presently shuttered building has a 100 plus year history of operating as a general store. The closure was necessitated by an electrical fire in 2013. Lamoille County Planning Commission contributed to the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and initial environmental investigation, including the removal of underground fuel storage tanks. Northeastern Vermont Development Association, and Department of Environmental Conservation – Petroleum Clean-Up Fund (PCF) contributed to site characterization, and the PCF will be used to clean up contamination from the former fueling station.

Posted October 6, 2020

Lackawanna County brownfield to be redeveloped

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 15:31:55 GMT

Current project in Pennsylvania with an industrial end use.

CANPACK Group, a coalition of packaging companies, plans to redevelop a former brownfield site in Lackawanna County for a North American Center of Excellence and an aluminum-can manufacturing facility.

CANPACK Group is a subsidiary of Pennsylvania-based Giorgi Global Holdings and manufactures aluminum and steel cans and glass bottles for the food and beverage sector.

Posted October 6, 2020

Ohio Adopts Federal Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Defense – With More Progress on Brownfield Redevelopment to Come?

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 18:55:04 GMT

New Ohio law provides long term liability protection for developers when re-openers arise.

Effective September 15, 2020, Ohio will join the list of states that have incorporated the federal “Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser” (“BFPP”) defense to hazardous substance liability into state law, through the enactment of House Bill 168.[1] Although Ohio has previously offered a shield to state-level liability through its Voluntary Action Program, that mechanism requires issuance of a covenant not to sue by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.[2] The new statutory BFPP defense will offer property purchasers the advantage of being “self-implementing,” requiring no affirmative government approval to take effect.

Posted September 21, 2020

Hull & Associates Announces Investment from RTC Partners

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 18:52:53 GMT

Private equity firms see opportunity in Brownfield services as exemplified by this investment in Hull Associates by RCT Partners.

Hull & Associates and Round Table Capital Partners (RTC), a New York based private equity firm, announced today that RTC has completed an investment in Hull & Associates, a premier environmental and engineering consulting firm specializing in the Environment, Energy, and Infrastructure markets in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Founded in 1980, Hull is a diversified engineering consulting firm with deep sector expertise in site assessment & remediation, brownfield redevelopment, waste management & beneficial use, water / wastewater, renewable energy, infrastructure design, and other services for commercial and industrial clients, oil & gas companies, public utilities, municipal and government agencies. The Company serves over 500 active clients across eight offices in the United States. “RTC’s partnership with Hull will allow great growth opportunities for our employees,” said Craig Kasper, CEO of Hull who will take on the role of Executive Vice President. “The investment in Hull as a platform will allow inorganic and organic growth to serve our clients on a national stage,” Kasper added.

Posted September 21, 2020

Wigan has smallest amount of brownfield land available for houses in Greater Manchester

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 17:33:44 GMT

Brownfields opportunities are international, as this story from England reminds us. As described in this article, very high housing demand is driving the redevelopment of Brownfield properties and the number of sites vary significantly by town.

By Andrew Nowell

The borough has just 26 brownfield locations able to accommodate 1,468 houses, according to the engineering, design and project management consultancy firm which looked into the subject.

However, the sites in Wigan which could be turned into housing are, on the whole, reasonably large, as the borough has 113 hectares which could be put to use. This is the fifth-largest amount of land available to GM town halls.

Posted September 14, 2020

DeWine signs brownfield liability immunity bill into law

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 17:30:34 GMT

New Ohio law provides long term liability protection for developers when re-openers arise.

by Kim Palmer

A popular state bill that gives prospective buyers of contaminated property legal immunity in hopes of spurring redevelopment around the state was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine late Tuesday, June 16.

Ohio House Bill 168 establishes immunity for costs associated with cleanup, in cases where any original contaminations resurface from an environmentally blighted property after federally approved remediation efforts were undertaken by the new owner.

Posted September 14, 2020

New brownfield cleanup proposed on Franklin Street

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 17:37:45 GMT

By Bob Clark, Olean Times Herald (NY)

Another brownfield cleanup in North Olean is being planned, the state Department of Environmental Conservation reported.

DEC officials said they will be accepting public comment for 30 days on a Brownfield Cleanup Program application for 351 Franklin St., a 6.26-acre site previously used for oil refineries.

The property is owned by 351 Franklin St., LLC., a corporation founded by R. Donald Benson, who has led several brownfield remediations in the area. Two commercial structures sit on the site. One is used by First Transit, Inc., for several local bus operations including the Olean Area Transit System, while the other structure is vacant.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/new-brownfield-cleanup-proposed-on-franklin-street/article_05728d7a-1e7c-56df-ac61-c785945068dd.html

Posted September 8, 2020

Glen Road Brownfield Cleanup Targeting Hazmat Materials

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 17:36:41 GMT

By John Voket, Newtown Bee (CT)

Poking around the brownfield clean-up site a stone’s throw from Sandy Hook Village Center and the banks of the Pootatuck reveals a deteriorating complex of buildings that once contributed to Newtown’s manufacturing heritage.

Economic and Community Development Deputy Director Christal Preszler and colleague Christine O’Neil unlocked the heavy gate to the grounds of 28A Glen Road for a brief tour with The Newtown Bee, August 30, as the town announced a new grant being applied to tackle the containment and remediation of some of the most imminently hazardous materials that had been abandoned on the site for decades.

With a little imagination, it is easy to envision the cluster of buildings, once the site of R.S. Watkins & Sons, as a thriving beehive of activity that employed hundreds of local residents over the years, including a young William Halstead, who went on to serve as a long-time fire marshal and still serves as Chief of Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue.

...

When it was fully utilized, the property included one private residence, three industrial buildings, and two storage sheds. The residential structure dates from 1847, while the other buildings sprang up between 1943 and 1947.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.newtownbee.com/09042020/glen-road-brownfield-cleanup-targeting-hazmat-materials/

Posted September 8, 2020

Brownfield infusion will boost West Shore Bank project

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 16:00:18 GMT

More activity in Michigan, which is building a consistent Brownfield record.

A seven-figure brownfield plan is helping West Shore Bank make its move in Traverse City by building a new location near the Boardman River.

Sid Van Slyke, company senior vice president and market leader, said West Shore Bank will build the three-story structure south of the Eighth Street and Boardman Avenue intersection. The Ludington-based bank’s offices at Division and Front streets need room to grow, he said.

Posted August 31, 2020

Why NYC Should Add $47 Million to Its Parks Budget

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 15:57:27 GMT

Although City parks make up 14% of NYC’s land, the Parks Department receives only 0.6% of the budget, @mollyfraser asserts that parks and gardens are neglected and overlooked, but are necessary infrastructure for successful and healthy neighborhoods. Improving existing or adding new recreational use as part of redevelopment projects in NYC and elsewhere are likely to be well-received.

In 2019, NYLCV partnered with New Yorkers for Parks and DC 37 to launch the Play Fair for Parks Campaign, a multi-year effort to advocate for increased funding of parks maintenance, staff, and programming. The campaign involves a large, expanding coalition of more than 275 organizations. The Play Fair Campaign believes that investing in greenspaces makes New York City more resilient in the face of climate change and improves residents’ daily lives and overall health.

Posted August 31, 2020

EPA: $900,000 in revolving loan funds to clean, reuse brownfield sites including Niagara County

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 18:41:30 GMT

In June, EPA distributed $900,000 of funding to clean up and redevelop Brownfields in Camden, NJ, Niagara County, NY, and NYC.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday announced $900,000 of supplemental funding is slated for successful brownfields revolving loan fund (RLF) programs to clean up brownfields sites in Camden (New Jersey), Niagara County and New York City. The supplemental funds are part of $6.9 million going to communities across the country that have demonstrated success in using their brownfields funds to clean up and redevelop brownfields sites. The funds will be used to continue progress in reusing vacant and abandoned properties and turning them into community assets such as housing, recreation and open space, health facilities, social services and commerce opportunities.

Posted August 24, 2020

Redevelopment of Former Coal Plant Sites

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 18:38:43 GMT

Informative article on the shut down of coal plants, steps to reclamation/remediation.

Coal-fired power plants across the United States shut down in 2019 at the second-fastest pace on record. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), plants with a combined total of more than 15,100 megawatts ceased operating nationwide last year — enough to power 15 million homes, and second only to the number of megawatts retired during 2015. The reasons behind these closures are many: decreasing wholesale prices, competition from comparatively cheap and plentiful alternate energy sources such as natural gas, subsidized solar and wind energy, continued compliance with federal energy regulations, and public concern over coal’s effect on climate change.

Posted August 24, 2020

The U.S. EPA FY21 Brownfield Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) Grant Competition Has Begun!

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:49:51 GMT

Proposals are due October 28, 2020 by 11:59 PM EST

Key Changes to the FY21 Competition Guidelines Include:

COVID-19 Impacts: Entities that are experiencing technical difficulties in applying through www.grants.gov because of operational or other issues related to COVID-19 may request to submit the application by email. See EPA’s Solicitation Clauses for more details.
Hazardous Substance and Petroleum Funding Requests: EPA no longer requires applicants to separate hazardous substance funding requests from petroleum funding requests. Rather, applicants will request one funding amount to address sites contaminated by hazardous substances and/or petroleum.
Submission Materials: The Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424 B) is no longer required at time of submission.
Confidential Business Information: Reminder to applicants: “EPA recommends that you do not include confidential business information (CBI) in your application. However, if CBI is included, it will be treated in accordance with 40 CFR 2.203. Applicants must clearly indicate which portion(s) of their application they are claiming as CBI.” See EPA’s Solicitation Clauses for more details.
Outcomes and Benefits of Reuse Strategy: If applicable, applicants are to describe how the proposed project or revitalization plans will promote the sustainable reuse of existing buildings or structures.
Threats to Sensitive Populations: This section has been reorganized to include “Describe how this grant will address or facilitate the identification and reduction of threats to…” in each of the three subcriteria.
Incorporating Community Input: Applicants are to discuss alternatives to in-person community engagements due to COVID-19 and social distancing requirements.
Task/Activity Lead: If applicable, applicants are required to explain why an entity(ies) other than the applicant is the lead.
Budget Table: There will only be one budget table for the total grant award. The applicant will be free to address both hazardous substances and petroleum contaminated sites as they proposed, but will not be required to spend a specific amount on hazardous substances and petroleum sites.
Point/Percentage Distribution: The maximum number of points and the point distribution has changed for each of the grants.

The entire list of changes can be found HERE.

All applications must be submitted through www.grants.gov using the “Workspace” feature. Information on the Workspace feature can be found at theGrants.gov Workspace Overview Page at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html. The posting is now up on www.grants.gov. This is the only method EPA will accept applications; unless the applicant has an approved waiver to submit the application by mail under the Limited Exception Procedure policy (outlined in Appendix 1 of the Guidelines).

Please take advantage of NJIT TAB’s FREE grant proposal critique services. The deadline for submitting for a grant critique is October 14, 2020, by close of business. Send your 10 (or 12) page narrative to tab@njit.edu in Microsoft Word format. We anticipate a high volume of grant critique requests; therefore, critiques will be provided on a first come first served basis. We strongly recommend submitting as early as possible.

The grant guidelines can be viewed at the links below:

FY 2021 Multipurpose Grant Guideline s

FY 2021 Assessment Grant Guidelines

FY 2021 Cleanup Grant Guidelines

Additional MAC Grant Application Resources

Renewable Energy Projects and Brownfield Redevelopment in New York State – The Risk can be Worth the Increasing Reward

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 17:22:34 GMT

@HodgonRossLLP provides detailed summary of new financial incentives and stakeholder benefits in New York State for the redevelopment of underutilized properties with alternative energy and beneficial use outcomes. @jdsupra

Brownfields, landfills, and other underutilized sites are attracting renewable energy developers now more than ever. In recent months, New York State has sent strong market signals that will drive development to these sites, so they can be put back into beneficial reuse. The State’s leveraging of incentive dollars is meant to assist in offsetting the historical risk aversion to such redevelopment and ensure smart siting that benefits host communities in a myriad of ways. The State has coupled the increased incentives that will be available to project developers with community-based incentives, such as offsets of ratepayer bills, aimed at further encouraging local governments to seek out these types of redevelopments on certain controlled sites, as well as finding other ways to make these types of sites advantageous to developers.

Posted August 10, 2020

What Is a Brownfield, and Should You Invest in One?

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 19:21:56 GMT

Brownfields get recognition in the general real estate industry.

by Erik Martin

When a commercial or industrial property becomes contaminated with toxins, chemicals, and other pollutants and abandoned, the result is a brownfield. A brownfield can stand as an ugly blight on the area and deter prospective buyers and developers from taking a closer look. Fortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created a program to encourage the expansion, reuse, or redevelopment of brownfields that provides incentives to invest in these properties. But before committing to a brownfield site, it’s important to know what you’re getting into and prudently ponder:

Posted August 3, 2020

Tennessee Expands Brownfield Franchise and Excise Tax Credit

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 18:48:03 GMT

@JDSUPRA update on what Tennessee is doing to incentivize brownfield redevelopment through F&E tax credits.

Tennessee Expands Brownfield Franchise and Excise Tax Credit

On March 20, Gov. Lee signed into law SB 2158/HB 2227, which amends the Tennessee statute governing franchise and excise (F&E) tax credits available for brownfield redevelopment. Effective July 1, 2020, the law creates significant new opportunities to incentivize brownfield redevelopment in Tennessee through F&E tax credits.

Posted July 13, 2020

NJEDA Receives $800K EPA Grant for Brownfield Cleanup, Redevelopment

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 18:46:16 GMT

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will receive an $800,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Brownfields grant. The NJEDA can use this funding to capitalize a revolving loan fund or to provide subaward grants to communities, developers, and nonprofits carrying out cleanup and redevelopment activities at brownfield sites. EPA also awarded grants to the cities of Camden and Jersey City and the nonprofit Cooper’s Ferry Partnership. In total, the Agency provided nearly $2.1 million to support brownfield remediation in New Jersey.

Posted July 13, 2020

Insurance Coverage for Emerging Contaminants

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 18:02:25 GMT

In her article in the National Law Review, Jennifer Baker describes insurance coverage for historic releases of contaminants more recently identified and regulated. Further, insurance options are currently available to protect you from future emerging contaminants issues.

Never heard of that chemical? It could be an emerging contaminant, which calls for careful consideration as to whether there is insurance coverage for environmental investigations and remediation that may be required due to its presence in the environment.

Posted July 6, 2020

Guide to Community Actions that drive Brownfields Development

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 17:59:57 GMT

Summary of the EPA's guide to community involvement in brownfield redevelopment. What steps can the community take towards revitalization?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) recently developed a Guide to help communities with brownfields to more successfully address community revitalization and brownfields-related challenges. The guide outlines concrete actions communities can take to address these challenges.

Through the three case studies described in the Guide, it is shown that attracting public or private investment for the reuse of brownfield properties can bring economic and social benefits to communities, in addition to improving environmental conditions.

Posted July 6, 2020

Brownfield clean-up funding approved for Montpelier Granite Works site

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 13:14:56 GMT

Vermont Business Magazine

Brownfield clean-up will soon be underway at the former Montpelier Granite Works (MGW) site. This clean-up is made possible by the revolving loan funds (RLF) of the Agency of Commerce & Community Development (ACCD) and the Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NRPC). Each is contributing $200,000 in clean-up funding towards the $500,000 total remediation cost. These loans were underwritten by the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). Both RLFs were capitalized by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted June 29, 2020

Brewery and Restaurant 'Just the Beginning' for Revitalization of Former Cerro Metal Plant

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 13:11:25 GMT

by Geoff Rushton

In what was once a forge shop, there's a transformation happening, the centerpiece of efforts to date to revitalize the former Cerro Metal Plant in Spring Township.

It's there that in the coming months the new Axemann Brewery, joined by a relocated Blonde Bistro, will open in Plant 1 of what is now known as Titan Park on Axemann Road.

Posted June 29, 2020

Moving Forward with Infrastructure Climate Solutions

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 16:17:51 GMT

Five-year investment plan for climate-firendly infrastructure investments from top national leadership includes brownfield redevelopment. @stephaniegidigbi @nrdc

By Stephanie Gidigbi

Congressional leaders unveiled a transformative vision of moving America and the environment forward by investing in 21st century infrastructure.

The Moving Forward Framework outlines a five-year plan for bold investment in transportation and water infrastructure. The plan shows how the upcoming transportation reauthorization bill and Water Resources Development Act can help us address our climate crisis and prepare for the more extreme weather events we are already experiencing.

Posted June 21, 2020

PA proposes to relax non-residential lead cleanup standards

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 19:26:47 GMT

Recently proposed regulatory standards in PA generally more stringent and add PFAS, but the proposed increase in lead standard for non-residential use is getting some attention.

Pennsylvania is proposing to relax its non-residential standard for the concentration of lead allowed in the surface soils of obsolete contaminated properties adhering to its voluntary cleanup program. Such sites, like the South Philadelphia refinery complex, have potential for redevelopment as commercial or industrial ventures.

Posted June 15, 2020

Village Adopts Village-Wide Form-Based Zoning Guide

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 19:13:11 GMT

Press Release from Village of Port Chester

A more than two year community-led process results in Port Chester adopting in an innovative, ground-up form-based code that sets the course for the community’s future

At the May 20, 2020 Village of Port Chester Board of Trustees meeting, Port Chester became just the second large municipality in New York State to adopt a municipality-wide form-based code after the City of Buffalo.

The new form-based zoning code was borne out of the Village’s 2012 Comprehensive Plan, which looked to replace its outdated 1975 zoning code with a new zoning code that would focus growth around the train station, while protecting the Village’s residential neighborhoods.

Port Chester’s new code is purely form-based. “Form-based zoning prioritizes the character of neighborhoods, districts and corridors within the community as the central organizing framework of the Village. With a focus on how the size, shape and design of buildings relate to each other and to the ‘public realm,’ or streetscape, this type of zoning works to create a vibrant streetscape with a mix of uses where appropriate, and balances transportation options to include walking, biking and transit in addition to driving in a car”, stated Brian Wright, Principal of Town Planning and Urban Design Collaborative or TPUDC, the zoning gurus out of Franklin, Tennessee that led the Village’s effort. TPUDC has worked on a number of form-based codes around the country, including Burlington, VT, Birmingham, AL, and Mt. Pleasant, MI, among others. Also part of the TPUDC team was Fisher Associates, who worked on the Green Code out of The City of Buffalo. While Port Chester drew inspiration from best practices nationwide, it tailored its new zoning code to local needs, said Eric Zamft, Director of Planning & Economic Development for the Village. “We took our consultant’s experience and mixed it with our own local flavor,” stated Zamft.

The code adoption was the result of over two years of community outreach and engagement – under the “Plan the Port” initiative. Plan the Port included over 50 meetings with community members, key stakeholders such as local businesses and not-for-profits, the development community, as well as with each of the Village’s development-related volunteer boards and commissions. This was highlighted by a 10-day visioning and planning event early on in the process entitled “PlanapaloozaTM”. “Central to all of these conversations was an open and honest dialogue about where the community should head into the future,” stated Zamft. “We all coalesced around the objective to ‘Allow the RIGHT type of development in the RIGHT types of places.” Zamft added that Plan the Port was innovative in its engagement, particularly with the Village’s Latino community, as well as how it handled the impacts of potential future development.

As part of the required environmental review of the new code, a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) was produced that identified potential impacts and offered mitigation. “The Form-Based Code GEIS is unique in that it tackles socioeconomic impacts head-on, such as affordable housing and displacement, and requires that mitigation measures be taken,” stated Christopher Steers, Village Manager. “In addition, it significantly streamlines the review process so that developers and property owners know exactly what it takes to obtain an approval.”

“I am elated with the adoption of the form-based code by the Board of Trustees. Its adoption was the result of the hard work of numerous people and really proves that grass roots efforts pay off,” stated Richard ‘Fritz’ Falanka, the Village’s Mayor. “This type of zoning greatly improves the ability for the Village to attract development while maintaining our historic village character. While change does not happen overnight this zoning will help initiate change and much needed growth, especially as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Port Chester can truly say it is ‘Open for Business’,” stated Steers.

“This is a better code with a better process and is a much better reflection of the community’s values and goals,” Falanka said. “Its Port Chester’s time.”

The newly adopted code can be found on the Village’s website at:

http://www.portchesterny.com/planning-economic-development/files/zoning-code-adopted-may-20-2020

All of the project documentation can be found on the Village’s website at:

http://www.portchesterny.com/planning-economic-development/pages/form-based-codegeis

Additional information on the project can also be found at:

http://www.plantheport.com

Posted June 15, 2020

With 8,000 units, Jersey City project will be the Tri-State’s largest mixed-income housing development

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 14:24:06 GMT

By Dana Schulz, 6sqft.com

After receiving approval from the city, last week, developer BRP Companies revealed renderings for their Bayfront Redevelopment Project in Jersey City along the Hackensack River. Located on a former brownfield site, the 100-acre project will be built in phases, eventually resulting in 8,000 units of mixed-income housing (35 percent of which will be affordable), said to be the largest such project in the region. This fall, construction will kick off on the 16-acre first phase, known as Cove Pointe, which will bring 1,092 units of housing, with 382 set aside as affordable and workforce housing.

Located on the west side of Jersey City off Route 440, the Bayfront Redevelopment Project site was formerly occupied by the Mutual Chemical Company, later taken over by Honeywell, who ran a chromate chemical plant and was found guilty of dumping toxic waste on the land in the 1990s. According to an article in the Hudson Reporter, in 2005, a judge ordered Honeywell to clean up the site, and in 2018, Jersey City acquired the entire property from the company for $100 million with the goal of increasing the affordable housing requirement from five to 35 percent.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.6sqft.com/with-8000-units-jersey-city-project-will-be-the-tri-states-largest-mixed-income-housing-development/

Posted June 11, 2020

NYC Building Emission Standards One Year Later and the Impact of COVID-19

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 14:21:49 GMT

By Susan E. Golden Hilary G. Atzrott, Venable LLP

Local Law 97 of New York City's Climate Mobilization Act requires certain buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2024. The City is moving forward to implement the law, although certain elements have been affected by the COVID-19 shutdown. Venable's prior summary of Local Law 97 is available here.

Posted June 11, 2020

Connecticut DEEP Job Opening for Staff Attorney 2

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 17:41:39 GMT

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has an opening for a Staff Attorney 2 position. Applications close on June 16th. Learn more here: https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?R1=200601&R2=0088AR&R3=001

Grant Funding to Help Remediate Nine Brownfields

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 14:29:10 GMT

State level funding in RI establishing a good track record in Rhode Island @ecori

By ecoRI News staff

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) recently awarded $2 million in matching grants under the state’s Brownfields Remediation and Economic Development Fund to nine projects in four municipalities. The funding was made available by the 2018 Green Economy Bond, which Rhode Island voters approved last November.

Posted June 8, 2020

Brownfield, Superfund efforts are win-win at Tonawanda Coke

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 14:24:09 GMT

Good project summary from Buffalo describing plans to transfer a legacy industrial property into a data center campus. @buffnews

by The Buffalo News Editorial Board

The state Department of Environmental Conservation made the right call on the Tonawanda Coke property. A private brownfield cleanup plus a parallel state Superfund remediation will get the toxin-filled land cleaned to the highest standard while restoring part of the property to be put back into productive use. That is a win-win.

Posted June 8, 2020

Opportunity Knocks: 235 River Road Portfolio

Mon, 18 May 2020 15:40:07 GMT

Brownfield property for sale gets some press in Buffalo with a good description of local area, and a good summary of financial incentives from the State, the County and a utility. @queenseyes @buffalorising

A significant property in N. Tonawanda is on the market. The 235 River Road portfolio is being listed by Hanna Commercial Real Estate for $889,000. While there are two buildings on the site, this property is calling for a fresh, significant mixed use development due to its close proximity to the water. Anything built up at this property would have views onto the water. The parcel is also in close proximity to Riviera Theatre and The Canal, with immediate access onto Tonawanda Island.

Senate Committee Issues Recommendations for New Tax Incentive Program

Mon, 18 May 2020 15:37:56 GMT

@NJBIA has summarized recent panel recommendations for @NJEDA economic incentives, including brownfields funding, with focus on how to manage caps on incentives and tax credits. @bobconsidine

By Bob Considine

A legislatively appointed panel charged with making recommendations on how New Jersey should structure its economic development incentives released its final report today amidst a stalemate between Gov. Phil Murphy and the Legislature.

The bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies, led by State Senators Senator Bob Smith and Joseph Pennacchio, made 25 recommendations to control the costs of the program, increase transparency, and improve the public benefit of incentives offered to businesses to create jobs and invest in New Jersey.

NYC Green Retrofit Impact: More Questions Than Answers For BCONE

Tue, 12 May 2020 14:32:46 GMT

By Steve Dwyer and Connor A. Jaffe*

It’s been one year (May 2019), since the New York City Council ratified what is known as “local law 97,” seen as the centerpiece of the city’s Climate Mobilization Act (CMA). One overarching and lofty goal is reducing citywide carbon emissions 40% by 2030 and a whopping 80% by 2050.

It will be interesting to see at what level of fallout has occurred -- and will -- during the ensuing years.

Some background: LL 97 recognizes both that the city’s buildings are the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for nearly 70% of total citywide emissions in 2014, and that the technology and the overall affinity exists to enable the city to reach this ambitious emissions reduction targets.

Drilling down further, LL 97 requires buildings larger than 25,000 square feet to meet strict greenhouse gas emissions limits starting in 2024, and is expected to reduce cumulative emissions from large buildings at least 40% citywide by 2030 through building retrofits. In addition, the CMA establishes a new Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program to enable retrofits through long-term financing, and requires the installation of solar PV and green roofs on new buildings and major renovations.

So what does it all spell for the BCONE and NYC Brownfield Partnership? We know that because many brownfield redevelopers and their constituents (environmental remediation consultants, architects, etc.) are hard wired to advocate for and then execute sustainable building construction—it’s in their DNA—there’s a good chance our membership owns or holds stakes in buildings that A.) might already be fully in energy-efficiency compliance or B.) are facing minor capital expenditures to fully comply to LL 97.

(It’s hard to say without a consensus in place; thus, it would be ideal for BCONE to build that consensus about what’s at stake for members, all based on feedback to the organization over the subsequent months. This isn’t a news theme that’s going away.)

The motivators driving LL 97 are sound. The law components focus on the city’s largest buildings to promote energy efficiency, beneficial electrification and renewable energy while creating new, good-paying jobs. It also discourages continued reliance on polluting fossil fuels, cuts down on harmful air pollution that causes respiratory illnesses, and saves building owners money over time by lowering operating expenses.

Here are some points of discussion, questions and potential end results that could emanate from this law, ones that could be instructive to the coalition as you wade through the weeds:

One potential outcome of the law is that if building owners find they can’t retrofit buildings because it will break the bank, will this result in building foreclosures? The razing of older structures in Manhattan and the other boroughs? What percent of the high-rise portfolio falls within this designation?
For projects that had been/are in progress—and the COVID-19 health pandemic is now another profound X factor to add to the mix on top of everything else—how much is this law affecting a developer’s building construction blueprints? What is the additional role of brownfield architects to modify project specs? This factor is particularly impactful for brownfield projects in NYC that had already begun groundbreaking in, say, 2017 or ’18—and now must make serious adaptations to building function and design once they learned of LL 97 last spring.
What additional costs does a NYC developer face in having to adhere to the law, reflected in the in-progress projects? Did many developers already prepare for this law in advance, perhaps reading the tea leaves? And if they did, has it served them well?

Assistance Is Available

Several energy efficiency design contractors are working to empower building managers to boost efficiency and cost-savings through an intelligent, intuitive building energy management platform.

Along those lines, the NYC Retrofit Accelerator (found on the web at www.retrofitaccelerator.cityofnewyork.us) offers free, personalized advisory services that streamline the process of making energy efficiency improvements to buildings. The retrofit accelerator can help owners develop an effective strategy to comply with the Climate Mobilization Act.

The Accelerator offers free help, simple fixes and compelling results, according to its website. Retrofit experts can help building owners make building improvements, working one-on-one to understand each building owner’s needs and help draft long term capital plans to save energy. The NYCRA can also connect owners with qualified contractors to do the job; assist in finding cash incentives and financing to help underwrite upgrades; and train building staff to allow building to runs efficiently in a sustained fashion.

Because we know it’s difficult to quantify to the letter what is exactly at stake for members regarding LL 97, feedback to the organization over the subsequent months is paramount. Please feel free to email the BCONE staff (sboyle@geiconsultants.com) or myself (steve.dwyer59@att.net) and let us know how this one-year-old law is impacting your business due to retrofit obligations needed to be performed.

Highlights of Local Law 97

The Climate Mobilization Act is expected to: Reduce New York City’s overall emissions 10 percent by 2030
Requires buildings larger than 25,000 square feet to meet greenhouse gas emissions caps, beginning in 2024
Applies to 50,000 buildings across New York City (those larger than 25,000 square feet) across 22,000 properties
Sets emissions limits based on occupancy classifications of spaces within a building
Eliminate 6 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, the equivalent of taking
Remove 1.3 million cars from the road every year
Create 26,700 green jobs by 2030
Prevent 50 to 130 premature deaths annually by 2030 prevent 150 hospital visits annually by 2030.

*Note on the Co-Author: Mr. Jaffe is a senior studying Finance and Real Estate at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder. BCONE’s Steve Dwyer assisted Mr. Jaffe with his independent research on LL97.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Over $2.6 Million in Brownfields Funding for 16 Projects

Mon, 11 May 2020 15:24:03 GMT

More brownfield projects getting off the ground in Boston area with support of state level funding. This project is 44 acres with plans for almost 700 housing units. @JosephKriesberg is the contact for more information.

Massachusett's Governor Charlie Baker, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, and MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss joined City of Boston Chief of Housing and Neighborhood Development Sheila Dillon, Brownfields Advisory Group Chair and President and CEO of MACDC Joe Kriesberg, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) Executive Director Richard Thal, and state and local officials to announce over $2.6 million in Brownfields Redevelopment Fund awards to support the environmental assessment and cleanup of 16 contaminated and challenging sites across the Commonwealth.

NJEDA, NJIT partner to create Brownfields Assistance Center

Mon, 11 May 2020 15:21:52 GMT

Reminder the NJIT municipal assistance program is taking off! This program builds on NJDEP's Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI). @njbiz @LindaLindner

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) board of directors on Thursday approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) to establish the NJ Brownfields Center at NJIT.

The Brownfields Center will provide a variety of technical assistance and resources to assist communities in the state with the process of transforming brownfield sites into community assets.

Victory Mill environmental cleanup plan proposed; Project to turn Saratoga County site into apartments

Thu, 07 May 2020 14:18:48 GMT

Historic mill has a variety of contaminants from 150-year industrial use

By Stephen Williams, Schenectady Daily Gazette (NY)

Plans to rehabilitate the historic former Victory Mills industrial site in the village of Victory into apartments with an on-site microbrewery have advanced to the point where an environmental cleanup is under active discussion.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is reviewing plans for a brownfield cleanup at the old mill on Gates Avenue, which was used for various industrial purposes for more than 150 years, from 1846 until about 2000. There is known soil and groundwater contamination, but the full extent has yet to be investigated.

…

For the entire article, see

https://dailygazette.com/article/2020/04/30/victory-mill-environmental-cleanup-plan-proposed-project-to-turn-saratoga-county-site-into-apartments

Novel deal could mean new life for 138 polluted properties in Syracuse and suburbs

Mon, 04 May 2020 19:56:23 GMT

Creative use of state land bank to manage environmental liabilities effectively supports brownfield redevelopment in Syracuse.

by Tim Knauss, Syracuse.com

The former Winkelman Co. property on Syracuse’s East Side was apparently abandoned by its owner years ago. And no one else wanted it. The potential liability for cleaning up asbestos, discarded tires or other pollution made ownership too risky.

Now that may change.

United States: Additional $5M In Brownfield Funding

Mon, 04 May 2020 19:52:29 GMT

Steve Hoover of SGR notes the recent addition of funds to EPA loan program based on high demand.

by Phillip E. Hoover, Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP

The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act authorizes the EPA to make additional funds available in any year based on the demand for the funding. Due to high demand, the EPA announced last Friday that it is offering an additional $5,000,000 to recipients of its Brownfield revolving loan fund agreements in fiscal year 2020. Federal Brownfield funding contributes to the redevelopment of the underuse properties that may be contaminated by providing loans for site investigation and cleanup.

Fitchburg receives $87,000 in state funding for decontamination at two sites

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 15:32:24 GMT

Brownfield money continues to flow from state level fund in Massachusetts.

By Daniel Monahan, Sentinel & Enterprise

Two important parcels of land in the city will be assessed for environmental contamination and cleaned up thanks to the city’s $87,000 share of $2.6 million in Brownfields Redevelopment Fund awards distributed this week.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced the fund awards on Thursday. The city will be receiving $87,000 to remove old transformers from the former B.F. Brown School and to remediate a vacant 1.3-acre lot at 80 Lunenburg St.

How to Ensure Your Brownfield Project Is a Successful, Worthwhile Undertaking

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 15:21:49 GMT

An informative article by Donald Smith in National Real Estate Investor covering a lot of Brownfield aspects.

In the past decade, we’ve seen the development of new commercial real estate projects all over the country made possible by a strong economy. In many regions, there is now a short supply of properties that have a combination of a clear market, infrastructure that is already developed and environmental issues that have been resolved. If the economy keeps growing and producing companies that need large blocks of space, developers will need to be more open to the redevelopment of brownfield sites.

Changes to Pennsylvania’s Management of Fill Policy

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 17:47:14 GMT

By Jamey Stynchula, PG, LSRP, Senior Project Manager GEI Consultants, Inc.

Most construction sites require import or export of fill material. Projects in dense urban areas like the City of Philadelphia, typically have excavations that span the entire footprint of a site and leave little room for staging of soil. Therefore, it is critical to have the export/import fill material properly characterized in accordance with Pennsylvania’s regulations prior to the start of a project. This allows for direct loading in or out of a site to avoid double handling and potential schedule delays.

Under Pennsylvania regulations a person placing solid waste onto the ground is generally required to obtain a permit under the Solid Waste Management Act (SWMA) (35 P.S. §§ 6018.101 – 6018.1003). A person is not required to obtain a permit under SWMA if the person can demonstrate that the material qualifies as clean fill in accordance with the municipal and residual waste regulations. The Management of Fill Policy (“Policy”) defines the materials that qualify as ''fill'' and provides procedures for determining whether fill is ''clean fill,'' as defined in the municipal and residual waste regulations or ''regulated fill,'' as defined in the Policy.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) implemented the Policy 2004 with some revisions in 2010. Amendments to the Policy were proposed in 2014 in response to questions and comments received over nearly a decade. These proposed amendments were published on November 10, 2018 in The Pennsylvania Bulletin (48 Pa.B. 7176). After a period of public response, which closed in January 2019, the revised Policy was published in November 2019. On January 1, 2020 the changes to the Policy went into effect.

The changes impact how fill is characterized, imported, and exported from project sites under the SWMA. Some of the significant changes include the following:

The Policy directly references the applicable numeric limits of regulated substances from 25 Pa. Code Chapter 250 (“Act 2”) and eliminate Tables FP-1a (organic constituents) and FP-1b (metals and inorganic constituents) from the Policy. Future revisions to the numeric limits in Chapter 250 will be automatically updated and included in the Policy. This is significant as the Act 2 standards are now revised roughly every three years and several of the standards for compounds are orders of magnitude lower than the previous Clean Fill Criteria.
The requirement that Historic Fill be treated as regulated fill has been relaxed. Historic Fill may now be considered clean fill if it meets certain criteria (i.e., free of coal ash and slag). This may help reduce soil disposal costs significantly at some sites, especially in urban areas where historic fill is common.
Procedures for making a fill determination have been updated to clearly identify the steps necessary to perform environmental due diligence. This will include clarifications to the procedures for performing analytical testing, if required. Guidance on developing a sampling plan that meets the data quality objectives required by the PADEP is proposed and include sampling instructions and protocol for fill contained in piles and fill that is sampled in-situ.
Updates to the requirements for filing forms and obtaining required approvals prior to transporting fill from one site to another are provided. A Section G in Appendix A provides a mechanism for demonstrating that an observed exceedance of a numeric limit is due to background at the donor site.
In some cases, investigations of a receiving site may be required to ensure that no new regulated substances are placed on the receiving site other than those that are already determined to be present and that the concentrations of regulated substances in the donor fill have been compared to the concentration of the same regulated substances at the receiving site.

The changes to the Policy have the potential to impact project budgets and schedules. To avoid project delays and cost overruns, early communication between the design engineer and the environmental consultant is a good idea. Sites typically have a Phase I ESA that can support due diligence under the Policy. Most Phase I ESAs trigger a Phase II ESA, in which environmental soil samples are collected and analyzed. Many times, this information isn’t communicated to the whole project team. Having a fill determination under the Policy in the early stages of a project is important so cost considerations can be accounted for in the project design and a plan can be developed for implementing the Policy. If you are a contractor bidding the project be sure to ask questions so that your bid reflects costs and scheduling to meet the regulatory requirements.

The revised technical guidance document is available on the Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) web site at http://www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/dsweb/HomePage. Response to public questions and comments have also been posted to PADEP’s webite. Developers, contractors, engineers, and consultants will need to be vigilant in the future to keep pace with the Policy changes.

UConn CBI Students Guiding Plainfield, Conn. Stakeholders Toward Precise Remediation Plan At Former Mill

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 22:00:31 GMT

By Steve Dwyer

Officials in Plainfield, Conn. are being schooled. And as they are, they’re hoping that the guidance leads to the creation of a local land bank and subsequent redevelopment of a long-abandoned mill property in the community.

Officials are using a compelling report to attract both cleanup money and developers to what’s currently a “burned-out” site. The community of Plainfield this summer was busy assessing how to best proceed with an environmental cleanup game plan at the former InterRoyal Mill property, with the assistance of a university-sponsored report dubbed the “Summary of Existing Environmental Conditions and Remedial Suggestions.”

Compiled by students and staff at the University of Connecticut’s geo-environmental engineering course—part of the brownfield assessment initiative—the draft was rich with new examinations of the InterRoyal Mill property, with UConn assessments combined with previously reported data from a 2016 assessment conducted by a separate party.

BCONE members know well how the university located in Storrs has made a strong commitment to best-practices brownfields: Witness the work conducted within UConn’s CT Brownfields Initiative (CBI) that draws in students across engineering, environmental, geology, real estate and consulting fields of study.

It’s this commitment that saw a team of four UConn CBI students earn the second Charlie Bartsch Brownfield Scholarship award in early 2019. The award was established by BCONE to honor the legacy of Bartsch, the renaissance brownfield specialist who passed in 2017.

The winning team of four students had been assigned to the town of Stafford, Conn. But, the CBI work transcends what was gleaned in Stafford. CBI students also performance environmental assessment duties in the towns of Clinton, Groton and Manchester.

Oh, and Plainfield too, which brings us back to the report summarizing the conditions at the 16-acre InterRoyal property. The document offered suggestions on remediation work recommended for potential private developers to take under advisement and then move the ball forward on an environmental cleanup plan.

“This is information we need to apply for more state or federal grant money,” said Plainfield First Selectwoman Cathy Tendrich. “It’s also the type of information companies ask us for when they call about developing the property.”

The 25-page UConn summary identifies 19 “areas of concern,” or AOCs, including waste paint sludge deposits, asbestos-impregnated basement areas, stagnant reservoir pools and old petroleum tanks. Those areas were noted in previous assessments as containing contaminated soil or groundwater.

The report pegged 10 of the AOCs for further investigation through sampling, screening and other testing. Those studies are estimated to cost roughly $70,000.

The report found remediation work is needed in at least 11 AOCs, work which would include soil evacuation, de-watering work and reservoir filling.

The question on how to address the InterRoyal property has been a sticking point for local leaders for years, even before a 2005 fire swept through the site. The 16.6-acre site houses a burned-out structure framed by dense overgrowth where soil and ground water has absorbed pools of caustic chemicals and whose infrastructure is riddled with asbestos, lead paint and mercury.

″(The site) has been subject to more than 20 environmental investigations, actions and removals of hazardous substances in the last 30 years,” the report states.

First Selectwoman Tendrich said despite the slow pace of cleanup at the property, the town regularly fields calls from potential developers about the mill.

According to a local news report, Tendrich and Planning & Zoning Supervisor Mary Ann Chinatti are hoping a plan to create a new “Eastern Connecticut Land Bank” will offer a clear way to come up with the $8 to $11 million cleanup price tag. “Under that plan, the nonprofit land bank would essentially take over the property listing and solicit private and foundation donations and grants for remediation,” Chinatti said. “Once the property is cleaned, it can come back to us or to developers.”

The proposed land bank needs to clear several hurdles before it’s created, the local news report states. “For something like this, that covers brownfields across Eastern Connecticut, you need, among other things, an IRS authorization, letters of support from two local municipalities and be designated a 501c3 nonprofit,” Chinatti said. “And it needs to be certified from the Department of Economic Community Development.”

Chinatti said forming such a land bank doesn’t preclude a private entity from coming in first and developing the property independently. “Once that mill property is developed, that leads to downtown revitalization,” she said.

Donate to the Charlie Bartsch Brownfield Scholarship Fund

Council formed to reimagine former Shenango site

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 21:37:33 GMT

by Sam Bojarski, Sewickley Herald (PA)

An advisory council composed of regional stakeholders are meeting to determine the future of the former Shenango Coke Works on Neville Island. Operations ceased on the 50-acre development in early 2016.

With the help of grant funding, the nonprofit Delta Institute is facilitating the Shenango Reimagined Advisory Council. The volunteer body consists of local leaders who will craft guiding principles and use public input to guide future use of the brownfield site. The property is currently owned by DTE Energy.

…

For the entire article, see

https://sewickley.triblive.com/council-formed-to-reimagine-former-shenango-site/

Barnes: From brownfields to 'brightfields' in Virginia's coal country

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 19:18:01 GMT

By Chelsea Barnes, Roanoke Times (VA)

On a clear day, from the perch of Flag Rock Overlook in Southwest Virginia, you can take in the view of the city of Norton and miles and miles of mountain ridges. The thousands of acres of former surface mines also visible from this vista illustrate the legacy of coal, and present environmental challenges for surrounding communities in a region grappling with high unemployment rates, declining populations, and an opioid epidemic.

After more than 100 years of mining, it’s clear coal is not coming back to Appalachia as the economic force it once was. The need to fully restore and reclaim these mountain mine lands has never been greater. As the nation’s energy landscape continues rapidly shifting, we could give these mines new life with clean energy technology, spurring job growth and giving our region new hope for a bright future in the 21st century.

…

For the entire column, see

https://www.roanoke.com/opinion/commentary/barnes-from-brownfields-to-brightfields-in-virginia-s-coal-country/article_df7dd0dd-4db1-5bf2-9589-9597d0607df3.html

County to put up solar array at Saugerties tire dump

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 19:16:53 GMT

by Jesse J. Smith, Hudson Valley One (NY)

Newly installed County Executive Pat Ryan said this week that a proposed solar array in Saugerties and an executive order he issued calling on county government to be 100 percent dependent on renewable energy by 2030 are concrete steps in his campaign trail pledge for a “Green New Deal” for Ulster County.

Ryan, who took office on June 7 made the announcement at a ceremony Tuesday at the County Office Building in Uptown Kingston.’

“We are at this decisive moment in our country and of course in our county. On the one side we face a clearly existential climate crisis,” said Ryan, addressing representatives of local environmental groups and reporters. “On the other side we have this huge opportunity in that crisis … to lean into our green and environmental consciousness and be at epicenter of this emerging green economy that’s happening and gaining momentum.”

…

For the entire article, see

https://hudsonvalleyone.com/2019/06/24/county-to-put-up-solar-array-at-saugerties-tire-dump/

Paying Homage to Brownfields' Renaissance Man by Supporting Renaissance Students

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 19:12:55 GMT

By Steve Dwyer

Maybe this is the most fitting epitaph: He was teaching, mentoring, exhorting and encouraging future urban redevelopment students right to the end. Typical Charlie Bartsch.

Often answering to “Uncle” from friends and family, Charles Bartsch left us in January 2018. And Dean Jeffery Telego remembers an occurrence not long before his passing of a prime teaching moment about his personal and professional friend.

“Charlie’s ability and desire to spend time with young students was awe-inspiring. He was leaving once on an international trip (not long before his passing) and was spending time with students right there at Union Station, going over what they needed to know about financing a piece of a brownfield development,” says Telego, president of RTM Communications Inc. & Risk Management Technologies Inc. in Bethesda, Md., who met Charlie in the early 1990s.

The BCONE Charlie Bartsch Memorial Scholarship just selected Danielle Gardner and Kathryn Kavanagh for its third scholarship award and distributed $500 each to Dani and Katie from Lafayette University in PA. They produced the winning Phase 1 Report in the Civil Engineering course entitled Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). One thing Charlie would have loved about this program is the fact that it’s a spot-on way to keep his memory alive, as he was so immersed in academia.

So was the scholarship that was distributed to a group of students from The University of Connecticut (UCONN). The four students -- Connor Oakes, Chris Falk, Matthew McKenna, and Caressa Wakeman -- participated in UCONN’s CT Brownfields Initiative (CBI), Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering -- a program tethered directly to the study of this specialized field. The four were awarded $500 each, to be allocated toward tuition fees -- and Charlie would probably have awarded them a heftier sum!

The first-ever scholarship to honor Charlie was awarded to Rutgers-Newark student, Ethan Siegenthaler. Ethan, a geology major, completed a more traditional scholarship application with an essay that won the BCONE scholarship committee over: it described the impact on his decision to major in geology on both family trips to upstate New York, hiking mountains and closely observing rock formation and their outcroppings and Rutgers-Newark class trips to witness some of the most environmentally-compromised brownfield sites in the country.

Indeed, Charlie was a professor, author, and mentor to many students from around the world. What was written about him following his untimely passing was this: “Charlie went about his business with passion and proficiency, he built a career with numerous organizations and the Environmental Protection Agency creating and consulting sustainable policies domestic and abroad. Known as an avid international explorer, there were few corners of the world he had yet to discover. From now defunct Soviet Blocs and ancient Khmer ruins to back alley South American markets, Charlie made it a point to climb the highest peaks and touch people's hearts his entire way. His intelligence, want for adventure and generosity knew no bounds.”

Sums it all up quite well, doesn’t it? Well, there’s far more.

I personally “met” Charlie for the first time in 2008, on a speakerphone during a day-long editorial board meeting in Chicago to plan an editorial schedule for the newly launched Brownfield Renewal magazine, of which Charlie served as a board member that included members spanning all fields of brownfield disciplines. Little did I realize that Charlie also specialized in all fields of this industry. He knew all the disparate pieces cold.

Truth be told: At the day-long meeting, he had been calling from The Beltway -- or maybe it was Brussels or Bangkok. It was never quite certain. Even from afar, his was the biggest and most influential voice, presence, in the conference room of very accomplished people.

Moving forward, we had a chance to chat occasionally when his calendar permitted about what was the “most important thing readers needed to know this month” about the ebbs and flows of the always-changing, mercurial brownfields industry. He knew all aspects and angles cold. His insights were invariably fresh and ultra-relevant -- no, make that prescient as Charlie paced one step ahead of the game.

Jeff Telego, who is also a retired co-founder and executive co-director of the Environmental Bankers Association, tells me that the most appropriate collection of adjectives to define Charlie’s essence starts with “bull-dogged tenacity.” Continue with “renaissance professional who blended many diverse areas of specialization, beginning with his economic vision,” Jeff says.

Telego regards Charlie’s commitment to students a legacy of new “renaissance students” who could move ahead more confidently in brownfield practice because they can better navigate the complex brownfield “machinery” -- not just a single or double aspect so as to operate in a solo.

“Being a renaissance student means having an affinity to blend economics, land use planning, risk management, finance, environmental management and engineering. What I loved doing with Charlie was the integration process of all these different disciplines,” Jeff told me last month.

Jeff Telego met Charlie in 1991, and they began to attend national industry conferences to evangelize on how attendees could “learn about managing and transferring environmental risk, including the nuts and bolts about risk-based cleanups and liability buyouts -- and how this all worked from city to city, as each metro area had different circumstances,” Jeff says.

He recalls the way Charlie was one of the pioneering people to greatly comprehend the relevance of the public-private partnership, its critical importance to getting brownfield projects off the ground and taken to the finish line. The tax increment financing (TIF) concept was another where Charlie was ahead of the curve, able to break down all its moving parts for those who needed to become immersed in it to succeed.

The term “sustainability” is one making the rounds these days. Charlie understood “sustainability” before it was cool, such as the dynamics behind a green and sustainable site cleanup -- to enhance and enrich an element rather than take away from it, deplete it.

Jeff Telego says this type of concept is one that appeals to millennials and Gen Xers, who are “wedded with the idea of doing more with less, becoming entirely energy efficient. Kids are returning to urban settings to live, work and play, and seeking comfort defined across several criteria, starting with LEED-certified, energy-efficient buildings. Charlie knew that all these instruments work in tandem.”

Charlie was a master of comprehending the many vagaries of financing tools: New market tax credits, TIF financing, activation of the RLF (revolving loan fund) and how, say, a manufacturing sector can be a key recipient target of these funds. This has become so vital within the community development endgame: The financing overlays required to bring brownfield projects to fruition, Jeff points out.

With the emerging Opportunity Zone concept becoming the newest “flavor of the month,” Jeff wonders aloud how his friend might have had a field day to better champion it, put in his two cents and effect serious impacts.

“Charlie and I became kindred spirits, demonstrated with areas like debt financing and equity financing roles to fund projects. There was a time (prior to the market bubble of 2008-09) when many local community banks were eager to build their marketing reputation as the banks that finance brownfields.”

Students need to be able to tap squarely into these “renaissance,” multi-faceted pillars to see future brownfields through. They also need access to college curriculums that provides more study on sustainable development and need to understand how broad and unwieldy the brownfield market is, develop a firm handle on land use planning tools, both Jeff and I agreed.

“Charlie could articulate all of the puzzle pieces to turn around a former Ford assembly plant just as fluently as he could discuss the necessities for a site with underground storage tanks. He had an affinity to build support for the brownfields industry and help ensure that the word got out about what needed to be done to bring projects to fruition,” Jeff concludes.

Uncle Charlie would probably say that there’s still much work to be done to that end—and that the current students-as-brownfield-practitioners of tomorrow have a golden opportunity to make a difference.

NJ Town is Turning a Former Glass Factory Into a Waterfront Park

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 18:02:37 GMT

A children’s park and a soccer field will soon replace an industrial brownfield, formerly site of the Scientific Glass Factory in Bloomfield, that residents have seen as an eyesore for years. You can read more about this project in this article on NJ.com >> https://www.nj.com/essex/2019/03/nj-town-is-turning-a-former-glass-factory-into-a-waterfront-park.html

State frustrates developer

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 20:33:09 GMT

By Gwen Chamberlain, Penn Yan Chronicle-Express (NY)

“Beyond frustrating.” That’s how Keuka Moorings developer Chris Iversen describes attempts to get State Attorney General office approval for the Condominium Offering Plan that must be in place to begin marketing the units planned for the former Penn Yan Marine Manufacturing property off Mace Street.

Iversen has reached out to Penn Yan Village and Yates County officials for their support in the form of letters to the AG’s office for the project, which has been stalled for over a year while Keuka Outlet Development seeks approval.

Iversen says the only way a brownfield clean-up site can be redeveloped for residential purposes is for condominiums, according to requirements set forth by another state agency, the Department of Environmental Conservation.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.chronicle-express.com/news/20190313/state-frustrates-developer

New community solar project in Hartland, VT converts brownfield to brightfield

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 15:43:01 GMT

EIN Presswire

Long View Forest, Inc. and Encore Renewable Energy announced today the commissioning of a 745 kilowattpeak (kWp) community solar array on three acres at the new Long View headquarters and woodyard on Ferry Road in Hartland, VT. The project is on a 28-acre remediated “brownfield” property formerly used as a saw mill and lumber treatment facility. Brownfields, because of prior environmental contamination, are deemed prime solar sites under Vermont regulations.

The project is expected to produce approximately 900,000 kWh per year, enough to power approximately 125 homes annually. Long View, an employee-owned forest management and contracting company, selected Encore as its turnkey partner to develop and construct the project based on Encore’s proven track record of reclaiming undervalued real estate for community-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Mascoma Bank, a local leader in sustainability, provided the debt-financing for the project and entered into a long-term agreement to purchase the net metering credits generated by the project. The project first generated electricity in December, and is now generating savings for Mascoma as well as the Montshire Museum of Science located in Norwich, VT. Together, Mascoma and the Montshire Museum of Science will realize approximately $700,000 of savings on their electricity bills over the 25-year term of the

…

For the entire release, see

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/479577606/new-community-solar-project-in-hartland-vt-converts-brownfield-to-brightfield

UCONN’s Can-Do Spirit: Second Bartsch Scholarship Winners Revealed

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 21:33:09 GMT

By Steve Dwyer

“This scholarship gave the students even more incentive to work harder. All of them had a steep learning curve about brownfields at the start, but in the end, they learned a lot about how the world works.”

This quotation represents a compelling case for the power of university-driven on-the-job training initiatives. How a classroom setting indeed accomplishes much but is nothing compared to the power of real-world experience.

The insight comes courtesy of Dr. Nefeli Bompoti when we spoke in early January about the team of four University of Connecticut students who became the second set of recipients of the Charlie Bartsch Memorial Brownfield Scholarship, established by BCONE to honor the legacy of Bartsch, the dynamic and well-loved brownfields industry advocate who passed in 2017. Charlie was an “iconic environmentalist who lived life to its fullest.”

Ms. Bompoti, Ph.D., is the assistant research professor, CT Brownfields Initiative, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering at UCONN, who oversees the program along with fellow professor Marisa Chrysochoou, Ph.D., director, Connecticut Brownfields Initiative, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

The four students—Connor Oakes, Chris Falk, Matthew McKenna and Caressa Wakeman—were awarded $500 each. They were selected from seven UCONN teams within the CT Brownfields Initiative (CBI). UCONN students who participated hailed from the engineering, environmental, geology, real estate and consulting areas of study.

The three judges included Mark Lewis, brownfields coordinator at the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and BCONE’s Vice President, Don Friday, project manager at the CT Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and Sarah Trombetta, senior project manager at TRC Companies.

They selected the winning team, which was assigned to the town of Stafford, Conn. The CBI students worked on a semester-long assignment as part of the Brownfield Redevelopment course to prepare EPA assessment grant proposals for seven Connecticut municipalities and regional planning agencies. In addition to Stafford, towns included Clinton, Groton, Manchester and Plainfield, along with the Capitol Region and Southeastern Councils of Government.

The UCONN BCONE scholarship follows the first scholarship awarded in the Fall of 2019 to Rutgers University student Ethan Siegenthaler. With two scholarships awarded out by BCONE, the association is in the process of selecting a third, yet-to-be-determined university in Pennsylvania to partner with this semester.

What’s unique about the UCONN commendation is that the CBI program—under the leadership of professors Bompoti and Chrysochoou—is fully committed to fostering brownfield careers for students.

“The winning team visited the town of Stafford five times during the semester, conducted phone work and captured many details about the community and the current state of brownfields by getting documents from town hall. Field work included Phase investigations 1,2 and 3. This led to them writing the assessment grant and giving a 15-minutes presentation in class about their efforts. They invested a lot of time on this.”

The team identified five brownfield sites in Stafford, a town of about 12,000 residents. “One site was an old school with incidence of asbestos and lead paint, while two sites were textile mills. They were in close proximity to waterways,” says Bompoti. “All the groups did an excellent job, and it was hard for the judges to choose.”

Stafford is vying for a $300,000 Economic and Community Development grant to address hazardous substances and petroleum cleanup. The grant was to be submitted at the end of January and will be reviewed at the federal level. (Note: The Federal government shutdown, still ongoing as of presstime, could alter the way the grant proposal moves through channels.)

One of the towns that was part of the process, Plainfield, spoke highly of the work carried out by the UCONN students. “The students did the legwork, examining sites and going back through previous studies,” said Plainfield planning and zoning supervisor Mary Ann Chinatti. “If we didn’t use this program, we’d have to pay a third-party to do this work.”

If any BCONE members are interested in seeing the students’ projects, please let sboyle@geiconsultants.com know; if enough folks ask, we’ll make the links available to BCONE members only on the website.

Lawrence reborn: A polluted mill town reclaims its future

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:19:23 GMT

Residents of New England's former mill towns often feel left behind after manufacturers leave town. But in Lawrence, Mass., locals have refused to let abandoned buildings and polluted landscapes define their future.

By Story Hinckley, Christian Science Monitor

When Lesly Melendez recalls her walk to school as a child in Lawrence, Mass., she remembers the six-foot-tall fence cloaked in black cloth and decorated with caution tape. “Keep Out” signs warned passersby away from the so-called Dresden of Lawrence, the burned bones of the former Russell Paper Mill.

“As a kid growing up and walking by things like that...,” Ms. Melendez trails off and sighs.

But her childhood neighborhood looks more appealing today. After years of stop-and-start cleanup, the Russell Mill site is now Oxford Site Park, a green welcome mat for the city. It’s an open space with a bike path. Long grasses bend in the wind, free from any fence.

And this park may have helped the city grow opportunity as well as greenery. Lawrence, long one of New England’s poorest and most polluted communities, has become a center for public and nonprofit job training programs. They are certifying locals to clean up brownfields, properties where redevelopment is stalled because of potential pollution.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2019/0111/Lawrence-reborn-A-polluted-mill-town-reclaims-its-future

Construction begins on freezer facility in city

Fri, 11 Jan 2019 15:33:50 GMT

Dunkirk Observer (NY)

Construction of the new cold storage warehouse for Fieldbrook Foods has begun at 320 South Roberts Road, the former Edgewood Warehouse Brownfield Site in the city of Dunkirk with a target of being in operation this fall.

Mark Geise, deputy county executive for economic development and chief executive officer of the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency noted this is a “big win for the city of Dunkirk” and the county. “After years of blight, this project will result in the cleanup and repurposing of a large brownfield site, resulting in a beautiful, modern new facility that addresses our long-standing shortage of available local cold storage space.”

The revitalization project includes acquisition, remediation, new construction and equipping of a new 80,000 square foot freezer warehouse. After decades as a contaminated eyesore in the City of Dunkirk, the dilapidated 167,400 square foot Edgewood warehouse on Roberts Road has now been demolished to make way for a brand new cold storage facility to serve Fieldbrook Foods, also located in Dunkirk. Property remediation and abatement is being performed as part of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Brownfield Cleanup Program. Site preparation is complete and concrete foundations are underway. The new facility will provide off-site storage for Fieldbrook Foods’ finished frozen dessert products.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.observertoday.com/news/page-one/2019/01/construction-begins-on-freezer-facility-in-city/

Old Star Pin factory in Shelton to get cleanup through grant

Fri, 04 Jan 2019 19:52:21 GMT

By Brian Gioiele, Connecticut Post

The focus of the city’s continued revitalization of Canal Street has now turned to the historic Star Pin Co. building, which was built in 1875 and has sat vacant for some 15 years.

The state Department of Economic & Community Development, on Dec. 19, announced it has approved a $750,000 grant for the remediation of hazardous building materials from the building at 267 Canal Street, which the city foreclosed on months ago for back taxes.

“This happens a lot in Connecticut,” said Mayor Mark Lauretti about the foreclosure, adding that the city foreclosed on the property because of about $600,000 owed in back taxes. “But you have to finally recognize that we’re never going to recover that, it’s abandoned. The best thing to do is cut your losses and get the property back on the tax rolls. We, as a city, have been pretty successful at doing that with several properties in downtown.”

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Old-Star-Pin-factory-in-Shelton-to-get-cleanup-13503932.php

Easton junkyard could contribute to growing arts scene

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 21:31:48 GMT

By Emma Wright, WFMZ TV-69 News (Allentown, PA)

A dilapidated eyesore on Easton's Bushkill Drive may once again become an inspiration for art.

Famed raw metal sculptor Karl Stirner used to visit the old Easton Iron and Metal Co. for material and now his namesake trail has plans to buy the property and once again turn trash into treasure.

"For the last two years, we've been looking for one, a strategy to expand the trail and two, where would it be logical for it to make it work," said Dick McAteer.

…

For the entire story, see

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/easton-junkyard-could-contribute-to-growing-arts-scene/952348824

State grant may equal more housing in Newhallville

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 21:19:14 GMT

New Haven Register (CT)

The Science Park Development Corp. has been awarded a $200,000 state grant for the environmental assessment of the fomer Winchester Repeating Arms Co.

David Silverstone, the chairman of the board of the corporation, said the plan is to bring in a developer to finish the rest of the proposed housing at the former arms manufacturer in Newhallville.

Winchester Lofts, which was finished in 2015, is a $60 million conversion to 158 apartments that preserved much of the historic architecture for a large portion of the factory. The corporation had signed a deal with Forest City for the plan in 2008, just before the Great Recession delayed it for years.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/State-grant-may-equal-more-housing-in-Newhallville-13481345.php

Torrington gets $100,000 abatement grant for brownfield property

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 21:16:53 GMT

Greenwich Time (CT)

The city has been awarded a $100,000 brownfield grant for cleanup of the former Hendey Machine Co./Stone Container Corp. property, the governor’s office said in a release.

The property is located between 200 Litchfield St., 105 Summer St. and Turner Avenue, near the Torrington Commons Shopping Center, and the plan is to turn part of the site into a regional transit facility.

In addition to the $100,000 state grant, the city was awarded $200,000 assessment grant to prepare for future revitalization. The money is to be used for a hazardous building material investigation and environmental assessment of the same property, officials said in the release.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Torrington-gets-100-000-abatement-grant-for-13480898.php

Derby brewery honored for turning something old into something new

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 21:13:21 GMT

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich, New Haven Register (CT)

Who knew a few years ago that a 109-year old former factory could be transformed into the thriving brewery and tap room that has since become the Valley’s Bad Sons Beer Co.

The Connecticut Economic Resource Center certainly knows that the work to turn the contaminated Brownfield site at 251 Roosevelt Drive into the popular brewery was no small feat. And for that, CERC recently presented Bad Sons with a “Celebrate CT!” award for its success in repurposing a former industrial property.

Bad Sons co-owner John Walsh recently accepted the award during CERC’s annual “Celebrate CT!” ceremony at Infinity Hall in Hartford. CERC President/CEO Robert Santy presented Walsh with the award. The ceremony, annually held since 2010, honors economic development successes throughout the state. Santy was not available for comment Wednesday.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.nhregister.com/valley/article/Derby-Bbrewery-honored-for-turning-something-old-13478775.php

Confronting challenges for Mystic boathouse park

Wed, 19 Dec 2018 20:54:01 GMT

Editorial, The Day (CT)

There’s no doubt Stonington’s plan to transform a Mystic River brownfield into a public park and boathouse site is challenging and complex. While the town has secured public funds for parts of the plan, it must pass muster with a variety of state officials. Those working to make the park a reality must also satisfy a set of local regulations and public preferences about boathouse design, parking and public access.

That means many interests, some which don’t easily mesh, have and will continue to weigh in on this project. Stonington officials say they understood these complexities before seeking residents’ approval in 2016 for $2.2 million in bonding to create the park. And because of those complexities the park may be developed in phases and progress might be slower than the public had expected.

Those officials recognize they must be flexible in working out details. The master plan may change a little or, perhaps, a lot depending on future decisions by state and local agencies and commissions.

…

For the entire editorial, see

https://www.theday.com/editorials/20181214/confronting-challenges-for-mystic-boathouse-park

Rhode Island looks to spare green space with brownfield solar projects

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 17:57:17 GMT

by Meg Dalton, Energy News Network

A new state incentive offers money to developers that build solar projects on polluted properties instead of forests or farmland.

A Rhode Island program promoting solar development on polluted properties could help relieve tensions between the state’s fast-growing solar industry and conservationists concerned with preserving green space.

Solar has surged in Rhode Island in recent years on the heels of ambitious new renewable energy goals and state incentives for developers. Gov. Gina Raimondo announced a goal last year to reach 1,000 MW of clean energy and 20,000 clean energy jobs by 2020.

…

For the entire article, see

https://energynews.us/2018/12/10/northeast/rhode-island-looks-to-spare-green-space-with-brownfield-solar-projects/

Palmyra seeing red over brownfield

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 17:56:22 GMT

Editorial, Burlington County Times

There is a valuable plot of land on Route 73 in Palmyra where the difference between what is and what could be is as vast as the long and confusing history attached to it.

What it could be is a modern commercial and residential complex that greets out-of-state travelers to New Jersey and the tiny borough of Palmyra at the foot of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge.

What it could be is a worthy extension of the adjacent Palmyra Cove Nature Park, an easy-to-miss, bucolic park with a network of nature trails ideal for hiking, birding and admiring flora and fauna.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/opinion/20181212/editorial-palmyra-seeing-red-over-brownfield

Excavation Project Underway For Jamestown Brewing Company

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 15:00:19 GMT

by Eric Zavinski, Jamestown Post-Journal (NY)

Sheet piling being placed into the ground next to the future site of the Jamestown Brewing Company may have caught the attention of some residents last week. Now with the piling in place, the site is prepared for a Brownfield Cleanup slated to remove contaminated soil beneath the parking lot.

The sheet piling will provide structural support for an excavation of 20 feet of soil. A crew will remove the first 8 feet of healthy soil and then remove the 12 feet of contaminated soil that was found in an environmental investigation last year to have been infiltrated with dry cleaning solvents that had seeped into the ground when a dry cleaning business was located in the area.

G. Patti Development will spearhead the cleanup as they have also led the renovations to the upcoming brewery, which is still slated to open in January 2019. The approximately $500,000 cleanup will begin in early December and should be finished around the turn of the New Year. Contaminated soil will be disposed of at the Chautauqua County Landfill, and another site in Canada will receive the higher contaminated material.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.post-journal.com/news/page-one/2018/12/excavation-project-underway-for-jamestown-brewing-company/

Harbor View Square Development Project Under Way In Oswego

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 18:06:02 GMT

Oswego County Today (NY)

A brownfield site in the Port City is experiencing a rebirth as a multi-use facility.

Ground was broken today (November 30) at the Harbor View Square site, 68 W. First St.; it’s the former home of Flexo Wire, a nationwide wire manufacturer and distributor.

The development is being constructed on the underutilized city-owned brownfield site located at the convergence of the Oswego River and Lake Ontario.

Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced the start of construction on the $26.2 million mixed-income, mixed-use housing development.

Harbor View Square will feature 75 rental homes serving a broad range of income targets and more than 10,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space intended for small retail and eateries.

…

For the entire release, see

https://oswegocountytoday.com/harbor-view-square-development-project-under-way-in-oswego/news/oswego/

Ethan Siegenthaler, You Rock! Rutgers Geology Major Recipient of First Charlie Bartsch Scholarship

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 16:44:34 GMT

By Steve Dwyer

There are your rock formations and there are your career formations. And sometimes they actually meet.

Ethan Siegenthaler is living proof. Family trips to upstate New York, hiking mountains and closely observing rock formation and their outcroppings—where they come from—set the stage for Ethan to pursue a geology career—a decision made while in high school.

That curiosity upstate is paying dividends: The Rutgers University (Newark, N.J.) geology major in November became the first recipient of the Charlie Bartsch Brownfield Scholarship, established by BCONE to honor the legacy of Bartsch, the dynamic and well-loved brownfields industry advocate who passed away suddenly.

A BCONE board member at the time of his passing, Bartsch for decades served as the nation’s passionate voice in promoting the importance of brownfields remediation and redevelopment—the “leading guru” on how to assemble a variety of state and federal incentives to enhance projects of interest to the community.

At the Rutgers ceremony, BCONE President Stephen Jaffe presented Siegenthaler with a $1,000 check, which will be used for various school-related obligations, such as paying for books and courses. After graduation in 2020, Siegenthaler plans to go for his master’s degree and ultimately wants to launch a career in brownfields.

Of Siegenthaler, who was one of three finalists for the honor after the trio submitted lengthy essays, Jaffe remarked, “Ethan’s commitment to the industry and what he put into his essay is what swayed us (the BCONE board). After meeting him, I was even more convinced we made the right decision (among the three finalists). Ethan showed a firm commitment to this industry and is excited about the future. He has a real strong interest in contributing to society in a brownfield way."

In paying homage to the late Bartsch, Jaffe added, “We are excited about continuing our scholarship effort on behalf of Charlie in funding this for students interested in brownfield development. It’s just another way that BCONE is able to give back to the community,” said Jaffee, who noted BCONE will be scouting for other universities in collaboration of future scholarships in 2019 and beyond.

According to Ethan’s professor, Alexander Gates, a geology professor with 32 years’ experience at Rutgers, Ethan “started showing up in my department (for open houses and other occasions) when he was a junior in high school. He was very serious about becoming a geologist,” says Gates, a distinguished service professor and chair of the earth and environmental sciences department.

“Ethan is one of the most enthusiastic students you’re going to find. He’s the first in line when it’s time for field work and projects and has boundless enthusiasm for his pursuit of a geology degree and becoming a professional.”

Gates, whose department has been bestowed with upwards of $8 million in grant funding since 2007, oversees the LSAMP (Louis Stokes Advancement of Minority Participation) program that advocates for getting more lower-income students into the math and science fields. He was approached last spring by BCONE “asking if I would be interested in conducting a competition in my department to bestow this award. I put out a call to the students and asked them to write an essay. Over time, I identified the top three students as finalists for the scholarship and BCONE ultimately made the choice for Ethan.”

The professor says students at Rutgers and other universities in the Tri-State area have a regular chance to witness some of the most environmentally-compromised brownfield sites in the country. With the incidence of pollution prevalent, they can tour these properties, perhaps even be part of university-sponsored programs to problem-solve and assess contamination.

Ethan has taken full advantage of those field trips. “I was fascinated with geology at a very early age,” said Ethan, a resident of Rutherford, N.J., a stone’s throw from Rutgers. “I always knew I wanted to study geology from a young age. My sister attended Rutgers so I wanted to check it out. I had a plan in place.”

At Rutgers, Ethan said it has been a lot of hard work—but a labor of love. He said one geology field trip that made an impact was touring an old manufacturing property near where he lives. Simply put, “I looked at it as a waste of land.”

He said that if, hypothetically, he was a brownfield practitioner today, he would start a Site Investigation by “taking many soil samples to determine if there were cracks in rock—contaminants can bullet through rocks and travel for miles very quickly.”

He said a recent trip to a Newark community garden was a wakeup call because a high incidence of cadmium was discovered. Another time he took a trip along the Passaic River and “was shocked about the lack of cleanup, and how ignoring a pollution or contamination problem only compounds the issue.” He said that his strategy when in the field as a professional would be an aggressive but prudent approach to site remediation—mitigating and correcting without being overly zealous. He knows it’s a balancing act.

And he can’t wait to get started.

Established in May 2018, The Charlie Bartsch Brownfield Scholarship considers undergraduate and graduate students at colleges and universities in the northeast region who have declared their majors in the myriad of fields that work in the brownfields industry: Environmental science, engineering, geology, law, government, real estate, finance, community development, computer science, and Charlie’s academic background: Urban policy and planning and political science.

G.W. Lisk applies to be on state brownfield list

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 15:46:37 GMT

By David L. Shaw, Olean Times Herald(NY)

The G. W. Lisk Company is applying to be added to the state’s brownfield cleanup program for environmental cleanup of its site.

The company, established in 1910, is on 26 acres at 2 South St. in the village directly south of Clifton Springs Hospital. It produces solenoids, linear variable differential transformers and flame arrestors and has historically performed metal plating operations.

As part of its plating operations, the company used tri-chloro-ethylene (TCE), cadmium, nickel, zinc and hexavalent chromium. Environmental tests performed in 2014 found the presence of chlorinated solvents in the groundwater along the property boundary with Clifton Springs Hospital.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/state/g-w-lisk-applies-to-be-on-state-brownfield-list/article_d13aa5d0-73ce-5f93-a8d3-49275237fef5.html

Forge Broadway Project for Buffalo's East Side

Tue, 20 Nov 2018 22:19:40 GMT

An investment of over $50 million in public and private investment is behind the first phase of a new mixed residential-retail complex on Buffalo's East Side. But the Forge on Broadway is also being built on a reclaimed brownfield site where contaminated soil is being stripped away from the former industrial site which dates back to the 1800’sby.

by Ron Plants, WGRZ TV-2 News (Buffalo, NY)

Construction will soon begin on a major new development for Buffalo's East Side. It's the nearly $51 million first phase of the residential and retail complex called the "Forge on Broadway."

It will be built on a brownfield which was a major industrial site dating back to the 1800's.

While the ceremonial groundbreaking took place Wednesday across the street, the real earth moving was underway at the Forge Site where developers plan to build the first phase of a complex with an initial 158 apartment units. Many will be affordable rents and have amenities like a green roof, gardens, and health and recreation elements with a running and walking track.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/forge-broadway-project-for-buffalos-east-side/71-614573706

Brownfield site sold for $7.1 million

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 19:51:56 GMT

By Adam Urquhart, Nashua Telegraph

The 41-acre former Hampshire Chemical site on East Spit Brook Road sold this week for $7.1 million. Although the plans for this property are still uncertain, there is a possibility it could eventually be a train stop in the event Nashua gets commuter rail service.

Dick Anagnost, president of Manchester-based Anagnost Investments Inc., on Friday confirmed to The Telegraph that he is the buyer.

Anagnost is unsure how the site or how much of it will be developed. Nonetheless, the engineer and environmental consultant Anagnost hired will begin the process of determining the best approach for the site.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/local-news/2018/11/10/brownfield-site-sold-for-7-1-million/

Remediating an Inwood and Far Rockaway site

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 18:45:51 GMT

By Tyler Marko, Long Island Herald (NY)

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation is reviewing an application from Coland Realty LLC that would incorporate a section of the Far Rockaway Long Island Railroad line that includes the Inwood station, into the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program.

The New York State Department of Conservation is investigating the site. The program application was submitted on Oct. 10, and the public comment period ends on Nov. 9. The goal of the Brownfield Cleanup Program is to encourage private-sector cleanups and the promotion of redevelopment through tax incentives.

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According to the DEC, the primary contaminant of concern is mercury, which originated from the rectifiers that were on Redfern Avenue at the Queens borders and powered the Inwood station until 1979. “This type of contamination is something that is common at various LIRR owned properties,” said DEC spokesman Bill Fonda.

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For the entire article, see

http://liherald.com/fivetowns/stories/remediating-an-inwood-and-far-rockaway-site,108993

EPA Brownfields Update from PA Brownfield Conference

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 20:13:55 GMT

Steve Cook provided insight to a standing room of attendees at the PA Brownfield Conference on the issues that are important for EPA to tackle. Adaptive management, groundwater restoration and risk communication were center stage on that agenda. While the issues are not unique to brownfields remediation and reuse, they certainly impact them directly.

Adaptive Management is a formal and systematic project management approach centered on rigorous site planning and a firm understanding of site conditions and uncertainties. This technique encourages continuous reevaluation and management prioritization of activities to account for new information and changing site conditions. In action, adaptive management could result in EPA’s increased use of removal actions to significantly reduce existing exposures at a site, interim remedial actions and phased action based on operable units.

EPA acknowledged that the state regulations on how clean is clean when addressing groundwater, varies greatly in each state. Greater coordination with the states is necessary in establishing the appropriate groundwater cleanup standards for sites. This will only get more complex as states advance their work in risk exposure for emerging contaminants.

And lastly, everyone is familiar with at least one site in which an Institutional Control (IC) was used as part of an approved remedy. As the years pass, work is needed to ensure that the existence of an IC at a site continues to be recognized and complied with by subsequent owners/operators of a site. This is great insight into a future problem that we all hope never comes to fruition.

BCONE at CCLR-Accelerated Land Reuse for Community Revitalization

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 20:02:40 GMT

by Colleen Kokas, Environmental Liability Transfer

BCONE members participated in a day-long workshop sponsored by the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) in Camden recently. The program, “Accelerated Land Reuse for Community Revitalization,” provided a forum for questions and answers on brownfield legal liability, regulatory issues, funding resources, assessment/remediation and community engagement to help boost redevelopment efforts. Two panel sessions, “Ask the Experts” and “Show Me The Money,” consisted of public and private-sector experts to spark the discussion. These were followed by the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a broader range of professionals from the public and private sectors to learn about steps to initiate or accelerate the redevelopment of distressed sites for community revitalization.

BCONE and CCLR, the Technical Assistance to Brownfields grantee for EPA Region 2, have a common mission of educating and connecting stakeholders to advance brownfield remediation and redevelopment. The groups continue to strengthen their partnership through events such as this.

The “Ask the Experts” panel was moderated by BCONE Advisory Council member, Colleen Kokas, and featured BCONE Board member, Wanda Chin Monahan, who offered information on the liability scheme in New Jersey and at the Federal level, specifically with CERCLA. Questions from attendees covered a wide range of issues such as:

The impact of the new definition of “person” in NJAC 7:26C, Technical Rules for Site Remediation, that make it more difficult for corporate officials to avoid personal liability for contamination/site cleanups;
Strategies for addressing owners that are unwilling to convey brownfield sites due to the potential identification of contamination and the stigma that could bring to the site;
“Non-starters” on a potential deal in a municipality;
Input on whether you can really rely on a prior PA/SI to support an innocent purchaser defense under NJSA 58:23.11, the Spill Compensation and Control Act; and
What advice is there for Mayors seeking support from the community on a potential redevelopment project?

The “Show Me The Money” panel featured representatives from EPA Region 2, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, NJ Economic Development Authority and NJ Infrastructure Bank, moderated by CCLR’s David Southgate. Again, the attendees were very interested in the topic, since it can be a critical gap in brownfield projects. Topics discussed included:

EDA’s new $250,000 grant program “21st Century Assistance” that plans to be the catalyst to give new life to at least five idled strip malls and office parks;
The announcement of EDA’s plan to develop a Brownfield Tax Credit program and a Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (that is not legislatively driven);
The best way to draft a “Road Map” for financing and other resources to identify a path forward on a project; and
The “real deal” on what a developer needs to provide to the Infrastructure Bank when partnering with a municipality on a conduit loan.

A lunchtime tribute to the late George Kelly, who was a friend to the brownfield community, active in revitalizing Camden and an original member of the NJ Brownfield Redevelopment Task Force was provided by Chris Hager, a colleague and friend at Langan Engineering.

The day ended with over a dozen representatives from state and federal agencies participating in one-on-one roundtable sessions, where attendees could ask more specific questions and get into a deeper dialogue about revitalization issues. Some other agencies not represented on the morning panels included US Commerce (Economic Development Authority), NJ Office for Planning Advocacy, NJ Business Action Center, NJDOT, NJ Department of Community Affairs, NJ State Council on the Arts and NJ Green Acres Program.

Attendees stated over and over throughout the day that the biggest benefit of attending a workshop is to get to meet the contacts for these important program/offices so that they can build relationships with the people. BCONE continues to seek symbiotic relationships with organizations such as CCLR on events like this one in Camden. When you see the wide-range of issues discussed, the guidance and advice provided by experts and the value openly expressed by the attendees, it benefits those brownfield stakeholders that BCONE seeks to educate.

Study of Mt. Pleasant brownfield site will develop plan for potential uses

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 20:00:37 GMT

by Stephen Huba, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (PA)

A study is underway that will determine the best use for a piece of property that Mt. Pleasant Borough received from the Levin family 10 years ago.

The 7.6-acre brownfield site on Bridgeport Street used to be home to the Bryce Brothers Glass Co., which became part of Lenox Crystal in the mid-1900s.

Levin Furniture later obtained the property and used the building as a warehouse. An arson in 1998 destroyed the warehouse, which had been mostly emptied after Levin moved to Fitz Henry in South Huntingdon.

The land donation was approved by borough council in 2008, triggering a lengthy process of environmental review.

…

For the entire article, see

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14202813-74/study-of-mt-pleasant-brownfield-site-will-develop-plan-for-potential-uses

Harbor Isle Brownfield To Be Cleaned To Make Way For Condos

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 19:59:39 GMT

There will be about 29,000 tons of contaminated soil removed from the property to make it safe for construction.

By Alex Costello, Long Beach Patch (NY)

After many years of delay, the brownfield site on the southern tip of Harbor Isle is scheduled to be remediated.

The former Cibro Petroleum site, located off Island Parkway South, will be cleaned by the Posillico Development Company, which is planning to build condos on the site.

…

For the entire article, see

https://patch.com/new-york/longbeach/harbor-isle-brownfield-be-cleaned-make-way-condos

Almono Seeks Developers for $1B Pittsburgh Mixed-Use Project

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 19:58:34 GMT

The company issued a request for qualifications for the Mill District, the first phase of the Hazelwood Green waterfront property.

by Barbra Murray, Commercial Property Executive

Almono LLC recently took a significant step forward in the development of Hazelwood Green, a 178-acre mixed-use project in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The company issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the Mill District, the first phase of the waterfront property.

Almono LLC is the general partner of Hazelwood Green owner Almono LP, which is a partnership of Pittsburgh’s Richard King Mellon Foundation, Heinz Endowments and the Benedum Foundation. The charitable organizations came together in 2002 to acquire and land bank the project site, which holds the distinction of being the last developable tract of sizeable riverfront property in Pittsburgh. The partnership held back on developing the property—a brownfield site that had been home to LTV Steel—until it determined the timing was right to move forward. With RFQ responses due by the middle of November, Almono LLC is set to begin selecting developers in the first quarter of 2019.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.cpexecutive.com/post/almono-seeks-developers-for-1b-pittsburgh-mixed-use-project/

BCONE Continues Industry Outreach with UCONN Lecture Event

Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:05:06 GMT

By Steve Dwyer

In mid-September, about 50 students attending the University of Connecticut (UCONN) experienced a teaching moment from a brownfields practitioner.

BCONE President, Stephen Jaffe, participated in a lecture to UCONN engineering and environmental students—some of whom might set out to pursue a career in brownfield redevelopment—on the topic of “Brownfield Due Diligence.”

Jaffe was duly qualified to speak about a host of specific brownfield-oriented themes to the students. The event was all part of BCONE’s mission to fan out across the region to inform and enlighten both public and private organizations about the brownfield redevelopment way.

“We have always known it’s vital to put BCONE out there to inform—not only via networking but through teaching,” says Jaffe. “We understand the value of getting young students involved at the ground floor, During the lecture, they were very excited to learn about the many aspects of due diligence within brownfield reuse and redevelopment—aspects that are so essential to what we do on a daily basis.”

Carrying out similar events and seminars across other BCONE states—from university to state agency engagement—Jaffe says it’s important to deliver “updated policies but also to tell about the success stories within brownfields.”

Jaffe’s September presentation had an added incentive: The UCONN environmental and engineering students have a chance to secure a BCONE-sponsored scholarship, to be determined at the end of the semester, for their work within the brownfield redevelopment industry. (More details on this to come in a future news report.)

Speaking to the students who function within UCONN’s Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering class, Jaffe’s lecture outline underscored the overarching theme of “Brownfield Property Acquisition.” Drilling down further, such topics discussed included negotiations and the way brownfield stakeholders must allot adequate time to conduct due diligence. From there, Jaffe detailed relevance of professional consultant retention, environmental, wetlands/floodway, archeological, geotech, title, zoning, traffic, use/density, politics, utilities, application fees, absorption study and cost estimates.

Additional pillars of the lecture focused on New Jersey Redevelopment Law, which entailed redevelopment vs. rehabilitation, interim and final redeveloper designations, redevelopment agreements and redevelopment plans. It went on to focus on approvals, property closings and a case study focusing on the Haddon Town Center, a successful mixed-use apartment and retail community located in Haddon Township, N.J.

Once students had a chance to hear Jaffe’s presentation, they were able to take that knowledge and apply it to a semester-long course within UCONN’s CT Brownfields Initiative/Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering. The class is being presented by Nefeli Bompoti, Ph.D., assistant research professor, and Marisa Chrysochoou, Ph.D., director.

The learning objectives of the course include both technical skills specific to brownfield redevelopment and non-technical skills related to communication and management. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to identify the status of a site as brownfield; articulate the relevant laws and regulations that govern the management of a brownfield site; identify and describe how federal, state, regional and municipal levels of government are involved in the process of redeveloping brownfield sites; identity and describe how private development entities are involved in the process of redeveloping brownfield sites; describe the potential funding sources to cover the different stages of a brownfield redevelopment (investigation, clean up, development); list the different phases of a site investigation, the objectives of each phase and the methodology to develop a plan for each phase.

The students who excel the highest in this course will be awarded with the scholarship—to be determined by both UCONN professors and a third party group. BCONE’s scholarship was established in 2018, in memory of Charlie Bartsch, former member of the BCONE Board of Directors and the nation's passionate voice promoting the importance of brownfields remediation and redevelopment. Charlie was the leading guru on how to assemble a variety of state and federal incentives to enhance projects of interest to the community. Contributions in Charlie’s memory are funding the scholarship at UCONN (and one in New Jersey and one in PA), the details of which will be shared in a news report later this year.

E-Commerce Industry’s Last Mile Needs Create New Demand for Old Warehouse Space

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 18:26:08 GMT

RE developers can use everything from old government facilities to brownfield sites to capitalize on the need for last mile warehouses.

by Joseph A. Panepinto Sr., National Real Estate Investor

Amazon launched the age of e-commerce when it shipped its first bookout of a garage in 1995. Since that beginning, consumers have grown to embrace the ‘e-tail’ lifestyle. Millennials are now driving the demand for everything from toilet paper to make-up delivered to their doorstep. To accommodate this growth, e-retailers are snapping up industrial-use land and buildings as close as possible to the consumers they need to serve.

Access to the ”last mile” of delivery in urban locations has become one of the most critical factors in site selection. Facilities must not only be the right size, they must also have access to a highway and/or waterway, appropriate zoning, an accessible employee base and be as close as possible to their customers.

Traditionally, open plan, one-story buildings have been used as warehouses. Today, buildings of several forms can be utilized, including former big-box stores; industrial sites in various stages of remediation; under-used office space; and, in one instance in Chicago, an underutilized parking garage.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.nreionline.com/industrial/e-commerce-industry-s-last-mile-needs-create-new-demand-old-warehouse-space

BCONE at the PA Brownfield Conference

Fri, 05 Oct 2018 19:47:16 GMT

BCONE, USEPA Region 3 and PADEP Enlighten Brownfield Practitioners in Philadelphia

Fri, 05 Oct 2018 19:03:32 GMT

By Michael Bliss, VP Sales & Marketing at Hill Environmental

On Thursday, September 13, 2018, the Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) hosted a “Current Opportunities in the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Marketplace,” featuring Cosmo Servidio, USEPA Regional Administrator for the Mid-Atlantic Region and Patrick Patterson, Regional Director for the PADEP Southeast region. The sold-out event was held at the Center City Philadelphia offices of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC and was attended by 55 environmental professionals from various backgrounds.

Regional Administrator Servidio spoke about the importance of collaboration and partnerships in redeveloping areas in Pennsylvania. The goal under his leadership is to see the redevelopment marketplace thrive. He stressed the importance of partnering with the state, the success of the Act 2 program and making the process of brownfield redevelopment easier for all parties involved. Currently, Mr. Servidio noted that communication across government, private and public entities can be improved to help accomplish this. Ultimately, he stated that redevelopment decisions should be made based on regulations, science, and data.

Mr. Servidio further noted that BCONE’s members are the experts and problem solvers who are an integral part of improving the redevelopment process for all parties involved. An invitation was extended for BCONE to host an event at the EPA office at a future date.

Regional Director Patterson, based in Norristown, Pennsylvania, stressed that solutions can be found to just about any issues in redevelopment by working together. Mr. Patterson noted that over 6,000 sites have been cleaned up via the Act 2 program in Pennsylvania. In addition, 1,400 properties from the Southeast Regional office have been remediated with 1,100 more in various stages of the process. Current challenges include funding; legislation is anticipated to make funding easier for involved parties.

In summary, Mr. Servidio and Mr. Patterson emphasized cooperation and that BCONE plays an important part in that process. Environmental professionals can benefit and gain knowledge about the process through BCONE and becoming active participants.

The event included networking with light fare and a reception with beautiful views of the Philadelphia skyline. Many thanks to BCONE’s venue host, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC and to the evening’s event sponsors Clean Earth, Geosyntec Consultants, Langan, Environmental Standards, Whitman, AECOM, Syngergy Environmental, Pennoni, Terraphase Engineering, Hill Environmental Group, and Willis Towers Watson. Thanks to the event committee: Mike Bliss of Hill Environmental, Brian Clark of Buchanan of Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Skelly Holmbeck of Montrose Environmental and member of the BCONE Board of Directors and Elizabeth Limbrick of NJIT and the TAB Program for USEPA Region 3. Mr. Bliss, Mr. Clark and Ms. Limbrick are all members of the BCONE Advisory Board.

Photos of the Event:

N.J. Is Getting In The Zone -- The Opportunity Zone

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 22:03:22 GMT

By Steve Dwyer

There’s a love affair brewing in New Jersey—an atypical one but it’s authentic in its power and commitment.

“Opportunity Zones” are popping up in the Garden State, an outgrowth of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Gov. Phil Murphy simply loves this idea. How much so? His administration jumped on this golden opportunity, designating 75 communities in New Jersey as opportunity zones thus far, with perhaps more to come. “It’s the only part of the tax bill that we like,” Murphy said. “We are head-over-heels in love with this.”

The Opportunity Zone initiative holds the potential to attract billions of dollars in capital investment from the private sector, boosting the prospects of compelling business and economic growth and prosperity for New Jersey’s poorest communities. The program will be run by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

What’s not to like? Brownfields practitioners know the vital need for the private-public partnership to excel for projects to fly.

“When it’s all said and done, I think the capital you are going to attract to New Jersey won’t be measured in the millions, or even in the hundreds of millions. I think your efforts will bring billions of dollars of new investment into our state, grow our tax base, and create more revenue for all,” said N.J. Sen. Cory Booker, in a statement.

Federal Opportunity Zones allow for investments to be made in certain communities in return for reduced taxes on the capital gains they earn. If the investments are kept going for 10 years or more, investors could reap even more benefits.

Over 200 investors, economic developers and business and community leaders attended a recent symposium around economic development in New Jersey, according to the Governor’s office. The idea is to get “parked” capital invested back into areas that are emerging economically.

The program provides opportunities for private investors to support investments in distressed communities through participation in Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOF).

Brownfields stakeholders need to be incentivized to put the wheels in motion on project commitments. Here’s a biggie: Investors can defer paying federal taxes on capital gains reinvested in QOF that invest in low-income communities, under rules released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Reinvested capital gains are deferred from taxation until exit from a QOF or December 31, 2026, whichever comes first. However, gains from QOF investments held for the long term are taxed at reduced rates, with the rate reductions increasing at the 5, 7 and 10-year marks. Any gains from QOF investments held for at least 10 years will be permanently excluded from the capital gains tax.

The final rules and guidelines from the Opportunity Zone program are in the process of being released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. However, the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act states that “Opportunity Funds must hold at least 90% of their assets in Qualified Opportunity Zone stock, partnership interests or business property.

To receive tax deferrals, capital gains must be reinvested in QOF within 180 days of the date of sale or exchange producing the gains. Tax deferrals last until December 31, 2026, after which the Opportunity Zone program will end absent reauthorization by Congress.

Gov. Murphy has been authorized to designate up to 25% of the state’s eligible low-income census tracts (up to 169 tracts) as Opportunity Zones. Those 169 tracts were nominated on March 20 and approved by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on April 9. In the name of equity, 75 municipalities, representing every county in the state, received at least one Opportunity Zone.

The Governor worked directly with Sen. Booker’s office, convened meetings and roundtables with mayors throughout the state to receive feedback and input, and met with the New Jersey Congressional delegation to ensure a fair and transparent selection process. Designated census tracts reflect key economic indicators (e.g. income, unemployment rate, property values) that also take into consideration geographic distribution, access to transit, and the value of existing investments, including those encouraged by state programs and incentives.

It will be interesting to document how other states in the BCONE membership network are optimizing this progressive federal program in the months and years to come. We know from BCONE Board member Hannah Moore that Rhode Island is active in its Opportunity Zone process.

The Opportunity Zone initiative is one with tremendous upside for reuse and redevelopment practitioners of all stripes. Now let’s get after it!

CT accepting applications for brownfield remediation grants

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 21:57:59 GMT

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is accepting applications from municipalities and economic development agencies for its 12th round of competitive grant funding as part of the state’s Brownfield Remediation Program.

The initiative provides opportunities to investigate, clean up and revitalize blighted properties that have fallen into disrepair and puts them back into productive use in ways that benefit local economies.

Municipalities and economic development agencies are eligible to request funding of up to $1 million for individual remediation projects and up to $200,000 for assessment projects.

Awards may be used for a range of brownfield assessment, remediation and redevelopment activities, including abatement, demolition, site investigation and assessment, groundwater monitoring, installation of institutional controls, and professional service fees associated with redevelopment.

All projects will be rated and ranked by an interagency committee on the following criteria:

• Applicant/municipal financial need;

• Remediation/cleanup (or assessment) project feasibility;

• Redevelopment project feasibility;

• Redevelopment project economic and community impact;

• Responsible growth and livability initiatives; and

• Applicant capacity and experience.

To date, the state has invested $223 million in more than 246 old or vacant factories, mills, warehouses, and other contaminated sites and structures under the program. This round will see an investment of up to $4 million for remediation projects, with up to $1 million of that amount reserved specifically for assessment projects.

Application information can be downloaded online at www.ct.gov/ctbrownfields. All applications must be submitted via email to brownfields@ct.gov no later than Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 3:00 p.m.

BCONE's Roebling Event was Recognized in September Issue of Real Estate NJ

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 21:49:13 GMT

The September issue of Real Estate NJ recognized the event BCONE held at the Roebling Museum this past August. To view, go to page 32 at the following link: https://re-nj.com/flipbook/21-Sept2018

Brookhaven brownfield report finds 633 potentially contaminated sites

Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:21:52 GMT

Officials identified more than double the number of contaminated properties than they expected that could be in need of remediation and redevelopment in the greater Bellport area.

By Deon J. Hampton, Long Island Newsday (NY)

Brookhaven planning officials have identified more than 633 potentially contaminatedproperties — more than double what they expected — that could be in need of remediation and redevelopment in the greater Bellport area.

Most of the parcels, known as brownfields, are the site of warehouses, auto and manufacturing businesses where oils, liquids and antifreeze leak into soil and groundwater along Montauk Highway in the hamlets of North Bellport, Hagerman and East Patchogue, planning officials said.

…

Initially, Brookhaven expected to survey 302 parcels of land. During the study, officials determined additional properties needed to be inspected, Brookhaven Town planner Joseph Sanzano said Wednesday.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/brookhaven-brownfield-study-1.20966913

State court ruling favors Chesco residents protesting brownfield development

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 14:45:44 GMT

By Vinny Vella, Philadelphia Inquirer (PA)

The state's Superior Court has ruled in favor of residents and environmental activists in Chester County, tossing out an appeal from a developer who had filed a defamation suit against them.

In an opinion issued Thursday, Judge John T. Bender upheld a county court decision last August dismissing a lawsuit filed by developer J. Brian O'Neill and his partners at Constitution Drive Partners LP. Bender ruled that statements made by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network regarding a plan to build more than 200 homes on the former Bishop Tube Co. site, off Malin Road near Route 30 in East Whiteland, were accurate, therefore not defamatory.

Groundwater at the site, a brownfield currently being monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency, has tested positive for a degreasing agent linked to cancer.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/bishop-tube-east-whiteland-brownfield-development-court-ruling-20180910.html

UConn students to help with Plainfield brownfield documentation

Fri, 14 Sep 2018 14:04:39 GMT

By John Penney, Norwich Bulletin (CT)

Several University of Connecticut students will be helping Plainfield officials during the next several months with brownfield assessment work, part of a college training program aimed helping towns transform abandoned and polluted properties into viable real estate.

The town was one of seven municipalities and state councils of governments named as a recipient of the Connecticut Brownfields Initiative municipal grant program, town Planning & Zoning Supervisor Mary Ann Chinatti said.

“This is the first year of this initiative, so it’s awesome we were chosen,” she said. “The students – there should be four assigned to each recipient – will work with us for a semester.”

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/20180905/uconn-students-to-help-with-plainfield-brownfield-documentation

Brownfield restoration project eyed for county

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 15:06:03 GMT

By Mike Reuther, Williamsport Sun-Gazette (PA)

A state Department of Environmental Protection pilot program to restore and repurpose brownfield sites includes remedial work needed to connect walking and bicycle trails in Lycoming County.

The plan was briefly shared by Randy Farmerie, DEP environmental cleanup and brownfields program manager, with the Environment Justice Advisory Board Tuesday.

The Susquehanna River Walk starts in Montoursville and extends through the city of Williamsport to Susquehanna State Park. Plans are to eventually extend the path to connect to the Pine Creek Rail Trail path in Jersey Shore that runs north along Pine Creek.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2018/08/brownfield-restoration-project-eyed-for-county/

"Flower Power" on a Former Rhode Island Industrial Brownfield

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 15:04:32 GMT

By Steve Dwyer

We recently shone a light on a greenhouse in Springfield, Massachusetts. Built on a former brownfield, it’s proving to have multiple advantages -- from reducing the carbon footprint to sourcing fresh produce locally to providing an economic boost to the local community.

Not far from this site in Providence, Rhode Island, there’s an urban flower farm -- What Cheer Flower Farm, incorporated last October -- that has similar characteristics and is making equal progress as a difference-maker in the local community.

Besides brightening people’s lives with free flowers, the non-profit’s mission of the farm includes reversing urban blight, creating a job training center for Rhode Island residents to help them enter the state’s $2.5 billion green economy and making Providence famous for urban flower farming.

This site has come a long way, and it’s a testament to hard work and proactive diligence -- thinking outside the box. The 2.7-acre property, a former brownfield with industrial activity, had been neglected and was rife with wind-blown trash until three local Providence businesswomen bought the derelict property for $525,000. After the sale became final, the first two essential items that the owners brought to the site were a port-a-potty and a truckload of compost.

The owners and a team of volunteers ripped up poison ivy by gloved hand and brought in a tractor to help tear down the overgrowth. The empty factory with a brick facade, largely vacant since the 1990s, had no running water or electricity and had been covered in graffiti. It was a victim of arson and has been gutted of all scrap metal.

In addition to the central headline of this project—that being “owner/developers help restore an abandoned eyesore and put into productive reuse”—there’s a sidebar: The way that local community volunteers joined together to take ownership of this blighted, abandoned and dilapidated (BAD) property during the crucial formative period was commendable.

Think about how many former brownfields sit in disarray, ignored by a local community, including the local government, because there are other more pressing matters to attend to.

This was pointed out as I recall during an informative educational session delivered by Patrick Kirby, director of the Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center, at the 2015 EPA Brownfield Conference in Chicago. Patrick discussed the “BAD” concept and how volunteerism around a former brownfield in several WV communities during the so-called limbo period made a significant difference in restoring civic pride and curtailing potential vandalism. Volunteers who put sweat equity into these types of efforts even help facilitate, and expedite, a buyer-developer to step forward.

Kirby discussed how in several communities in WV that had BAD properties, volunteers worked in shifts to regularly mow grass, pick up trash and keep an eye out for vagrants that might populate the property.

The same approach was taken in Providence at the urban flower farm, and the result is a very productive business that’s making a world of difference in the local community. What Cheer Flower Farm commenced its growing season in June. The seeds had to be planted late in the season because there was significant work to oversee as the property was covered in pavement. Some 4,000 square feet of parking lot had to be torn up and transformed into an organic raised-bed field of flowers, both perennial and annual.

The results are a budding success: The nonprofit flower farm has two full-time farmers supported by an army of volunteers to grow organic flowers on this former brownfield site. The proprietors give their product away to people who deserve flowers but don’t have access. To supply those people who deserve flowers, What Cheer Flower Farm has partnered with Amos House, the Ronald McDonald House of Providence, and Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island. The owners deliver bouquets and buckets of cut flowers to these institutions and other partners.

About 90% of the flowers currently being grown at the farm were started from seed by one of the owners in her kitchen and in a friend’s basement. The rest of the plants were donated by Green Animals Topiary Garden in a nearby community. The farm doesn’t plan on growing vegetables as it doesn’t want to compete with Southside Community Land Trust and other urban farmers.

Where a dilapidated building now stands, the co-founders envision a barn, classroom space, an office and space for lease.

What Cheer Flower Farm has applied for a brownfield remediation grant with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. An ongoing inventory assessment didn’t find elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The owners have worked with the National Resources Conservation Service and David Foss of Wilcox & Barton Inc., a Vermont-based environmental consulting firm.

Indeed, the new urban flower farm is making huge inroads in the Providence community and doing so on many levels. There are testimonials that bear this out. On What Cheer Flower Farm’s Facebook page, a happy visitor to the site not only assigned it a “like” but gave the urban flower garden some love. “I had to see it to believe it! It’s true, it’s true... Flowers growing and giving life to a place that hasn’t seen the blessing of the sunshine in a long time,” the post stated.

New York unveils new toolkit to drive solar on brownfields

Thu, 30 Aug 2018 14:23:48 GMT

By Iulia Gheorghiu, Utility Dive

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released new guidance for municipalities developing solar projects on landfills or brownfields, to maximize expansion on underutilized land and the state's efforts to increase renewable generation.

The leasing instructions and templates in the Municipal Solar Procurement Toolkit reflect a lower threshhold of environmental review for projects on brownfields and landfills due to recent updates from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

In June, the DEC adopted a rulemaking package to streamline the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) regulations, which does not require contractors to make formal assessments of environmental impacts of solar projects on brownfields. As the first update to SEQR in more than two decades, the changes, including the brownfield component, will take effect January 1, 2019.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/new-york-unveils-new-toolkit-to-drive-solar-on-brownfields/530856/

BCONE Submits Policy Letter to NRD Task Force

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 13:27:07 GMT

On August 24, 2018, Raymond Cantor, BCONE Designee to NRD Task Force, submitted a letter on behalf of BCONE outlining a policy proposal regarding liability protection of innocent redevelopers from natural resource damages. The letter can be viewed here: BCONE-NRD-Letter-08-24-18.pdf

Roebling, NJ: A True Brownfield Success Story + Emily Warren Roebling: An Inspiration for Engineering Professionals = BCONE + SWEP Winning Program

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 13:07:04 GMT

By Brian C. Mannino, P.E., GEI Consultants

The New Jersey chapter of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals (SWEP) and the Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) hosted an event at the Roebling Museum on Wednesday, August 15, 2018. The event included a guided tour of the museum and the video on the history of the Roebling Steel Mill.

In 1848, John Roebling moved his wire rope business and family to Trenton, NJ. The John A. Roebling's Sons Company became the world’s leading producer of wire rope, with four factories and nearly 8,000 employees at its peak, inspiring the motto: “Trenton Makes, the World Takes.’’ Due to competition, 115 acres of land in Florence, NJ (in what is now known as the village of Roebling, NJ) were purchased for the creation of the Roebling Steel Mill, that opened In 1904. In addition to the mill, a town for mill employees was constructed with over 750 houses, a general store and bars. The museum is located in the former main gate house for the mill, one of the few mill structures that remain on the site.

The Roebling Museum, which opened in 2009, presents the history of the John A. Roebling’s Sons Company, including the Roebling Steel Mill, the Roebling family, and the Roebling community. John A. Roebling & Sons Company produced wire rope used in the construction of numerous suspension bridges in the US, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the George Washington Bridge, the Cincinnati-Covington Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Among the Roebling family members honored is the wife of Washington Roebling, Emily Warren Roebling. Mrs. Roebling assumed many of Washington’s responsibilities while he recovered from decompression sickness (the bends, or caisson sickness as it was known at the time) during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. She served as one of the first field engineers, and was instrumental in the construction of the bridge. When the bridge was completed in 1883, she was the first to cross the bridge. The Roebling family owned the mill until 1952, when it was sold to Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. Operations ceased in 1974.

In 1982, the federal government declared the 200-acre steel plant a Superfund site. Environmental investigations at the site began and cleanup activities followed in 1987. Most of the site has been remediated through a combination of soil excavation and capping, with dredging work performed in Crafts Creek and the Delaware River Back Channel. In addition to the museum, the cleanup created a 37-acre park where once slag heaps and sludge lagoons stood. Now there are green fields and pathways along which strollers can enjoy the scenic views of the Delaware River.

A Clarion Call: GlassWorks Business Park Moves Forward

Fri, 24 Aug 2018 17:14:22 GMT

By Steve Dwyer

On the hierarchy of best practices for urban reuse and redevelopment, there are obvious, essential touchstones: Vision, collaboration, flexibility, fund-raising acumen—and you comprehend them well.

How about “perseverance?” It’s not often appreciated in the brownfields redevelopment realm as an essential element for achieving the endgame. But think about how many projects didn’t move forward over the years because stakeholders had no other choice but to cut and run. There are a host of case examples to cite. Oft-times, a project that was snuffed out after beginning to move through the development cycle occurred from extenuating circumstances—ones outside the control of the stakeholders.

A $39 million project in Clarion County, Pa—the GlassWorks Business Park—has had a long and protracted history—and a positive outcome as it was announced that construction finally commenced in June.

This project entails converting a 28.5-acre brownfield site, formerly housing the Owens-Illinois Glass Plant, into a compound with seven building pads ready for development.

“After five years of planning, we’re finally to a point where we can bring opportunity back to Clarion,” said Theron L. Miles, Owner and Project Director at Miles Brothers LLC, in a statement. “When the glass plant closed, our community suffered a devastating loss. This impacted not only the employees that worked on this property but our entire economy. Today marks a new beginning for our town to achieve growth and prosperity. The GlassWorks Business Park would still be only a vision without the help and support we’ve received from our political leaders and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.”

Perseverance personified.

Property owner Miles Brothers LLC and the Clarion County Industrial Development Authority partnered to develop the land into seven pads suitable for office, warehouse, or light industrial use by installing utilities, lighting, and water and sewer infrastructure and excavating, grading, and paving the sites. DCED has committed a $1.03 million Business in Our Sites grant and a $4. 25 million for Business in Our Sites low-interest loan to the project that Miles Brothers credits for enabling the project to happen.

At its peak, more than 1,500 Clarion-area residents worked in the Owens-Illinois Glass Plant, which manufactured a variety of glass containers like jars and bottles. It closed in 2010 after 105 years in the community, and the facility was partially demolished in 2012, leaving behind a brownfield site that requires extensive remediation.

“This is a great example of a community turning a significant challenge, the closing of the glass plant in 2010, into an opportunity for an economic driver for the entire region,” Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Davin said. “Governor Wolf is committed to ensuring Clarion and Pennsylvania as a whole is a great place for all residents to live and work, and this project supports critical job growth that will enable members of the Clarion community to work locally and continue to live in the place they have called home.”

Many with a stake know that the result of the closing of the glass plant in 2010 was devastating to not only Clarion Borough, but all of Clarion County. But thanks to all the touchstones involved in reuse and redevelopment that were well executed—including stick-to-itiveness—the clarion call in Clarion County was heard.

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you have other stories about former glass plants, please share them with BCONE. We know that the glass industry was huge throughout our geographic footprint, including Southern NJ and upstate NY.

Closing still looms, but Ellicott Station plans all set

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 14:59:05 GMT

By JIM KRENCIK, Batavia Daily News (NY)

The financing structure of the proposed residential, commercial and brewing campus at Ellicott Station remains unresolved, but the design of the mixed-use project has been finalized.

“Subtle changes” forwarded by Savarino Companies to meet the requests of the State’s Homes and Community Renewal - one of the multitude of public and private financiers of the $20 million projects - met the approval of the Genesee County Planning Board Thursday.

Courtney Cox, a development associate at the Buffalo-based developer-contractor, said the guidelines of HCR led to the project’s residential units being increased from 51 to 55. The reasoning was that the state sets a square-footage maximum for single-bedroom units to ensure funding has the maximum impact, and four more could be fit into the proposed footprint.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn01/closing-still-looms-but-ellicott-station-plans-all-set-20180810

Box-maker next-door wants to buy brownfield site on Crowley

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 13:44:02 GMT

By Jonathan D. Epstein, Buffalo News (NY)

The city agency responsible for cleaning up, managing and redeveloping brownfield properties has barely owned the a century-old former manufacturing property in Riverside for a few weeks, and the property's neighbor already is interested in buying a significant piece of the 7-acre site.

The Buffalo Urban Development Corp. bought the former sewing machine and television manufacturing plant at 308 Crowley Ave., paying $50,000 in June to take on the abandoned site.

The property includes both vacant land and about 300,000 square feet of existing but deteriorating buildings that can't be reused. Officials planned to demolish most of the brick buildings that still remain – except for a historic clock tower – before remediating and clearing the site for future use, said BUDC President Peter Cammarata.

…

For the entire article see

https://buffalonews.com/2018/08/03/budc-has-interested-buyer-for-part-of-crowley-facility/

New Urban Farm Brings Cheer to Deserving Community

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 13:42:52 GMT

By Frank Carini, eco’Ri News (RI)

The place was a complete mess, but a trio of determined women was going to buy it anyway, as soon as the seller removed about 50 tattered mattresses from the dilapidated building.

The 2.7-acre property was covered with wind-blown trash. More than a year later, the three women are still picking up broken glass. In fact, when they ask volunteers to help with the property’s rehabilitation, children are not welcome, at least not yet.

They ripped up poison ivy by gloved hand, and brought in a tractor to help tear down the overgrowth. The empty factory with a brick facade, largely vacant since the 1990s, has no running water or electricity, is covered in graffiti, has been the victim of arson, and has been gutted of all scrap metal.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.ecori.org/smart-growth/2018/8/3/new-urban-farm-gives-back-to-community-literally

Cleanup begins at former Meriden-Wallingford Hospital

Thu, 09 Aug 2018 16:01:18 GMT

By Mary Ellen Godin, Meriden Record-Journal (CT)

Nearly 20 years after it was vacated, environmental cleanup has begun at the former Meriden-Wallingford Hospital to allow it to be made over into a senior living complex.

Workers are remediating the 5.6-acre site, which was found to be contaminated with PCBs, metal, inorganic contaminants and petroleum, according to an environmental study. The cleanup will also include removing two underground storage tanks and hazardous materials from the former boiler room, as well as asbestos.

“The city has committed to completing remediation and hazardous materials abatement to advance the adaptive reuse of the building and parking garage in cooperation with a private developer,” said city Economic Development Director Juliet Burdelski.

The abatement project is scheduled for completion within 170 working days, during which time access to the site is prohibited. Soil cleanup using the EPA funds will begin in early 2019.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.myrecordjournal.com/News/Meriden/Meriden-News/Cleanup-begins-at-old-Meriden-Wallingford-Hospital.html

Comment Period Open For Lofts Project

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 19:12:44 GMT

By Dennis Phillips, Jamestown Post-Journal (NY)

The public comment period is now open for the proposed apartment project at the Gateway Center in Jamestown.

Southern Tier Environments for Living received two grant awards totaling $790,000 in October for the Gateway Lofts project and the Dunkirk Renovation and Ownership program. The state grant for the Gateway Lofts project was for $620,000.

Thomas J. Whitney, Southern Tier Environments for Living executive director, said because the project is still in the design phase it is unknown how many apartments will be constructed and how much the total project will cost. He said they will be applying for additional funding for the project through the state Homes and Community Renewal Agency, but it is undetermined how much funding they will be applying for. The housing project will be inside the Gateway Center, located at 31 Water St.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.post-journal.com/news/local-news/2018/04/comment-period-open-for-lofts-project/

Borough seeks grant to help clear way for business to expand

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 19:11:49 GMT

By Luke Marshall, Waterbury Citizen’s News (CT)

The borough is seeking grant funds to investigate and remediate a potentially contaminated property on Rubber Avenue to help a business possibly expand.

The Board of Mayor and Burgesses last week authorized Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess to pursue a $25,000 brownfield remediation grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Ronald Pugliese, who sits on the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments Regional Brownfields Partnership, said the grant would be used to investigate whether the property at 251 Rubber Ave. is contaminated and do any remediation if needed.

The property, which is owned by Ramos Cecilia Paiva Trustee, is 0.79 acres and has a 3,285-square-foot building on it, according to the property card. The property is assessed at $166,250.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.mycitizensnews.com/news/2018/04/borough-seeks-grant-to-help-clear-way-for-business-to-expand/

$4.7M awarded to transform former Big Lots property into affordable housing

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 19:10:58 GMT

By Nicky Hickling, WBNG TV-12 News (Binghamton, NY)

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that nearly $17 million has been awarded to three affordable housing developments in the Southern Tier. He says the funding will create a total of 202 affordable homes.

Governor Cuomo's office released the following information regarding the 435 State Street project in Binghamton:

"These 48 affordable homes will be constructed on a vacant Brownfield site in the North Chenango River Corridor Brownfield Opportunity Area, which is part of a local Waterfront Revitalization Plan Area that is experiencing significant redevelopment including an active neighborhood retail sector. It will include two Community Service Facilities occupied by Catholic Charities of Broome County Employment Program and Health Home Division, which will provide job training through a café or coffee bar to allow clients to receive hands-on experience interacting with the public. Encompass Health Home will also occupy the space and will provide services to Medicaid eligible adults and children with chronic medical and/or behavioral health conditions."

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.wbng.com/story/38163239/47m-awarded-to-transform-former-big-lots-property-into-affordable-housing

Former Williamsburg industrial lot to become green condominiums

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 19:10:01 GMT

News12 Brooklyn (NY)

A vacant lot on Driggs Avenue could soon become home to new condominiums.

It's currently a so-called brownfield site -- a former industrial lot that needs excavation and cleanup.

Residents say they're excited to see it spruced up so long as it doesn't disrupt their neighborhood.

The 40 new housing units will range in size from studios to four bedrooms. Many of them will have outer spaces inspired by McCarren Park, according to the developer.

Construction is expected to begin this winter and conclude in 2020.

…

For the entire story, including a video, see

http://brooklyn.news12.com/story/38625030/former-williamsburg-industrial-lot-to-become-green-condominiums

McKees Rocks developer veers away from 2011 revitalization plan for former railroad brownfield

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 19:08:57 GMT

by Diana Nelson Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)

It has been seven years since McKees Rocks announced a mixed-use plan for 52 acres of a former Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad site. The site was targeted in 2003 as a focus of the borough’s strategic economic revitalization.

The McKees Rocks Community Development Corp. and borough council had worked out a plan for its reuse with Trinity Development, which contracted a design and a market study on which it based the funding it attracted.

The plan was to include two buildings for light industrial use that would provide more than 1,000 jobs. But the developer has stepped away from the plan, and its advocates now say that 15 years of economic development effort may be in jeopardy.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2018/07/15/McKees-Rocks-Trinity-Development-CSX-intermodal-terminal-Community-Development-Corp/stories/201807150088

State DEC seeking comments on White Plains mall brownfield cleanup

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 19:08:02 GMT

by Richard Liebson, Rockland/Westchester Journal News (NY)

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking public comment of a brownfield cleanup at the White Plains mall, which is to be torn down and replaced by a mixed-use development.

WP Mall Realty, LLC, has applied for the designation, which could qualify it for cleanup funding as it moves forward with plans to build Hamilton Green on the 3.74-acre site at 200 Hamilton Ave.

Plans call for the crumbling 1970s era mall to be demolished and replaced with a mix of apartments, retail and restaurant space, outdoor cafes, a craft food hall, a co-working enterprise, a publicly accessible elevated green space and parking.

The site recently received new Transit District zoning from the city.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/white-plains/2018/07/30/dec-seeks-comment-brownfield-cleanup-white-plains-mall-site/797235002/

Comments sought on plan for Cohoes brownfield site

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 15:57:25 GMT

By Nicholas Buonanno, Troy Record (NY)

Community members are invited to comment on a draft work plan being reviewed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation related to the brownfield site at the Cohoes/Saratoga Road Site, located at 401 Saratoga St.

Officials from the DEC said in a fact sheet about the site that the draft work plan, called a “Remedial Investigation Work Plan”, describes the proposed approach to investigating the environmental contamination at the site.

The fact sheet says that the draft work plan was submitted to DEC by Cohoes II Limited Partnership (the “applicant”) under New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP). Dec said that the applicant will perform and pay for the investigation with oversight by DEC and the New York State Department of Health (DOH).

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.troyrecord.com/general-news/20180706/comments-sought-on-plan-for-cohoes-brownfield-site

Future unclear for former Easton Iron Works

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 13:55:46 GMT

By Jamie Stover, WFMZ TV-69 News (PA/NJ)

The Easton Iron Works and Metal Company has seen better days.

The city has filed around 20 citations against the now deceased property owner's estate.

"It's mostly maintenance of the property, the weeds and all that, the structures, things like that," said Mayor Sal Panto.

Once upon a time it was inspiration for artists like Karl Stirner, behind metal sculptures that now sit elsewhere in the city.

…

For the entire story, see

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/future-unclear-for-former-easton-iron-works/763642828

Plans To Redevelop Flushing Waterfront Get State Approval

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 13:53:29 GMT

A special state designation will allow Flushing to transform 62 acres of industrial wasteland into a new district with affordable housing.

By Danielle Woodward, Flushing-Murray Hill Patch (NY)

Acres of industrial wasteland that have long line Flushing's waterfront could soon give way to a vibrant new downtown area complete with affordable housing, thanks to a special designation from the state.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in June designated 62 acres of land in west downtown Flushing as a "Brownfield Opportunity Area," a title that helps neighborhoods fast-track transformations of polluted industrial sites into housing or business developments that could drive economic growth.

"This Brownfield Opportunity Area program gives local leaders the power to bring about much-needed change to properties that have been neglected within their communities," Cuomo said.

…

For the entire article, see

https://patch.com/new-york/flushing-murray-hill/plans-redevelop-flushing-waterfront-get-state-approval

Opportunity Zones Built for Bringing in Billions of Dollars in Investments

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 17:06:19 GMT

By Steve Wilson

Federal Opportunity Zones will attract billions of dollars in capital investment from the private sector, U.S. Senator Cory Booker predicted Monday, boosting the prospects of both businesses and New Jersey’s poorest communities.

Gov. Phil Murphy said his administration jumped on the opportunity the new federal program presented, getting zones designated in 75 communities in New Jersey. “It’s the only part of the tax bill that we like,” Murphy said, referring to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. “We are head-over-heels in love with this.”

The two were part of a panel discussion at the Investors Symposium hosted by Choose New Jersey at Rutgers-Newark. TV news anchor Steve Adubato led the discussion.

NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka called the program “a great opportunity for public private partnerships and an effective part of a comprehensive economic development strategy.

“While the success of the Opportunity Zone program may ultimately depend on private investment commitment in each community, we feel strongly it can be an effective economic development tool that will help small businesses grow and create private sector jobs in some of the state’s most economically challenged cities,” Siekerka said.

Over 200 investors, economic developers and business and community leaders attended, according to Murphy’s office.

The idea is to get “parked” capital invested back into areas that are emerging economically.

The program will be run by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. For more details, visit the department’s website here.

Former Brownfields in the BCONE Region See Green

Wed, 11 Jul 2018 19:08:23 GMT

By Steve Dwyer

Armed with a mission to create a network of worker-owned enterprises as a vehicle to lift people out of poverty, a greenhouse in Springfield, Mass. built on a brownfield is proving to have a multi-faceted set of advantages -- from reducing the carbon footprint to sourcing fresh produce locally to providing an economic boost to the local community.

The project is regarded as the first worker cooperative commercial greenhouse in Massachusetts, and it recently commenced production on a former contaminated industrial site in this sleepy community west of Boston.

Lettuce with the label “Grown in Indian Orchard” is going to be shipped to produce aisles of some local stores—as well as in salads made for cafeterias in public schools and hospitals.

Full production is commencing this summer at Wellspring Harvest, a 15,000-square foot state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse built on a former brownfield site in Springfield’s Indian Orchard neighborhood.

Fred Rose, co-director of Wellspring Cooperative Corp., the parent organization of the greenhouse said in a local news report that the project was four years in the making as it took a long time to execute the business plan, perform site selection before a year of construction was able to start. Wellspring raised $250,000 of the $1.5 million for the greenhouse project through a direct public offering to individual investors.

Built on the site of a former valve factory where components for nuclear weapons were manufactured, the greenhouse culminates the redevelopment of blighted land once contaminated by radioactivity.

The greenhouse will produce a variety of lettuces, greens and herbs year-round for customers that include the Springfield Public Schools, a medical center, a hospital, supermarkets and regional food co-ops.

The principals said demand is strong and are confident the greenhouse will meet its sales projections, as fresh produce can be picked and be on the shelf the same day. Produce shipped from California loses half its nutritional value in the week it takes to arrive to its final destination, so this alternative makes food healthier, fresher and locally sourced—an ideal farm-to-table scenario.

The greenhouse also helps reduce the local carbon footprint imposition and adds an economic component to the local community, including jobs.

The principals said the greenhouse is as much “machine as a building.” That’s because a motorized roof and a series of wall vents control temperature and humidity. The flow of nutrients and oxygen to the plants is mechanically regulated, and vegetable beds sit on tables. A monorail system with baskets connects the growing and processing areas, so the produce never touches the ground.

With lettuce there’s concern about contamination so growing hydroponically serves as a clean, local and secure solution. The principals said there are tentative plans to expand production in a few years to include cucumbers and tomatoes.

There are other examples of how going green in an urban setting can provide a major boost in several aspects.

In 2015, Newark, N.J. became the home to the largest indoor vertical farm in the world. The RBH Group, Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, Prudential Financial Inc. and AeroFarms all partnered with Newark city officials and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority on what is now a $30-million renovation that converted an old industrial site into a vertical urban farm.

The site, a 69,000 square foot converted steel factory, serves as the headquarters for AeroFarms, a company that grows leafy greens in indoor, urban facilities. The facility was reported to be producing about two million pounds of green vegetables and herbs each year and brought a host of new jobs to the city.

So many other examples of green development, including green roof systems, are springing up within the BCONE region and across the country, operating on a theory that you can make even more of a compelling difference within your redevelopment plan when you position green on a former brownfield.

Former GM plant in Massena could qualify for brownfield cleanup support, funding

Wed, 11 Jul 2018 18:05:08 GMT

By ANDY GARDNER, North Country Now (NY)

The way the Town Council handles zoning of the former General Motors plant could affect their ability to receive Brownfield Opportunity Area funding through the Department of State, a DOS official told the board on Wednesday.

Designation as a BOA "sets the stage for future support, funding preference, and removes some of the risk and uncertainty associated with site redevelopment," according to a document from the St. Lawrence County Planning Office.

A Brownfield Opportunity Area study of the site, which was recently completed and made public, outlines numerous uses for the former industrial lot, once environmental remediation is complete. The county Planning Office and other local people and entities gave input into writing the plan. Department of State funded it, somewhere in the range of $360,000 to $400,000, according to Dave MacLeod from the DOS, who spoke at the meeting.

He urged the town to rezone the lot, because, according to him, many of the uses in the plan aren't allowed under the current industrial designation.

…

For the entire article, see

http://northcountrynow.com/business/former-gm-plant-massena-could-qualify-brownfield-cleanup-support-funding-0237318

Upper Bucks' Solar Manufacturing breaks ground on new headquarters at reclaimed brownfield industrial site

Wed, 11 Jul 2018 18:04:09 GMT

By Anthony Salamone, Allentown Morning Call (NY)

The economy in this Bucks County borough once revolved around U.S. Gauge, a manufacturer of aircraft-measuring instruments established in the early 20th century.

The company, which employed as many as 1,700 people at its Sellersville plant in the mid-1980s, saw employment dip a decade later to just 600 workers. By the early 2000s, the manufacturing campus, then owned by Ametek, had closed, its sprawling buildings leveled.

On Thursday, county officials and others celebrated a new beginning for the brownfield site with the groundbreaking of a $8 million plant and headquarters for Solar Manufacturing Inc., a maker of vacuum heat-treating furnaces.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-biz-bucks-county-solar-manufacturing-groundbreaking-20180619-story.html

West Shore receives Brownfield Opportunity Area designation

Wed, 11 Jul 2018 18:02:35 GMT

By Kristin F. Daltonkdalton, Staten Island Live (NY)

Following two years of work on the West Shore, the 179-acre area has been designated a Brownfield Opportunity Area, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.

…

Recommendations from the study include major site renovations or developments for seven underutilized properties on the 179 acres, roadway consolidation and infrastructure improvements, and expanded public transit that will serve the Amazon and IKEA facilities.

The study paid careful attention to creating a district flood resiliency plan, which anticipates flooding issues associated with sea-level rising water in the West Shore's low-lying areas that currently have limited sewer and stormwater infrastructure.

...

For the entire article, see

https://www.silive.com/news/2018/06/west_shore_brownfield_grant.html

Construction Begins at GlassWorks Business Park in Clarion, Pennsylvania

Wed, 11 Jul 2018 17:58:28 GMT

Area Development News

Construction stated on GlassWorks Business Park in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. The $39 million project will convert a 28.5-acre brownfield site formerly housing the Owens-Illinois Glass Plant into a compound with seven building pads ready for development.

Property owner Miles Brothers LLC and the Clarion County Industrial Development Authority partnered to develop the land into seven pads suitable for office, warehouse, or light industrial use by installing utilities, lighting, and water and sewer infrastructure and excavating, grading, and paving the sites. DCED has committed a $1,033,214 Business in Our Sites grant and a $4,256,952 Business in Our Sites low-interest loan to the project that Miles Brothers credits for enabling the project to happen.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.areadevelopment.com/newsItems/6-18-2018/glassworks_business_parkclarion_clarion_county_pennsylvania.shtml

EPA Recognizes Jersey City, N.J., Superfund Site for Excellence in Reuse

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 20:00:56 GMT

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Pete Lopez today presented New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Jersey City and Prologis, Inc. – the company responsible for the cleanup and reuse of the site – with the Excellence in Site Reuse Award. NJDEP Deputy Commissioner Debbie Mans, Jersey City Deputy Mayor Marcos Vigil and representatives from Prologis, Inc. accepted the Excellence in Site Reuse Award for work at the PJP Landfill Superfund site in Jersey City, N.J.

The award recognizes Superfund site partners who have collaborated with EPA to support redeveloping Superfund sites in ways that are beneficial to the community and compatible with the cleanup. The PJP Landfill Superfund site is home to a newly constructed warehouse and distribution center, continued commercial use, public open space and restored wetlands.

“This has truly been a collaborative effort between local, state and federal agencies and the community to turn this once environmentally compromised site into an economic and community asset,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “The Excellence in Reuse award underscores how Superfund cleanups translate into tangible benefits for local communities, businesses and an area’s entire ecosystem. Redevelopment of this site will continue bringing economic, ecological and recreational benefits to the Jersey City community.”

“This is truly an environmental success story, one in which a landfill that once was notorious for long-burning underground fires and exposed wastes has been reclaimed for productive commercial use,” DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe said. “We are proud to accept this award, which acknowledges the many years of hard work the DEP – in partnership with the EPA, Jersey City and Prologis – has dedicated to turning a major environmental problem for the city into a project that is creating jobs and economic development.”

“The City is excited to be involved with the transformation of the once blighted landfill into a viable, mixed-use waterfront property for the public to enjoy,” said Jersey City Deputy Mayor Marcos Vigil.

“When we acquired this former landfill back in 2008, we knew it would take a great deal of tenacity and teamwork to transform a site many thought could never be developed,” said Prologis’ Senior Vice President Steve Campbell. “The key to success was a public-private partnership that allowed Prologis to work closely with Waste Management Corporation, the EPA, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey local and state political leadership and, most importantly, the local community. The outcome has been positive for both the environment and the regional economy.”

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, (212) 637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

No Need To Automatically "Go Big" When Building Sports Facilities on Brownfields

Fri, 22 Jun 2018 15:45:09 GMT

By Steve Dwyer

There are a number of sports stadiums that have been built on former brownfields that get a lot of national attention—and do so because of their sheer size and overall scale. Target Field in Minneapolis, the Washington National’s ballpark are two good examples.

However, a local community, county or township can construct indoor/outdoor sports facilities in a more modest fashion and still reap big results—such as becoming a destination magnet for local, state and regional teams to participate in tournaments.

If the development vision is laser-focused, the project can wrap the sports component around other profit centers, such as shopping, restaurants, museums and hotels, the latter a must as tournaments attract families who seek lodging over weekend stays.

This spring, a group in Somerset, N.J. said it was poised to christen a 40-acre indoor/outdoor sports facility located on remediated property on Mountain View Rd. The redevelopment has a golden opportunity to score in many of the diversified ways that have been cited.

Apparently, the approval process is navigating nicely, with work on the project hitting full bore this summer, according to TapInto.net, an online newspaper serving Somerset, N.J.

Gregg Wilke, developer and owner of the Apex Sports & Events facility, also owns the HRC Gym and Fitness Center in the area, a family fitness and wellness gym offering programs and amenities for children, adults and seniors.

The Apex project will be built adjacent to Mountain View Park, a 369-acre outdoor sports complex owned jointly by the township and Somerset County, and situated on remediated property formerly part of the Belle Mead Government Service Administration Depot, a federal government property.

Apex will complement the adjacent Mountain View Park facilities, creating a massive sports and recreation destination not only for township sports leagues and clubs, but for similar organizations from surrounding towns and throughout the state. It will rival similar facilities in New Jersey, according to the newspaper report.

“At Apex, our mission is to create a state-of-the-art unique competition and training facility for Hillsborough that serves the year-round sports and recreation needs of the local families while promoting a healthy lifestyle for the community and assisting in the development of our young athletes,” Wilkie said to the online publication, adding that he hopes to open the outdoor turf fields in the spring of 2019 and the indoor complex later that year.

The Apex complex will feature synthetic turf field designated for use by township organizations, and there will be two other synthetic turf fields installed on the 40-acre expanse. All outdoor fields will be lighted. The centerpiece will be a 210,000-square foot indoor facility including two domes.

The larger of the two domes will enclose a full-size indoor soccer field, also suitable for lacrosse and football. The smaller dome will be used for training programs, work outs and fitness training. There will be indoor basketball and volleyball courts, batting cages and pitching tunnels, a mezzanine viewing area, café and concessions area, multi-purpose rooms, team rooms and space for other activities, including a kids’ adventure area with rock climbing and other family-friendly activities.

No doubt about it, sports-oriented redevelopments have a chance to carve out huge dividends to breath life into a local community—and do so across several facets. It goes to show that in executing such end uses on former brownfields, you don’t always need to "Go Big" to succeed.

EPA awards $500,000 Supplemental Funding for Montgomery County Brownfields

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 16:38:29 GMT

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $500,000 in supplemental funding to Montgomery County, Pennsylvania to assist with the cleanup of contaminated brownfields properties.

“This funding will provide Montgomery County with resources to continue its cleanup work on contaminated properties throughout the county,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. “Returning these lands to beneficial reuse is the goal, and this grant will help the county reach that milestone at additional locations.”

Montgomery County is one of 33 municipalities nationwide to receive a portion of the $15.7 million in supplemental funding for existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grantees so they can carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects.

“The Redevelopment Authority and Montgomery County are appreciative of the financial and technical support provided by EPA in helping us return numerous brownfields sites to productive use,” said John Nugent, Executive Director of the Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority. “Our collaborative work with EPA can be seen in projects where remediation has resulted in significant job creation, assisted with economic viability and supported the development of affordable housing.”

Today’s announcement took place at the former Ambler Boiler House property, a former industrial site that was cleaned up with a prior RLF grant and is now the Ambler Boiler House office building, a multi-tenant workplace where more than 300 people are employed.

Since 1999, EPA has provided Montgomery County with nearly $4 million in brownfields funding to assess, cleanup and spur redevelopment of brownfields sites. The most recent funding was used to remediate parking lots at the Boiler House office complex and the Ambler Crossings luxury apartments. Past brownfields funds have been used for sites in Pottstown, Upper Dublin and Abington Townships.

The Brownfields RLF program supports EPA’s commitment to assist communities in addressing environmentally challenged properties and meet their local revitalization priorities. The funds help communities reuse vacant and abandoned properties and turn them into community assets such as housing, recreation and open space, health facilities, social services, transportation options, infrastructure and commerce opportunities.

RLFs specifically supply funding for loans and sub-grants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfields sites. These funds are provided to communities that have shown success in cleaning up and redeveloping brownfields sites.

A recent national study shows that cleaning up brownfields areas leads to residential property value increases of 5 - 15.2 percent within a 1.24-mile radius of the site. Another study analyzing data near 48 brownfields found that an estimated $29 to $97 million in additional tax revenue is generated for local governments in a single year after cleanup. This is two to seven times more than the $12.4 million EPA contributed to the cleanup of those brownfields.

More information on EPA’s Brownfields program is available at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields and a complete list of grantees is available at: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/announcing-fy18-supplemental-funding-brownfields-revolving-loan-fund-grants.

Site Remediation Advisory Group meeting: Quick Notes: June 13, 2018

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:36:20 GMT

By: Rick Shoyer, Advanced GeoServices and BCONE Advisory Board

License renewal needs to be done online

Guidance Documents to be updated this year

Ecological evaluation
MNA
Off-site source
Soil SI/RI/RA

Soil reuse was discussed

Not a solid waste if it meets residential/non-residential standards (IGW was excluded from this)
If it does not, the LSRP can approve without a BUD
Class B recycling is an exclusion

Dataminer presentation focused on the LSRP comprehensive report

DEP wants to everyone to know that every report submitted by an LSRP is deemed “complete.”
Complete does not equal “approved” by DEP because for the most part DEP does not pprove LSRP documents.
Only certain number of the reports need to be reviewed
Activity sheet and detail sheets – due dates and completed dates are confusing. This will be changed in the future
Stats on RAO’s 11,000 submitted 12 revoked, less than 3% withdrawn

HDSRF legislation changes to reduce funding for private companies and some for municipalities, did not affect non-profits

SRRA 2.0 (David Haymes) stakeholder meeting at NJDEP on July 16th

Licensing Board put out a 12 page Site Remediation Reform Act Issues, Recommendations and Language Amendments document.

From Bethlehem Steel brownfield to bicycle trail

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 18:43:19 GMT

by Kevin Jolly, Spectrum News (Buffalo, NY)

A lakeside stretch of Lackawanna long known for industry is going to become the Shoreline Trail; 140 acres of land off of Route 5, dormant for 30 years, about to be reborn.

"Some of it we're keeping as a buffer zone for now with the green space, but the area behind that is going to be turned into a modern industrial park, and not the heavy industry of the past, but e-commerce, for logistics, for advanced manufacturing, the type of industry that we want to bring to this community," said County Executive Mark Poloncarz, D-Erie County.

The parcel of land at the historic Bethlehem Steel site was purchased by Erie County last year. A fence that used to line the pathway was taken down and the old rails must be removed from the brownfield.

…

For the entire article, see

http://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2018/05/31/transforming-the-old-bethlehem-steel-site-

Harvey Hanna development at Boxwood Road to create 2,100 jobs

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 18:42:13 GMT

by Alex Vuocolo, Delaware Business Times

The planned redevelopment of the former General Motors plant at 801 Boxwood Road outside Wilmington will produce more than $281 million in annual impact and create 2,100 permanent jobs, according to a report by Econsult Solutions.

Newport-based developer Harvey Hanna & Associates, Inc., which commissioned the study, released the results on Thursday.

“Since purchasing the former GM plant in 2017, Harvey Hanna’s plans for the property have been focused on a singular mission to create thousands of lasting, 21st century jobs for the residents of Wilmington, New Castle County and greater Delaware,” said Thomas J. Hanna, president of Harvey Hanna & Associates. “This study affirms our belief that creating a modern distribution and business campus can help restore this property’s long history as a vital source of employment and a nucleus for the local economy.”

Construction would generate $6.8 million in taxes for the state, and another $7.6 million in annual revenue through personal and business taxes upon completion, according to the study. Red Clay School District and New Castle County will also benefit, with $2.4 million in new property taxes.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.delawarebusinesstimes.com/harvey-hanna-development-at-boxwood-road-to-create-2100-jobs/

Commenting on Recommendations Coming Out of USEPA’s Superfund Task Force

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 18:14:56 GMT

TIME SENSITIVE for BCONE MEMBERS: If you want to comment on recommendations coming out of USEPA’s Superfund Task Force, our BCONE Advisory Board member Colleen Kokas of Environmental Liability Transfer, Inc. tells us that comments are due June 26, 2018 on the two listening sessions held on June 5, 2018. Please see her by-line below.

BCONE Board member Larry Schnapf, Esq. of New York represented BCONE’s interests in his comments delivered in the afternoon session of June 5. You can view Larry's written comments to the EPA here.

Summary of by EPA Listening Sessions

by Colleen Kokas, Environmental Liability Transfer

The USEPA Superfund Taskforce ‘s report includes 42 recommendations to explore in its quest to improve the Superfund program. On June 5, EPA conducted separate listening sessions on two of the recommendations from the Superfund Taskforce Report, specifically, “Exploring CERCLA Environmental Liability Transfer Approaches” and “New Tools to Encourage Private Investment in Superfund Cleanups and Reuse” . EPA took oral comments during the sessions and will take written comment on these topics through June 26, 2018. And although EPA posed specific questions on which to focus, it is open to any and all suggestions in these topic areas.

The first listening session, “Exploring CERCLA Environmental Liability Transfer Approaches” (Recommendation #22) outlined the basics of liability transfer, illustrating the concept with 2 specific cases. The session can be found at https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/listening-sessions-superfund-task-force-recommendations (click on June 5, 2018 session). The substantive portion of the presentation is only about 30 minutes. The questions that EPA thought useful in developing an action plan include:

What tools are parties using to allocate risk?
What kind of sites are amenable to the ELT approach?
What factors make the use of an ELT more/less useful?
How can EPA encourage the use of ELTs in transactions?

The second listening session, “Exploring CERCLA Environmental Liability Transfer Approaches” (Recommendation #27) outlined the tools that EPA uses to support the transfer of contaminated sites. Larry Schnapf, representing the interest of BCONE, provided many valuable comments during the presentation, many related to the current The presentation can be found at https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/listening-sessions-superfund-task-force-recommendations#5. The questions posed by EPA include:

What are the significant factors that impact a financial organization’s, purchaser’s, or other third party’s decision to invest in contaminated or previously-contaminated property?
What does the private sector see as barriers to investing in the cleanup and reuse of contaminated sites?
What are specific liability concerns of lenders/financial institutions, investors, purchasers or third parties that CERCLA does not address through its liability defenses and EPA does not address through its existing tools?
What new tools or approaches from EPA would help alleviate these concerns, including any specific language that could be added to existing tools to facilitate financing or acquisition?

The Superfund Taskforce has created a resource page that includes the report, quarterly accomplishments and information about future listening sessions. See https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-task-force.

If Going Solar, Establishing Thorough, Comprehensive Game Plan a Must

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 18:08:03 GMT

By Steve Dwyer

Campbell Soup Co. is putting the finishing touches on a 4.4-megawatt solar energy system installation at its 38-acre Camden, N.J. headquarters, including panels mounted to rooftops, positioned on a reclaimed brownfield and on canopies built over employee parking lots.

The installation is scheduled to be in full operation by this Fall and will generate more than 5m kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

With the continuously increasing demand for electric power, the significantly high price of oil and the growing concern for the environment, many businesses similar to Campbell’s are resorting to alternative sources of energy like this one. And it’s a prudent decision for a host of reasons, including reduction of operating costs, strong return on investment, maintenance-free and amp-reliable, and it provides a chance to earn the Green LEED label designation—garneting a “halo effect” for any business.

Campbell indicated that the solar project will generate about 5 million kilowatt hours a year, or about 20% of the campus’ annual energy demand. Under terms of a 20-year power purchase agreement, Campbell will pay a fixed rate that is currently “well below” its current power costs.

One cautionary tale when it comes to a solar investment is establishing a process or system to calibrate the proper distribution of power throughout the course each day—matching daily demand with supply requirements and understanding the ebb and flow of power usage from a day-part perspective.

For example, the California Independent System Operator established the “duck curve,” as a typical day’s electricity demand historically features two peaks: One in the morning and a larger one in the afternoon. There’s a trough, or “shoulder,” period between them. Fleets of different power plants are fired up to meet this pattern of daily electricity demand and to match the ramp-up and ramp-down.

That’s a phenomenon that large corporations like Campbell are sure to have studied and are in the process of refining in a qualitative way. The New Jersey project was developed by BNB Renewable Energy Holdings using systems developed by SunPower Corp. BNB and financial company Orix USA will own the system, which is being financed through Public Service Electric & Gas Co.’s solar loan program.

Campbell partnered with BNB Renewable Energy Holdings (BNB), SunPower Corp. and ORIX USA Corp. in the initiative. The project is the third solar installation BNB has developed for Campbell, having also worked on solar power facilities at the company's plant in Napoleon, Ohio and at its Pepperidge Farm bakery in Connecticut.

Jim Prunesti, Campbell’s global engineering vice-president, said in a statement recently: “This project contributes clean energy to the local grid and demonstrates to our community the viability of renewable energy sources, all while supporting Campbell’s sustainability strategy to deliver long-term value to our business and neighborhoods.”

In November, Campbell was among 15 companies named as members of the “inaugural class” of US Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions, a national campaign to recognize U.S. businesses and organizations pledging concrete steps to reduce food loss and waste in their operations by 50% by 2030.

Among the renewable energy sources, solar energy is a sustainable choice and one that can be used in various applications. Many businesses are now tapping into this alternative source of energy, hoping to benefit from its numerous advantages, including:

Reduced Operating Costs. Solar power systems will reduce or even eliminate your office building’s electric bill. For big and small businesses, this money savings can have a tremendous impact. Having a solar power system installed is the equivalent to prepaying for almost 40 years of energy, but at just a fraction of what you are currently paying for electricity. The cost per unit of your current energy costs is likely much higher than what you would spend for solar power. This results in further savings for your business.

Good Return on Investment. Government incentives and the decrease of solar equipment costs means the utilization of solar power is a sound investment and a good financial decision for public agencies and businesses. Investing in solar power generates both long-term savings and quick payback.

Maintenance-Free. Once installed, a solar power system will require little or no maintenance at all, most especially if there are no batteries being used. The system will provide electricity quietly and cleanly for 25 to 40 years. Many solar panels carry a 25-year warranty.

Earning the "Green" Label. Utilizing electricity from solar power will result in reduced consumption of fuels, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. By using this alternative source, any business or company can express its participation in the battle against global warming and can reduce the country’s dependence on foreign sources. Going green will not only reduce operation expenses but will serve as a great PR and marketing tool. Having an environmentally responsible image is good for any company, as it can generate a positive response from consumers.

Greenhouse Crops Will Come From A Former Brownfields Site

Tue, 29 May 2018 14:44:12 GMT

by Paul Tuthill, WAMC Public Radio

The first worker cooperative commercial greenhouse in Massachusetts is about to begin production on what was once a badly contaminated industrial site in Springfield.

Lettuce with the label “Grown in Indian Orchard” will soon be in the produce aisles of some local stores and in salads made for cafeterias in public schools and hospitals.

Full production is expected to begin next month at Wellspring Harvest, the 15,000-square foot state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse built on a former brownfields site in Springfield’s Indian Orchard neighborhood.

…

For the entire article, see

http://wamc.org/post/greenhouse-crops-will-come-former-brownfields-site-0

Peekskill aims to redevelop property on Lower South Street

Tue, 22 May 2018 14:00:16 GMT

by Aleesia Forni, Westfair Online

City officials have put a call out for developers to revamp a brownfield site near the Peekskill waterfront.

The city issued a request for proposals in April to find an “experienced” developer to transform an 11.5-acre parcel between Lower South Street and Route 9, south of Louisa Street and Travis Lane.

“There’s been a dialogue ongoing between developers and also Realtors … that indicates that people are investigating the property,” said Jim Pinto, the city’s economic development specialist.

…

For the entire article, see

https://westfaironline.com/102486/peekskill-aims-to-redevelop-property-on-lower-soutstreet/

EPA To Rehab Longtime Stratford Superfund Site

Wed, 16 May 2018 14:26:16 GMT

by Davis Dunavin, WSHU Public Radio (CT)

The EPA and Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will start work this year to clean up a contaminated former softball field in Stratford. It’s part of an EPA effort to spend nearly $80 million on brownfield restoration in Connecticut.

The field is behind the former Raymark automotive brake facility - and it was once home to a women’s softball team called the Raybestos Brakettes. Today it’s scattered with debris and graffiti-covered storage containers.

…

For the entire article, see

http://wshu.org/post/epa-rehab-longtime-stratford-superfund-site#stream/0

Meriden receives additional $200k in federal funding for former hospital cleanup

Tue, 15 May 2018 14:00:41 GMT

by Mary Ellen Godin, Meriden Record-Journal (CT)

The city continues to receive more funding to help clean up the former Meriden-Wallingford Hospital before turning it over to a developer for revitalization.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $200,000 to Meriden for brownfield cleanup at the building vacant for 20 years, the EPA announced Wednesday.

The federal money will be used to remove two underground storage tanks and hazardous materials from the former boiler room at 1 King Place, according to economic development director Juliet Burdelski.

Meriden is among 221 grants awarded nationwide totaling $54.3 million, and the only municipality in Connecticut.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.myrecordjournal.com/News/Meriden/Meriden-News/EPA-awards-$200-000-for-former-city-hospital-cleanup.html

Turner bill would revive tax break to revitalize nation’s brownfields

Tue, 15 May 2018 13:59:28 GMT

by Ripon Advance News Service

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) on April 23 introduced bipartisan legislation that would authorize tax deductions toward the cleanup and redevelopment of America’s roughly half-a-million brownfields, which are former industrial or commercial sites that may have environmental contamination.

“As mayor of Dayton, I developed brownfields to reinvest in our city and spur economic growth, including the building of the Dayton Dragons stadium,” Rep. Turner said. “I know firsthand how important brownfields are for communities looking to rebuild. Our bill extends the brownfields tax credit to help cities like Dayton continue to grow.”

The Brownfields Redevelopment Tax Incentive Reauthorization Act of 2018, H.R. 5579, would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend expensing of environmental remediation costs through 2021. U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) joined Turner in introducing H.R. 5579, which has been referred to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.

…

For the entire article, see

https://riponadvance.com/stories/turner-bill-revive-tax-break-revitalize-nations-brownfields/

23-Year-Old LI Brownfield To Be Rehabbed By Developer

Tue, 15 May 2018 13:57:20 GMT

by Rebekah Sherry, WSHU Public Radio (NY)

On Long Island, Suffolk County has sold the abandoned Hubbard Power and Light plant in Bay Shore. The County had been paying taxes on the property since 1996.

Vincent Trapani bought the almost two-acre site for $343,000s, which is a little more than what Suffolk County was paying the Town of Islip every year in taxes.

Trapani has no specific plans for the land yet. “Let’s see what the opportunities are, but more than anything: what’s gonna give us the return? And the return I want is jobs.”

…

For the entire article, see

http://wshu.org/post/23-year-old-li-brownfield-be-rehabbed-developer#stream/0

Ogdensburg improving infrastructure at old factories’ site to boost riverfront development opportunities

Tue, 01 May 2018 19:46:25 GMT

by Larry Robinson, Watertown Daily Times (NY)

The city is making inroads on a project to expand water and sewer infrastructure to the former Diamond International paper mill and Standard Shade Roller industrial sites along the St. Lawrence River in hopes of making the properties more marketable to developers.

The water and sewer effort, referred to as St. Lawrence Shores Infrastructure, is being aided by money from two separate grants - a $30,000 consolidated funding application grant through the state Department of Environmental Conservation and a $250,000 grant through the Northern Border Regional Commission, according to Ogdensburg Planning and Development Director Andrea L. Smith.

Ms. Smith said the city is using both funding sources for preliminary and final engineering reports that assess the existing water and wastewater systems in the area, and then to design a plan to expand those capabilities to accommodate future development.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news05/ogdensburg-improving-infrastructure-at-old-factories-site-to-boost-riverfront-development-opportunities-20180413

City takes steps toward buying creekside parcel

Tue, 01 May 2018 19:26:15 GMT

by Jim Krencik, Batavia Daily News

A parcel looked at for creekside apartments, recreational activities and an expanded ice arena is the latest target for the City of Batavia’s economic development.

Creek Park LLC, a Batavia Development Corporation subsidiary, now has officers, a $25,000 budget and BDC authorization to negotiate for the purchase of 60 Evans St. The vacant parcel, located behind the Falleti Ice Arena, would be marketed to developers after environmental reviews are conducted at the site.

The week-old LLC conducted its first meeting Thursday, largely in an executive session BDC President Pier Cipollone said was for the discussion of real estate transactions. As a newly-appointed co-manager of the Creek Park LLC - alongside BDC Director Julie Pacatte - Cipollone said the ideas he’s heard for the site are enticing.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn01/city-takes-steps-toward-buying-creekside-parcel-20180413

Martinsburg Brownfields development projects spark interest

Tue, 01 May 2018 19:04:32 GMT

by Jim McConville, Martinsburg Journal (WV)

Strike while the iron is still hot.…

Although Martinsburg Business Manager Mark Baldwin didn’t exactly use those terms, his intent was essentially the same in advising prospective developers to take advantage of the remaining $98,000 left in Martinsburg’s $400,00 Brownfields Assessment Grant awarded to the city in 2015 by the Environmental Protection Agency to spark restoration of vacant and blighted industrial buildings in the city’s downtown area.

Held at the J. Oakley Seibert City Council Chambers, the informational session is part of the three-year Martinsburg Mills & Rail Corridor Revitalization Brownfields Project.

...

For the entire article, see

http://www.journal-news.net/news/local-news/2018/04/martinsburg-brownfields-development-projects-spark-interest/

Lehigh Valley Arts of Brownfields Event Summary

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 15:47:55 GMT

By Trevan J Houser, Clean Earth Inc., BCONE Advisory Board

Allentown, PA – OK, I was wrong. I admit it – I was flat out wrong! You see, when I was “volunteered” to attend this BCONE Brownfield Event in December of 2017, I was less than thrilled. Arts on Brownfields – I mean, I’m an engineer. What possible value can I gain from attending a Brownfields Event about Arts? So this is where one of those Emoji’s with the top of my head blowing off would fit in nicely!

Bridgeworks Conference Room full of BCONE "Brownfielders"

So this was arguably the best Brownfield event I have ever attended. OK, so there were two (2) breweries, a meadery (honey wine or mead), and a distillery involved, but they weren’t the best part! The event started with a quick overview of the day’s activities at the former Mack Truck factory, now redeveloped as the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center.

Next we boarded a nice charter bus for a short ride to the former Simons Silk Mill. The Site is being redeveloped with apartments and some retail/commercial with a beautiful trout stream running just nearby.

View of Böser Geist Brewing Company at the former Simons Silk Mill

The Böser Geist Brewing Co. opened a tad early to serve us a mighty tasty beer. They feature their own varieties as well as other local favorites.

Then back on the Bus to the former Bethlehem Steel Plant, now home to Sands Casino Resort and the ArtsQuest Center at Steel Stacks. WOW – how cool is this place. With the Sands Casino occupying one end of the Site and the ArtsQuest Center on the other end, they’ve got it all covered. ArtsQuest is a concert, film, festival, arts class, camp, and team building resource with quite an impressive visual backdrop of large blast furnaces.

Former Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces serving as ArtsQuest at Steel Stacks backdrop

We toured the ArtsQuest Center first then over to the blast furnaces viewed from the elevated catwalk. Can’t wait to see a concert here!

So if that was not enough, we finished the day back at the Bridgeworks facility with some informational sessions and wrap-up. Then the food arrived and the HiJinx Brewery and Colony Meadery opened and we enjoyed some very fine local craft.

So I learned my lesson. An engineer can learn something at an Arts event and I’ll never turn down another “volunteer” assignment. Cheers!

Click here to view the photo gallery for this event.

Where there was smoke there's development in NT

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 15:43:55 GMT

TONAWANDA ISLAND [New York]: State funds to demolish former fire tower.

by Mia Summerson, Lockport Journal (NY)

Aside from a restaurant, some industry and a few docks, there's not much reason to visit Tonawanda Island. But the city of North Tonawanda's plans to make a destination out of the area have taken a step forward.

Just last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office announced the fifth round of funding for the Restore New York Communities Initiative, which aims to support municipal revitalization efforts. Of the $8.8 million awarded to projects in Western New York, North Tonawanda is slated to receive $161,167, which will be used to demolish an old fire tower on the island.

The money will go toward the "demolition of the former fire training tower on Bridge Street to prepare the property for a future mixed-use development that can serve as a potential catalyst to the future of Tonawanda Island," according to a press release from Cuomo's office detailing the grant awards.

In December, the North Tonawanda common council heard a pitch on the project from Michael Zimmerman, executive director of the Lumber City Development Corp. He said the 3-acre parcel included the tower and smokehouse buildings, along with other "various debris." He said that the tower is no longer used by fire professionals, adding that "they're not safe."

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/where-there-was-smoke-there-s-development-in-nt/article_f1bce82d-244c-5a06-afaa-a23cc6fe40db.html

Could Peekskill see a sports complex or production studio in the future?

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 15:42:46 GMT

by Michael P. McKinney, Lower Hudson News (NY)

Could city-owned land on Lower South Street become home to an indoor sports complex? Residences? Some kind of production studio?

The Common Council may vote in the next few weeks to seek developers’ proposals for 11.6 acres on Lower South Street - south of Travis Lane and north of the BASF Corp. property - on the city’s west side, not far from the Hudson River. The site is close to Route 9 and its Louisa Street exit.

Mayor Andre Rainey said there are many possibilities that "would be beneficial to have" in that space.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/peekskill/2018/04/04/could-peekskill-see-sports-complex-production-studio-future/485183002/

Developer Eyes Former Mass. Mill As Affordable Housing End Use

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 14:33:50 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

With all its environmental complexities, a former textile mill is a tricky re-development play, for starters. Having the wherewithal to retain historic aspects of the property is yet another challenge.

But tackling these two challenges and wringing results is exactly what’s taking shape in Lawrence, Mass. MassHousing recently committed about $17 million in financing to assist an affiliate of Trinity Financial to create an affordable housing community.

The project will be built on four adjacent land parcels within the city’s 34-acre Arlington Mills Smart Growth Overlay District, containing two interconnected mill buildings with 100 units, a small, former incinerator building with two units, a water pump house and a parking lot.

Affordable housing end use a trend whose time has come, and a lot of the visioning can be owed to other advocates of an idea. In this case, New York City is renowned to be a forerunner of the affordable housing trendline.

In New York City, there are several case examples, and of them is The Hour Apartment House III in Queens, a 25,000-square-foot, sustainably designed building that serves a dual purpose: It serves as headquarters for the non-profit Hour Children and provides much-need affordable housing to formerly incarcerated mothers and their children.

Proof is in the pudding as The Hour Apartment House III is working out so well that it garnered a 2015 Big Apple Brownfield Award.

In Lawrence, Mass., Trinity Financial is transforming the former Van Brodie Mill into 102 units of mixed-income housing within a smart growth district. The adaptive-reuse project will preserve the historic mill, while remediating a brownfield site. The completed project will contain eight studio apartments, 25 one-, 56 two-, and 13 three-bedroom apartments.

Van Brodie Mill, which originally manufactured yarn for wool and flannel, dates back to 1919 but by the 1950s the company shut down, where it was parlayed into manufacturing packaged breakfast cereals and rations for the military.

The former mill is expected to “be an important new housing resource for working families in Lawrence,” said Tom Lyons, MassHousing’s active executive director. “This transformational project will put a former brownfield back into productive use, while advancing regional economic development and enabling families to live affordably and prosper in greater Lawrence.”

The new apartments will serve residents with a broad range of incomes. Of the 102 units, 16 will be for very low-income households earning at or below 30% of the area median income (AMI), 67 will be for low-income households earning at or below 60% of the AMI, and 19 will be dedicated for workforce housing for households earning between 61 and 80% of the AMI. The AMI for Lawrence and the surrounding area is $87,600 for a family of four.

MassHousing is supporting the redevelopment by providing more than $17 million in affordable housing funding, including a $14 million conduit bridge loan, $1.2 million in permanent financing, and $1.9 million in workforce housing funds.

It’s all motivated by a plan to infuse new life into a historically significant asset while creating much-needed mixed-income housing in Lawrence, deemed a Gateway City, or midsize urban centers that anchor regional economies around the state.

This redevelopment advances the Mass. state administration’s goal of creating up to 1,000 new workforce housing units affordable to middle-income households through MassHousing’s $100 million Workforce Housing Initiative.

Since the inception of the initiative in 2016, MassHousing has committed or closed workforce housing financing totaling $49.7 million, to 23 projects, located in 13 cities and towns. To date, the Workforce Housing Initiative has advanced the development of 2,111 housing units across a range of incomes, including 538 workforce housing units.

The organization has financed or administers the subsidy contract for 16 rental communities in Lawrence, totaling 1,965 housing units and an original loan amount of $103 million. The agency has also provided $120.5 million in financing to 1,341 Lawrence homebuyers or homeowners.

The project is entirely in line with what Lawrence, Mass. needs to advance from a civic growth standpoint, which is scaling up on affordable housing end use, perhaps with more initiatives to come. Looking for past shining examples of success is one way to move the needle in the right direction. One way or another, MassHousing is exhibiting this requisite vision.

Town of Niagara to acquire, clean up Military Road eyesore

Fri, 13 Apr 2018 15:53:11 GMT

by Thomas J. Prohaska, Buffalo News (NY)

The Town of Niagara plans to acquire a former tire store and gas station on Military Road and clean up environmental contamination before putting the property on the market for commercial reuse.

The property at 4435 Military Road, long owned by Lewiston attorney Paul A. Grenga, is currently on the Niagara County tax foreclosure list, after many years in which the county had resisted foreclosing on brownfields. However, County Treasurer Kyle R. Andrews said the town is expected to take over the site.

"It's in a very visible location along Military Road, so we can have high reuse potential," said Amy E. Fisk, president of the Niagara County Brownfield Development Corp., which granted the town $325,000 for the cleanup Tuesday.

…

For the entire article, see

http://buffalonews.com/2018/03/27/town-of-niagara-to-acquire-clean-up-military-road-eyesore/

Concord looks to control the future of 2229 Main St.

Fri, 13 Apr 2018 15:51:34 GMT

by Henry Schwan, Concord Journal (MA)

Concord is maneuvering to take control of the future development of a contaminated site in West Concord.

Town Manager Chris Whelan told the Select Board March 19 he would draft a charge for a short-term planning committee to study possible future uses for 2229 Main St.

The move comes as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offered its services to Concord to help with planning future uses on the site. As part of the arrangement, environmental consultant SKEO Solutions will work with Concord and the EPA to explore options for the 46-acre parcel.

$25,000 request

An article at next month’s Town Meeting will ask voters to support $25,000 to pay for a redevelopment plan.

…

For the entire article, see

http://concord.wickedlocal.com/news/20180321/concord-looks-to-control-future-of-2229-main-st

Why Massachusetts is the best state for landfill solar arrays

Fri, 13 Apr 2018 15:50:32 GMT

by Elizabeth McGowan, Energy News Network

A 2.2-megawatt solar array on a shuttered municipal solid waste landfill in Lexington, Massachusetts, is not particularly remarkable on its own.

But this, combined with 100 or so other similar brownfield projects in Massachusetts, make the state a national leader in converting formerly contaminated sites to clean energy production.

Though a few sites feature wind turbines, photovoltaic panels dominate. And advocates credit the state’s clean energy policies as well as the abundance of suitable sites.

Massachusetts accounts for roughly 40 percent of the 253 renewable energy installations identified thus far by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative — or at least 258 of the 1,398 total megawatts brought online through October. The agency’s data base stretches back to 1997.

…

For the entire article, see

https://energynews.us/northeast/why-massachusetts-is-the-best-state-for-landfill-solar-arrays/

Sprawling Campbell Soup solar project goes online in Camden

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:24:04 GMT

by Andrew Maykuth, Philadelphia Inquirer

Campbell Soup Co. said it has completed installation of a 4.4-megawatt solar energy system at its 38-acre Camden headquarters, including panels mounted to rooftops, on a reclaimed brownfield, and on canopies built over employee parking lots.

The food company says the solar project, which was announced last May, will generate about 5 million kilowatt hours a year, or about 20 percent of the campus’ annual energy demand. Under terms of a 20-year power purchase agreement, Campbell will pay a fixed rate that is currently “well below” its current power costs.

The project was developed by BNB Renewable Energy Holdings using systems developed by SunPower Corp. BNB and financial company Orix USA will own the system, which is being financed through Public Service Electric & Gas Co.’s solar loan program.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/energy/giant-campbell-soup-solar-project-goes-online-camden-nj-20180313.html

Associations Urge the NYS Legislature to Honor the State’s Commitment to Timely Reimbursement of Tax Credits Earned by Participants in New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program

Thu, 22 Mar 2018 22:44:19 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

State lawmakers regularly face tough fiscal decisions with their annual budgets—where to generate revenue and where to trim expenses.

With much at stake impacting economic, environmental and social prosperity in New York State, The Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast appealedto New York state Legislators to eliminate a 2018-19 Executive Budget proposal to defer tax credit payments currently available under the Brownfield Cleanup Program.

BCONE has deep concerns about how the proposal will impact its New York-based members and all other members who conduct business in the state. More broadly, the budget proposal could serve as a dangerous precursor to motivate other state legislatures in BCONE’s network to consider similar budget actions.

BCONE members have worked diligently to create a beneficial working mechanism for brownfield project advancement in the State of New York. The current budget proposal would erase all the hard work that has been performed that now benefits the State—demonstrated by the 2015 amendments to the BCP that were careful and arduously-negotiated as a compromise among the Executive Branch, both houses of the Legislature, developers and the environmental community.

BCONE, as well as The New York City Brownfield Partnership and the Environmental and Energy Law Section of the New York State Bar Association (EELS) all grasp the negative impacts of tax payments deferral.

Deferring tax credit payments that regularly flow to urban redevelopment/brownfields stakeholders potentially means putting redevelopment projects in New York at risk of completion. Payments represent the principal incentive and compensation drivers for risks associated with the investigation, remediation and redevelopment of polluted sites that would otherwise remain vacant and underutilized.

View it using this lens: Tax credit funding streams keep projects humming to ribbon cutting and new-site activation. Once up and running, redevelopments located in the urban infill become tax-revenue vehicles in their own right—not to mention job creation engines and socially-impacted change-makers, as local residents and city/state visitors typically gravitate to new residential, commercial and mixed-use redevelopments.

Investor funding and construction financing depend on the amount and the timing of them. A tax credit deferral would only disrupt funding sources or result in the breach of financing-related obligations. The result: Severe delays to ongoing projects and, in some cases, causing them to fail.

As state budgets are crafted, many hard decisions must be made. One easy decision is to keep tax credit payments flowing to stakeholders under the Brownfield Cleanup Program in the State of New York.

The Northeast has long been viewed as a leader in creating dynamic, creative incentive programs to foster brownfield redevelopments along the urban infill. Our organization certainly wants to keep in place this carefully built reputation as a visionary region for redevelopments. The Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast strongly recommends that deferral of BCP tax credit payments, as proposed in the Executive Budget, be eliminated as the State’s 2018-19 budget is finalized.

Great Barrington hopes to shuffle around grant money for Railroad St. redo

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 15:55:18 GMT

by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle (MA)

Next spring, the entire Railroad Street area will likely get a good makeover.

And town officials know exactly how to pay for it. They'll move some grant money around - from one side of Main Street to the other.

Officials are proposing that about $1 million from a MassWorks grant intended for utility work around a brownfield on Bridge Street be shifted to repave and widen the sidewalks all the way up and around Railroad Street, as well as to repave the Railroad Street and Triplex parking lots.

The work would continue from the top of Railroad and down Elm Street, begin in early spring of 2019, and move quickly, said Town Planner Christopher Remold.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/great-barrington-hopes-to-shuffle-around-grant-money-for-railroad-st-redo,533934

Reading the Tea Leaves of Trump's Infrastructure Proposal

Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:04:20 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

What does one make of President Trump's infrastructure proposal, a budgetary plan announced last month with mixed messages galore?

The President announced a sweeping plan that proposes to rewrite long prevailing funding options for cleaning up brownfields and Superfund sites. That part sounds good on paper for a funding mechanism that needs re-writing.

Unveiled the middle of February, the proposal seeks new avenues for providing federal funding for contaminated site cleanup, potentially speeding progress toward redeveloping sites. At the same time, the budget plan would slash traditional funding mechanisms for brownfields and integrate a legislative mechanism for ongoing approvals. Does anyone here need to inject additional bureaucracy into the mix?

Slashing traditional funding sounds tremendously ominous, but, indeed, the Trump proposal would actually trim the annual EPA budget earmarked for contaminated sites-this is a budget already regarded as thread-bare, based on the supply of brownfields comprising the U.S. portfolio.

As one brownfield practitioner put it, the federal funding for brownfield sites inventory is really, currently "a drop in the bucket" to support what's needed to accelerate developments to their full extent. The federal funding would be scaled back even more from an already-austere level.

Here are some specific details: Trump's proposed fiscal 2019 budget would cut the budget to $16 million. In fiscal year 2017, the EPA's Brownfields Program received about $25 million from Congress.

The budget request would maintain Superfund outlays at about $1.1 billion for fiscal 2019, which does not do a typical brownfield any good.

The proposal expands the types of projects eligible for EPA's brownfields grant funding, allowing Superfund sites or parts of those sites access to that money. So in that subtext, Superfund sites would be the beneficiaries of capital infusions at the expense of brownfields (unless you consider Superfund sites to be the ultimate brownfield sites).

More specifically, Superfund and brownfield sites would gain access to financing under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) lending program to address contamination to water resources.

The EPA also expects to receive about $10 billion in a new $50 billion Rural Infrastructure Program Trump proposes, which would provide grants for brownfield sites.

The scale of overall brownfield funding doesn't match need. A potential silver lining is that a bipartisan-supported bill in the House crafted late last year would reauthorize EPA's brownfields grant program, requesting $200 million for annually. This bill passed the House in December but a Senate vote had not yet been scheduled.

This proposal would intensify the role of Congress in a more ongoing basis as the proposal would create new loan and grant programs but require legislative action in doing so. One potential silver lining of increased legislative actions is the fact that when it comes to brownfields, bi-partisan cooperation has long been the norm.

Here's hoping that past is prologue.

Meantime, John O'Grady, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 704, which represents EPA employees, is unsure the president's infrastructure reform would help the Superfund and brownfield programs.

"There's no magic bullet here," O'Grady told Bloomberg Environment. "It's kind of like smoke and mirrors."

Dan French, chief executive officer of Brownfield Listings, said new sources of federal funding will boost developers' demand for brownfields.

"Additional public capital is particularly helpful because of the way the brownfield market is bottlenecked, wherein deals don't initiate because there's too much uncertainty or risk for anyone in the private sector to even study the project in the first place," he told Bloomberg Environment.

Great Barrington hopes to shuffle around grant money for Railroad St. redo

Tue, 13 Mar 2018 14:49:36 GMT

by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle (MA)

Next spring, the entire Railroad Street area will likely get a good makeover.

And town officials know exactly how to pay for it. They'll move some grant money around - from one side of Main Street to the other.

The work would continue from the top of Railroad and down Elm Street, begin in early spring of 2019, and move quickly, said Town Planner Christopher Remold.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/great-barrington-hopes-to-shuffle-around-grant-money-for-railroad-st-redo,533934

Steel to Tech: A Transformation Bubbling in Western PA

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:19:26 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

The trend is becoming ubiquitous: larger-scale brownfield conversions into technology or innovation centers. The examples are several. A couple months ago we reported on Brown University, Cranston, R.I., poised to reshape a massive, century-old power station that sat vacant on the Providence River along its campus.

That end-use envisions the establishment of an innovation center-all part of creating "innovation districts" for driving research and development. Now comes word that Pennsylvania is prepared to earmark $15 million in tax credits to transform a former steel mill in the Pittsburgh metro area into a technology hub, as reported in late December in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The announcement to allocate tax credits by PA Gov. Tom Wolf to expedite construction at Hazelwood Green, which is the site of a massive abandoned steel mill, culminates the efforts of a coalition of nonprofits eager to transform the footprint into a bustling corporate hub for research and technology.

This project has great potential for revitalizing an unused brownfield site and bringing jobs and additional high-tech employers to Hazelwood. The coalition is "excited about the business synergies that could be created here to benefit the local community and the entire region."

Owned by three prominent Pittsburgh foundations since 2002, the 178-acre property along the Monogahela River formerly known as Almono is slated for redevelopment as a green high-tech center with space for housing, offices and recreation. The property is jointly owned by the Richard King Mellon, Benedum Foundations and The Heinz Endowments.

The Commonwealth Cornerstone Group's New Markets Tax Credit funding ensures that the first of three office buildings planned at Pittsburgh's last big brownfield can begin construction early this year and be ready for occupants by spring 2019, Donald Smith, president of Regional Industrial Development Corp. (RIDC), a nonprofit real estate developer, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

It will be interesting to watch the project take shape during this calendar year, where the first building is estimated to cost $46 million. Carnegie Mellon University's (CMU) Advanced Robotics Manufacturing (ARM) Institute is slated to be the modern Mill 19's first tenant.

One mission statement championed with large-scale efforts like this one is: "past is prologue."

Like so many other redevelopers have done in the past with similar projects, the Hazelwood sponsors are striving to emphasize the best of Pittsburgh's past, demonstrated by its rich steel-mill heritage, and meld that with the best of its future-that is, the technology expertise that CMU and the other companies will use as their cornerstone.

Under a 10-year lease with renewal options, the ARM Institute and Manufacturing Futures Initiative will take up two floors of a 94,000-square-foot building, the first of three set to be built within the 264,000-square-foot steel superstructure steel frame of the old mill -a concept described as "building within a building."

The vision behind Hazelwood Green has been more than 15 years in the making. In addition to building residences and more office space for tech-minded companies, plans for Hazelwood Green include a 2.5-acre public space and constructing a new street running the length of the property.

Smith said getting involved in Hazelwood Green made perfect sense for RIDC, which has access to subsidies that for-profit entities don't and specializes in financing projects that benefit the public.

In total, RIDC has received about $43 million combined in local, state and corporate tax credits toward the first phase of the Mill 19 project, including funding from Pittsburgh's Urban Redevelopment Authority, PNC Bank and Telesis. After financing and administrative costs, the contribution translates into a net benefit of about $7 million toward the $46 million project, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Zoning board to consider variance for cold storage facility

Fri, 02 Mar 2018 20:39:04 GMT

by Nicole Gugino, Dunkirk Observer (NY)

A new development’s first step for local approval will take place Tuesday when the Dunkirk Zoning Board will vote on an area variance for the cold storage facility proposed for 320 Roberts Road.

Cleanup of the brownfield site and the need from local ice cream manufacturer, Fieldbrook Foods, for cold storage have come together for this project.

However, plans exceed the dimensions allowed by city zoning code, necessitating a visit to the zoning board Tuesday at 5 p.m. in city hall. The law states a building can be no taller than 40 feet, however, plans seek 52-foot building with some portions as tall as 65 feet.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.observertoday.com/news/page-one/2018/02/zoning-board-to-consider-variance-for-cold-storage-facility/

Transforming Your Community: ATSDR Land Reuse Toolkits

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 21:41:36 GMT

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), has been working to improve and promote community health, partnerships, communication, and education in communities with sites that are in need of land revitalization. Many of these sites are Brownfields, which may have a presence of pollutants or contaminants that are harmful to people within these communities. As you may know, this can prevent the overall growth and health of a community.

Working to revitalize these kinds of sites can be extensive and risky, which is why it is important to be equipped with the resources needed to put the health of our communities first! ATSDR has five Land Reuse and Redevelopment Toolkits that. You can access them by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/2reaId1

Tear it Down or Fix it Up? DEC terminates clean up agreement at abandoned Syracuse factory

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 21:39:51 GMT

by Brett HallFriday, CNYcentral (NYrk

In an area where many relics of Syracuse's industrial past have been washed clean of their former appearance, a former washing machine factory lies dormant and decaying with no immediate sign of change.

The 261,800 square foot facility has an address of 128 Spencer street placing it on the edge of Syracuse's Inner Harbor, two blocks from Destiny USA. While other former factories surround the property, many of them have been converted into loft apartments where the younger community has moved in.

"I can see it right from my living room window it’s not the most best thing to look at during the day," Norah Hoodmaker, who lives across Spencer Street, said. "It’s creepy looking."

…

For the entire article, see

http://cnycentral.com/news/tear-it-down-fix-it-up/tear-it-down-or-fix-it-up-dec-terminates-clean-up-agreement-at-abandoned-syracuse-factory

Happy Trails, Happier Community in West Beth, PA

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 15:17:15 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

Transportation-oriented investments come in many shapes and sizes. The home run concepts might be found in a multi-use commercial/residential play that's positioned in close proximity to light rail or bus routes in an urban setting-or even include a modest but effective bicycle-sharing program to enable folks to get from point to point on a moment's notice.

A basic trail system constitutes a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) component. However, it doesn't get the props as being a real game-changer in the context of "compelling redevelopment" project.

Of course, it depends on whom you ask. This passive TOD application can be equally as powerful to drive social-oriented impact and regenerate quality of life status. It's a simple yet effective outlet for residents to get out and walk, run or bike the trails. And, if a single, one-dimensional trail can be extended over time, it adds more power to point-to-point connectivity.

We witnessed an example of passive TOD relating to a 150-acre brownfield in West Bethlehem Township, PA where a mile-long grass hiking trail was unveiled recently. For one, the new-use helped shed a reputation of blight, as the footprint once housed a mine refuse dump and sediment ponds. It had sat dormant for years. Now, it's perceived by the public and local stakeholders as an asset. And, it's acclaimed to be a textbook example of what happens when land remediation is executed properly.

Another example is Charles Town, WV, where the community embarked on an initiative to transform waterfront brownfields on the Evitts Run Creek into a new park, recreation and nature area with innovative green infrastructure helping buttress a distressed neighborhood.

Key components of the "Evitts Run Creek Green Infrastructure Park" is marked by an on-line wet stormwater lake and park space dubbed "Lake Charles." This plan included: planting of hundreds of urban trees and shrubs, removal of six acres of long-abandoned parking lot at a long-defunct creekside factory area, deployment of pervious parking and trail facilities, and creation of a native nursery to support future green infrastructure efforts in the watershed.

In West Beth, PA, land was reclaimed and repurposed in an area where coal mining was pervasive more than a quarter-century ago. The heavy lifting began in 2003 when West Bethlehem purchased the land from Bethlehem Steel Co. for $40,000, one year after the PA Department of Environmental Protection ordered the steel firm to spend $45 million to remediate six coal mines and clean up its waste pile and sediment ponds. A 12-inch-thick layer of topsoil was put down to seal the refuse area.

West Bethlehem's agreement with the steel company mandated land to be made available to the public. The township has done just that-removing undergrowth around the pond, making it more accessible to those who fish, and forging an agreement with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to allow hunters on a permission basis.

This transformation from brownfield to vibrant recreational space isn't complete, as there are more assets to be added to the existing footprint. The township also is formulating plans to plant donated trees and stock pheasants there, enhancing the property even more. The signature feature is the trail that offers impressive views and really has been a social impact, as well as a recreational/transportation boon.

Similar to the positive reaction in West Virginia, the West Beth project appears to have additional possibilities for expansion. Passive recreational decision on a property might not pump revenue into local or state coffers like multi-use commercial and residential projects do. But they sure do pump hope and sense of civic pride into the citizenry.

South End development spurs hope for long vacant brownfield

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 21:44:56 GMT

by Daniel Schemer, South Coast Today (MA)

On Orchard Street in New Bedford’s South End a brand new Family Dollar has sprung up.

“It’s a good location to have one. I think this store will do well here,” said Cheri Santos, the store manager, at the store’s grand opening last weekend.

Of greater significance than having a new retail establishment in this part of the city, however, is the actual location itself.

When standing in the building’s parking lot, across from Ashley Park, one is still greeted by a full view of what is referred to as the Goodyear Parcel, where the mammoth Goodyear Tire & Rubber Plant once stood. Now all that remains is 10 acres of fenced-in dirt stone, and debris, representing the residuals of this part of New Bedford’s once prominent industrial era.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/news/20180210/south-end-development-spurs-hope-for-long-vacant-brownfield

Trump Proposes New Funding Options for Superfund, Brownfields

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 21:43:38 GMT

Environmental due diligence is a critical component of any property transaction where potential environmental risks are a concern—minimize risks and protect yourself from...

by Sylvia Carignan, BNA Environmental Due Diligence Guide

President Donald Trump’s sweeping infrastructure plan proposes to rewrite long-standing funding options for cleaning up brownfields and superfund sites.

The plan, released Feb. 12, seeks new ways to provide federal funding for contaminated site cleanup, potentially speeding progress toward redeveloping those sites. At the same time, the president’s budget plan would slash the traditional funding route for brownfields.

The proposed infrastructure reforms would create new loan and grant programs but also require legislative action.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.bna.com/trump-proposes-new-n57982088681/

New R.I. Food Hub Coming to Site of Burned-Down Old Mill

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 20:45:16 GMT

by TIM FAULKNER, ecoRI (RI)

Cleaning polluted land isn’t cheap, but thanks to a federal and state program funds are available to return some of these brownfield sites to commercial and residential use.

On Feb. 9, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) awarded $3.7 million to nine polluted sites for clean up and redevelopment. One of the sites will be home to a new facility for Farm Fresh RI, the nonprofit distributor of local food and farmers market manager headquartered in Pawtucket.

The lot at 498 Kinsley Ave., in the Valley neighborhood, is the remnant of a massive mill fire in 2015 that destroyed the building. The 3.3-acre site will now host the Rhode Island Food Hub, a mixed-use facility that will serve as a distribution center for local food and produce. It will offer food production facilities, nutrition education, job training, and retail markets. Farm Fresh will occupy half of a new 60,000-square-foot building. Other food-related businesses will rent the rest.

The Food Hub site is across the street from another brownfield success story, The Steel Yard, the industrial arts studio that received $2.1 million in brownfield funds in 2010 to remediate a 3.8-acre site. The Steep Yard hosted the announcement for the program's latest grant recipients.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.ecori.org/smart-growth/2018/2/12/37-million-awarded-to-brownfield-cleanup-and-food-hub

It's Not Your Father's Shipping Port Anymore

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 20:26:52 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

So, you're a metropolitan area seeking a viable waterfront redevelopment opportunity. The options are several, including a mixed-use residential and commercial combination. It's certainly a prevalent one with much upside.

You can draw a bead on yet another potential game plan-transportation hub providing waterway facility transportation infrastructure within the U.S. import/export market.

It's vital as businesses rely on U.S. shipping ports to acquire raw materials or to ship finished products to markets around the world. In the Northeast, smaller metro areas have a chance to compete with the likes of Boston, Philadelphia or New York City by marketing themselves as a less congested more fluid alternative to move freight to far-away lands.

You become a gateway to connect producers and consumers to the rest of the world via your investment in private/public terminals and manufacturing areas owned by the port and leased to private entities.

It creates a large number of jobs and infuses strength into a local, even regional, economy: Direct employment opportunities encompass a wide range of position with maritime service firms, surface transportation firms, shippers, consignees, governmental agencies, and professional service firms.

Some caveats creep into the picture when considering an investment of this magnitude:

The size of today's freighters has expanded to the point where certain ports can't accommodate these mega-ships. Large engineering investments, such as dredging and expanding, must be made to make it fly.
Environmentally, there the potential scenario of answering to Coastal Zone requirements, which are designed to protect the natural environment of the coastal zone areas by prohibiting new heavy industry that doesn't conform to the law.
Permitting is a third caveat. Rivers and waterways might have to be dredged to allow for the construction of new berths. "Anytime you are talking about creating port facilities, the biggest problem is permitting," said an official who was involved with working on the Port of Wilmington's auto berth project on the Delaware River in New Castle County, Delaware, that opened 16 years ago. "The main thing is permitting for dredging for the docks, both state and federal."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicates that the permitting process depends on location, site conditions and other factors. When a developer has firmed up preliminary plans, the Corps works with the applicant to adjust plans if necessary. The Corps is known to approve more than 90% of applications.

Back to the accommodation aspect: The shipping industry has been greatly transformed with the advent of a new global fleet of mega-ships that can carry almost double the containers of the previous generation of ships. These vessels have a capacity of 7,500 to 12,000 container units as measured by the standard 20-foot container. Older generation vessels could handle 6,000 to 9,000 20-foot equivalent container units.

You might be a decent-size city in the Northeast, but accommodating the modern-day shipping industry is not a given for certain cities not named Boston, Philadelphia or New York City. If you are considering a port expansion opportunity to spark economic growth, dip your toe into the water and ponder the three caveats first before diving in headlong.

Portland voters to decide purchase of riverfront land on brownfields site

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 16:58:18 GMT

by Jeff Mill, Middletown Press (CT)

Residents later this month will be asked to approve the purchase of a 5.28-acre parcel of land along the Connecticut River.

The Board of Selectman voted Wednesday to send the proposal to a Feb. 28 town meeting.

The property, comprising three contiguous parcels - 222, 232 and 248 Brownstone Ave. - is the site of the former Connecticut Tar & Asphalt Co. It has been vacant for the past decade.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.middletownpress.com/news/article/Portland-voters-to-decide-purchase-of-riverfront-12567833.php

Apartments planned for Cohoes brownfield

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 19:11:42 GMT

by Brian Nearing, Albany Times-Union (NY)

Cohoes - A not-for-profit Boston developer is eyeing a $10 million apartment project off New York 787 in Cohoes.

Plans by Community Builders, which five years ago redeveloped former mill worker housing on North Mohawk Street in Cohoes, call for 39 apartment units on a vacant former industrial property on Saratoga Street just north of the offices of Mohawk Paper.

The developer also expects to spend about $1.5 million to investigate and clean pollution from the 1.7-acre parcel, including toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury and barium.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Apartments-planned-for-Cohoes-brownfield-12544015.php

Developer to Turn Massachusetts Mill Into Affordable Housing

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 19:10:25 GMT

MassHousing commits $17.1 million to assist Trinity Financial in creating 102 homes.

by Donna Kimura, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE

MassHousing has committed $17.1 million in financing to assist an affiliate of Trinity Financial create an affordable housing community in Lawrence, Mass.

Trinity Financial is transforming the former Van Brodie Mill into 102 units of mixed-income housing within a smart growth district. The adaptive-reuse project will preserve the historic mill, while remediating a brownfield site.

“Van Brodie Mill will be an important new housing resource for working families in Lawrence,” said Tom Lyons, MassHousing’s active executive director. “This transformational project will put a former brownfield back into productive use, while advancing regional economic development and enabling families to live affordably and prosper in greater Lawrence.”

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.housingfinance.com/news/developer-to-turn-massachusetts-mill-into-affordable-housing_o

West Beth trail a much-needed asset

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 20:14:59 GMT

Editorial - Washington Observer-Reporter (PA)

For years, it was essentially a 150-acre brownfield that included a mine refuse dump, sediment ponds and memories of a grimy but prosperous vocation. This was a tract of West Bethlehem Township that was forlorn and, seemingly, forgotten by time.

Not anymore. The land has been reclaimed and impressively repurposed in an area where coal mining predominated more than a quarter-century ago. That waste dump and those sediment ponds are gone, replaced by a pond with clean water and a bounty of fish, encircled by a large, healthy wetlands with cattails galore. All of this is complemented by the creation of a mile-long grass hiking trail with a steep ascent that tests one’s stamina and yields scenic views.

The beast has become a beauty. “It’s gorgeous,” Lisa Scherer, a volunteer at the property, recently told the Observer-Reporter’s Scott Beveridge.

…

For the entire editorial, see

https://observer-reporter.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-west-beth-trail-a-much-needed-asset/article_58e422d8-e017-11e7-89e1-1b8b955cd46a.html

Looking Ahead: Buildings will be up or underway at two of three former factory sites

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 20:13:48 GMT

by Joseph Cress, Carlisle Sentinel (PA)

Years of preparation will begin to bear fruit in 2018 at two of the three former industrial sites included in the Carlisle Urban Redevelopment Plan.

By the end of the year, buildings will be completed or well underway at the IAC/Masland and Carlisle Tire & Wheel brownfields with little or no activity expected at the Tyco Electronics site.

Carlisle Borough will spend much of 2018 completing the final design and permitting work leading up to major street improvement projects tied to this redevelopment.

…

For the entire article, see

http://cumberlink.com/news/local/communities/carlisle/looking-ahead-buildings-will-be-up-or-underway-at-two/article_4a03355d-c467-55b8-8465-c33a5ae7e700.html

Brownfield site cleared for Marriott Springhill Suites hotel in Tuckahoe

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 20:12:50 GMT

by Aleesia Forni, West fair Online (NY)

Plans for a $31 million hotel and restaurant on a former brownfield site in Tuckahoe continue to move forward.

Bill Weinberg, principal of Bilwin Development Associates LLC in Eastchester, said that the $7 million environmental cleanup of the former quarry and landfill at 109-125 Marbledale Road is substantially complete. “We’re close to 100 percent capped,” he said of the contamination on the 3.5-acre property.

Weinberg’s company is developing a five-story, 153-room Marriott Springhill Suites hotel on the property, along with a 6,000-square-foot standalone restaurant. The 91,000-square-foot hotel is expected to open its doors later this year.

…

For the entire article, see

https://westfaironline.com/97719/brownfield-site-cleared-marriott-springhill-suites-hotel-in-tuckahoe/

Waterpointe gets completion certificate

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 20:11:31 GMT

by Ryan Brady, Queens Chronicle (NY)

To the outrage of some area leaders, Waterpointe brownfield cleanup in Whitestone has been given a certificate of completion by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The agency issued it last Friday, on the last business day of the year, after having previously said that it had expected to issue it by the end of 2017.

Community Board 7 and state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) have been highly critical of how the cleanup was conducted. In September, the DEC complied with a request from the Edgestone Group — the owner of the site who conducted the remediation — to change the cleanup track from Track 2 residential to Track 4 restricted-residential, which allows for a higher level of contamination to remain.

The Edgestone Group, which could not be reached for comment, plans on building 52 single-family homes at the site.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.qchron.com/editions/north/waterpointe-gets-completion-certificate/article_172690ab-ecfb-58d6-b319-e234ebfedc17.html

Governor Cuomo Announces Reforms To Brownfield Opportunity Area Program In FY 2019 Executive Budget

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 20:09:28 GMT

Legislation Included in Executive Budget Would Bolster Efficiency for Brownfield Opportunity Area Program; Maintain Funding at $2 Million.

LONGISLAND.com

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced legislation that would streamline the application process of and maintain state funding at $2 million for the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program in New York State. The Brownfield Opportunity Area Program provides grants to local governments and community-based organizations to address the complex changes related to concentrations of brownfields and vacant and underutilized properties in downtowns and in neighborhoods. The grants support realistic, community-driven plans for redevelopment, providing a roadmap to transform blighted properties into vital community assets. In the FY 2019 Executive Budget, the Governor has outlined proposed changes to streamline the process and continue funding for the program.

"This program has helped communities in every corner of New York transform blighted and neglected properties into economic engines," Governor Cuomo said. "By reforming and streamlining this process, we will help ensure more local governments have access to tools and resources they need to help New York continue to thrive."

The Governor's FY 2019 Executive Budget includes reforms to the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program that would:

Streamline planning by eliminating the existing pre-nomination step and creating a single-step community-based process to achieve Brownfield Opportunity Area designation;
Allow for existing plans or plans developed outside the Brownfield Opportunity Area process that meet general criteria to qualify for the program; and
Allow existing Brownfield Opportunity Areas to apply for financial assistance for pre-development grants.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.longisland.com/news/01-22-18/governor-cuomo-announces-reforms-to-brownfield-opportunity-area-program-in-fy-2019-executive-budget.html

Sayreville Waterfront Eyed For State’s Largest Mixed-Use Project

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 20:06:38 GMT

$2.5 Billion "Riverton" Plan a Joint Venture of PGIM and North American Properties

by Dave Schatz, Charlie Kratovil - New Brunswick Today (NJ)

Along the Raritan River waterfront sits 418 acres of land that a national developer plans to transform into “Riverton,” a $2.5 billion mixed-use development.

The land, near one of the busiest sections of the Garden State Parkway, was once home to a paint factory owned by NL Industries.

Previously known as National Lead, the company was responsible for manufacturing lead-based paints until such products were banned by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Their contaminated land has “sat dormant for decades and in recent years has been remediated,” said North American Properties (NAP), the developer hoping turn it into the largest mixed-use project in the state.

…

For the entire article, see

http://newbrunswicktoday.com/article/sayreville-waterfront-eyed-states-largest-mixed-use-project

First Prize developers seeking state pollution cleanup tax break

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 14:42:10 GMT

by Brian Nearing, Albany Times-Union (NY)

Albany - Developers behind a proposed multimillion-dollar rebirth of the decaying former Tobin First Prize meatpacking plant are seeking a state tax break under a program meant to encourage pollution clean-ups on industrial property.

First Prize Development Partners LLC filed an application last fall for the project to be added to the Brownfield Cleanup Program, according to an announcement Thursday from the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The state program makes developers who clean up and redevelop polluted properties eligible for state tax credits based on the expenses for a cleanup and what is spent to redevelop and build once the cleanup is done.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/First-Prize-developers-seeking-state-pollution-12507735.php

All The Ducks Lining Up Well at Former Delaware GM Plant

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 14:50:29 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

A New Castle County, DE redevelopment appears to have established a solid game plan, a plan that will serve as a strong tailwind to executing a beneficial end use outcome.

The site is the former General Motors Boxwood assembly plant. As many well know, former GM plants represent a yeoman’s challenge in striking prudent redevelopment. In short, there are so many intricate tentacles that comprise such sites. Enter RACER Trust, a federal entity formed to finance former GM cleanups and then facilitate the appropriate sale—matching right owner with right seller. RACER was established by a federal judge in the aftermath of GM’s bankruptcy, and is predicated on its laser vision.

As with other former GM sites under RACER’s aegis, the eventual property buyer must be aligned with what the local community needs.

This game plan involves more than RACER’s oversight. The 3.2 million square-foot GM property in Delaware has the necessary components to execute a successful redevelopment. There’s public involvement via public hearings, environmental vigilance with the state’s environmental agency and a nod to historical preservation since one goal is to salvage legacy assets of this site. There’s also a prime transportation-logistical benefits since the property sits in the shadow of the I-95 corridor.

Thomas Hanna, president of Harvey Hanna & Associates, which has experience with brownfield sites, witnessed through the Twin Spans complex in New Castle, said nearly 100 configurations for the 3.2 million square foot site have been developed. Options include keeping most of the massive complex in place to partial or total demolition. None of the plans include residential development as the site is zoned industrial.

As mentioned earlier, there’s vigilance being carried out via prudent environmental oversight by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). As of early December, a waste treatment plant on the site is slated to remain in place in the hopes that the site can attract a sizable manufacturer—although manufacturing prospects are scarce in comparison to light assembly and distribution center candidates.

Space at the site is already being marketed online with negotiations underway with international commercial real estate firm CBRE. If no agreement is reached, Harvey Hanna would either look for another broker or take the project in-house.

No leases have yet been signed, with Hanna telling attendees at a recent public hearing that the first major tenant would set the tone for the overall development. The goal will be finding the “highest and best use” with employers that pay good wages.

From a timetable standpoint, there’s a 12- to 18-month window for ramping up to be tenant-ready, with build-out taking eight years. An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 jobs would be created, including construction positions.

This former GM site features great logistics from a transportation standpoint: The goal is to market the site on a regional or national basis for clients looking to capitalize on the proximity to the I-95 corridor.

Historical preservation is being realized as well, as plans are in the works to retain the property’s administrative building, which has art deco touches and dates back to the time when the DuPont family had a controlling interest in GM.

Environmental oversight comes with the DNREC representatives, who recently reported that four out of six zones at the Boxwood site have been studied for environmental problems, and have received the green light.

Groundwater and heavy metals contamination appear to be confined to the plant site, which borders residential property.

The checks and balances of prudent redevelopment are always carried out best with strong communication mechanisms. This GM site comes equipped with this across many channels. Public input is strong as audience members attending public hearings have asked all the right questions so that the stakeholders remain focused and prevail in a community-advocacy mode.

Here’s hoping that yet another former GM plant will show that past is prologue—most of the former GM plants up and running currently have been home runs in the way they have served the communities from social, economic and environmental positions.

Editor’s Note: BCONE was fortunate to hear from DNREC official, Paul W. Will, regarding the Delaware Coastal Zone perspective on the revitalization of old industrial sites for multiple reuse. Paul joined BCONE’s lunch panel held at the National Brownfield Conference in December 2017; Mr. Will, along with representatives from the PA Department of Community & Economic Development and Shell Chemicals, provided insights on exciting redevelopment potential and actual projects in 2 of the states in the BCONE footprint. BCONE members who attended the RE3 Conference in Philadelphia in November 2017 heard from Bruce Rasher of the RACER Trust, who discussed the Trust’s progress across the country. BCONE was an active participant on the RE3 developer panel selection committee. Just a few recent examples on how BCONE keeps you informed on fascinating projects and programs in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the USA and then continues the dialogue with informative articles by Steve Dwyer. Please share you projects, programs and article with BCONE!

New Tax Law in Place - What Impacts on Brownfield Financing?

Tue, 09 Jan 2018 18:15:19 GMT

by Charlie Bartsch, Member of BCONE Board of Directors and Senior Strategist, Communities in Economic Transition Adviser, BRS Inc.

President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1) into law on December 22 – less than two months after the House and Means Committee released its initial tax reform proposal. As you probably heard at the EPA brownfield conference in December, and read about in other sources, key tax code changes considered during the bill drafting process would have severely curtailed or eliminated critical federal business and real estate development incentives often used as part of the financing package typically assembled to advance brownfield site revitalization. As I stated at the conference, losing these incentives would have undermined years of effort to “level the playing field” between brownfield and greenfield sites, by making it much more difficult – if not impossible – to attract the up-front capital needed to address fundamental property assessment and cleanup needs.

The end result – now that the final law is in place – is that, overall, economic development incentives commonly used by developers and communities to promote brownfield reuse, threatened during the bill drafting process, emerged generally intact. (However, previously lapsed tax incentives to offset brownfield cleanup costs were not restored as part of the reform of business credits). On the other hand, the lower overall corporate tax rate will make many of these incentives less attractive to investors and others who had used these incentives to reduce their tax liabilities – and the ultimate impact of that on brownfield finance remains to be seen. In addition, HR 1 as signed included a new “base erosion and anti-abuse tax” (BEAT) – essentially an international corporate AMT. This may limit the ability of some corporate investors to fully claim credits from the incentives noted below, making them less desirable.

Historic rehabilitation 20% tax credits retained, but with reduced bottom-line value – One of the most important brownfield financing tools – especially for smaller projects of less than $1 million in size – has been preserved, although credits will now have to be claimed over 5 years upon project completion, rather than all in the year the restored property is put back into service. For large projects, this could affect the up-front syndication value of these credits; for small projects, it will likely require accommodating a new strategy for managing cash flow that addresses property preparation. In addition, the majority of states have their own historic tax credit programs, many synchronized with the federal tax code; the impact of this change in state credit time frames has yet to be determined.
Non-historic rehabilitation tax credits (10%, for pre-1936 buildings) repealed – Not used nearly as often as the historic credits, the 10% credit nevertheless helped finance numerous revitalization projects involving the types of old buildings typical of brownfield properties, often for small economic development projects. Given this change, it may make sense for developers or communities to pursue historic designation for these properties, to take advantage of the revised 20% historic credit.
New Markets Tax Credits (previously authorized 2018 and 2019 rounds) retained – Targeted to distressed low-income areas – the typical brownfield location in many communities – retention of NMTCs will channel $7 billion in private investment dollars to these areas nationally over the next few years, mostly for job generating real estate and business development projects. The tax act did not authorize NMTCs beyond 2019.
Private activity bond interest exemption retained – A critical result of HR 1 was the continued availability of tax-exempt bonds to developers and state and local jurisdiction; while traditionally more of a tangential tool to brownfield redevelopment, PABs are a vital piece of public-private partnerships that finance manufacturing, infrastructure, hospitals, and other economic and community development investment.
Low-income housing tax credits retained – LIHTCs (both the 9% volume cap and the 4% PAB credits) emerged with no substantive changes; they are critical to financing affordable housing development and have been used in numerous brownfield-to-housing projects across the country. (However, the nature of these credits, and who uses them, means that the lower corporate tax rate will make these credits less attractive to investors).
Renewable energy investment tax credits, production tax credits retained – These credits, which have been integrated into brownfield repowering projects, will continue as is, with existing phase downs (after 2019 for ITC, after 2016 for PTC) retained.
Investing in “Opportunity Zones” newly authorized – HR 1 included a new incentive to invest capital gains in new or existing businesses in state-designated “opportunity zones” in low-income communities, using criteria comparable to those for NMTCs. States will be allowed to designate up to 25% of their low-income census tracts as opportunity zones, for a 10-year period. HR 1 anticipates that “qualified opportunity funds” will be organized for purposes of investing in opportunity zone property. While the implementation specifics have yet to be defined, brownfield reuse advocates might be able to leverage their designation and operation to target distressed properties.

A First-Timer’s View – National Brownfields Training Conference 2017

Tue, 09 Jan 2018 18:04:40 GMT

by Andrea Poinsett, GEI Consultants, Inc.

In December 2017, I was a first-time attendee to USEPA’s National Brownfields Training Conference (Brownfields 2017) held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a city known for its steel industry, demise, and subsequent revival. Pittsburgh was also the location of the first Brownfields Conference about 20 years ago, making it a fitting location to show how progress can be made. The goal of my first time at this conference was to absorb as much of all aspects of the conference that I could from the learning sessions to the networking to the exhibit hall.

Inspiration from the Plenary Sessions: A speaker during the Mayors Roundtable said something that stuck with me because one issue always seems to be the cost of remediation and redevelopment. The Mayor said that people question the cost of things when they don’t understand the value of those costs. As a scientist and a consultant, I am constantly challenged to be the translator between the law and regulations and the client, who typically isn’t in the environmental business People need to know that what they’re paying is worth their hard-earned dollars. To remediate and redevelop brownfields, we need do show the community that the cost is worth it, that the value gained far exceeds the costs.

Another speaker, a native of Pittsburgh spoke with passion about the changing face of the city where he grew up to the revitalized city that it is today. One of the main takeaways from this session was don’t ever give up.

By far my favorite evening event was the Community Reception held in the Senator John Heinz History Center. BCONE was a proud sponsor of this event. The Center was open for exploring during the event; it was spacious, well attended and the if you were lucky enough, you got to talk with the curator who pointed you to the special collections area of the museum and the Mr. Rogers’s neighborhood exhibit. How cool to have a beer and eat lo mein with Fred Rogers!

This conference is worthwhile for the diverse attendance and the number of attendees. I met people from across the country. I met representatives from Alaska who have their own unique brownfields issues, to people running nationwide non-profits looking for consultants, to vendors selling unique remediation products. There were a variety of educational sessions-- with some unfortunately overlapping, forcing you to make the difficult decision as to which talk to attend. The quality of the presentations, variety of sessions, and things to do made this a worthwhile experience for a first-time attendee. I hope I get to go again.

"Urbanburb" Concept Spotlights Placemaking at its Finest

Tue, 09 Jan 2018 17:59:03 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

Call it a social-impacted development on steroids—even placemaking at its pinnacle. Riverton, a $2.5 billion 418-acre riverfront project located in Sayreville, N.J., represents the next generation of commercial real estate dubbed as “experiential mixed-use” or an “urbanburb” where six or seven uses are curated on one large site.

Urbanburb markets itself as a suburb offering an urban lifestyle, and North American Properties (NAP) is in the process of capitalizing on its power and potential. The group is planning to move forward with Riverton by offering a mix of retail, restaurants, office space, hotels with resort-inspired services, parks and marina.

NAP partnered with local company PGIM Real Estate for an updated plan, which was initially approved by state and local authorities in 2014. At the time, the project also obtained financial support from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) through the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Program. The developers are counting on NJEDA’s contribution for Riverton’s new version, designed by Cooper Robertson.

Urbanburb was hatched after the NAP team visited hometowns in the area (including Montclair, Summit, Spring Lake, Princeton, Westfield, Red Bank, Asbury Park and Hoboken) for inspiration. Mark Toro, NAP’s managing partner, detailed the story behind the billion-dollar project, which will replace the former National Lead Paint company that had been abandoned for decades.

Boston and Chicago are other cities that have redeveloped former industrial waterfront sites and turned them into modern, mixed-use buildings and attractive public spaces.

Riverton is poised to provide an unparalleled opportunity to serve the New York/New Jersey market, home to 16 million people, providing the next generation of commercial real estate, which is “experiential mixed-use.” The size and scale of Riverton enables the developer the “freedom to curate and deploy a full array of uses that will serve to energize the property 18 hours a day,” Toro remarked in a recent interview.

The property is marked by unprecedented access to the region provided by full interchanges on three highways (35, 9 and Garden State Parkway). Plus, there’s an amenity package unique to any mixed-use property in the region: access to the Raritan River, Raritan Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Toro said that what makes this effort distinctive is a 400-slip marina that represents the centerpiece of Riverton’s public realm offerings, which will include parks, nature trails and intimate public spaces. The principal says the intent is to “energize the plazas and parks of Riverton with events and activations intended to engage the community and capture their imagination.”

Shops and restaurants will serve the Central Jersey clientele, but the real differentiator is the opportunity for Riverton’s residents, office workers and hotel guests to enjoy an unparalleled level of service and hospitality property-wide.

Community involvement and consensus building is in great supply: Thus far, the community has been engaged in the branding process, while the developer is establishing a dialogue on social channels to poll future guests as to what they prefer to see in the product mix. Those channels provide a unique opportunity to gauge public interest in various aspects of the project and, as a byproduct, build a sense of authorship and ownership among the followers.

Pending approvals and financing, they expect to begin construction in the second quarter of 2018. First phases will include residential-over-retail on Riverton Boulevard, followed by townhomes, office and hotel uses. Completion is scheduled in 2021.

How a Former Power Plant Powered an Innovation District

Tue, 02 Jan 2018 18:17:30 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

You know the drill when it comes to accessing all the disparate elements of a complex redevelopment footprint.

Brown University officials in Rhode Island were recently sidetracked by discussions about the future of a massive, century-old power station that sat vacant on the Providence River along its campus.

Questions abound: Leave it alone or dismantle it to pave the way for a new university structure? Often times with legacy structures like a former power facility, razing it becomes a case of doing more harm than good.

Enter the spirit of historical preservation, and it happened as part of the university’s quest to establish a unified redevelopment plan—in this case built around academia and medical technology.

In the Brown University case, the plan was to create student housing in this city’s historic jewelry district. The developer, Richard A. Galvin, the president and chief executive of CV Properties in Boston, convinced Brown officials that the power plant could be parlayed into a property that would enhance Brown’s other investments in the district, including its medical school. Lined with 30-foot arched windows, the brick building provided vast views of the river and the city beyond.

Brown recruited the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College, which were jointly looking for a site to build a nursing school, and then helped negotiations with the state to secure a long-term lease agreement. Currently, a public nursing school and the Brown administrative staff are housed together in a refurbished power station at the edge of an emerging innovation and design district.

From a logistical standpoint, Brown administrative offices are now all in one place instead of scattered around its main campus. The nursing school, close to both the medical school and two hospitals, is also able to train students in state-of-the-art health care simulation labs.

Sometimes, when you want to create an innovation district it’s actual innovation that drives the process. What do we mean by that? Well, this redevelopment play was all made possible due to results-driven networking among not only public/government and private sectors, but you can also throw in the academia component as well. Brown University’s initiative serves as one more shining example of the importance of a unified vision of a private-public partnership.

In fact, the trend toward vertical-driven innovation centers—academic in nature or otherwise—is an idea that has truly taken wing. Bruce J. Katz, a scholar with the Brookings Institution who was a co-author of a 2014 report on innovation districts, indicated at that time that any type of shift in the “geography of innovation” was still largely undefined.

By 2017, Katz had forged a new opinion. He said he was “hard-pressed to come up with a city that’s not thinking about” establishing innovation chubs, and often times it’s being done around civic waterfronts.

One can look to Chattanooga, TN, which in 2009 leveraged an ultra-high-speed broadband network installed by the city-owned utility to start a downtown innovation district. Expansion is likely to require strengthening the district’s partnerships with the University of Tennessee and the public school system, said Mayor Andy Berke, who noted that the United States Dept. of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory opened an office in the district last year. All total it encompassed more than 4,400 acres.

This undertaking was a yeoman’s effort but was well worth it. Do you have an innovation center redevelopment concept that’s poised for execution?

CVP/SRAG Meeting Summary

Tue, 02 Jan 2018 17:47:35 GMT

BCONE members:

The CVP/SRAG meeting was held 12/13/17 at NJDEP offices. Below is a summary along with links to the handouts:

Bob Martin has 38 days left as commissioner and provided the following key points/accomplishments of the Administration, with accolades to the SRRA and LSRPs. The overall goal of Commissioner Martin was to maintain and/or improve quality of life for the citizens of NJ. This was accomplished from the following 4 key areas:

1. Transformation of DEP

Fix process
Leverage technology
Transparency
Focus on Compliance vs. Enforcement

2. Regulatory Reform

Transparency - more on-line permitting and submissions
Focus on Science-Data-Facts
Did not relax standards through the process
Focused on legacy landfill rules - Closure, Post Closure & Financial Responsibility

3. Super Storm Sandy Recovery

2nd largest petroleum spill occurred during the storm - DEP handled
~$2.7B damage to eater supply and wastewater infrastructure
~8.3M cubic yards of debris handled - opened over 300 temporary staging areas
~$1B spent on coastal protection, flooding and rivers
~$375M on Blue Acre Program

4. Passaic River Cleanup

State Litigation on RPs
Settlement Received - “have Occidental's” credit card for additional costs, if needed
Removing over 3.5M sediment from lower 8 mile Passaic river - MUST be disposed out-of-state
Bank to Bank capping after sediment removal

Other key Accomplishments:

SRRA - LSRP Program was critical program. In 2010, had over 26,000 sites. Less than 14,000 sites today.
Community Collaborative Initiative: Camden (first), Trenton, Perth Amboy & Bayonne (most recent)
An example of a CCI - Harrison Landfill - Kroc Center - soon to be officially announced the remaining 61 acres of the Harrison Landfill to be redeveloped into a park.

Measurements of success:

Land Cleaner - yes, through the closing of over 12,000 historical SRP cases and thousands opened since SRRA
Air Cleaner - yes, ranked 45th lowest State emissions CO2, NOX, SOX - went after PA to close a high-polluting coal power plant. Ranked 5th among States largest solar installations
Water - yes - 99.9% of all beaches were open, reduced CSOs in key areas, cleaned up key water bodies such as Shark River that discharge to the Ocean (beaches).

Announcements:

David Haymes and Sana Qureshi both being promoted within NJDEP.

LSRPA Board Update - Janine MacGregor

Annual LSRP fees due by Jan 15, 2018 - make sure you received, especially if you changed addresses.
License renewals - application submissions due 120 to 90 days prior to license expiration - all courses must be completed before 90 days prior to license renewal
Changes in Audit program - Selection from:
- Random (can’t be within 2 years of last audit or if LSRP is under investigation by Licensing Board for a filed complaint)- no change here
- New -“NJDEP Non-public List” identifying LSRPs with a high number of deficiencies - neither LSRP or Auditing Board will know that the audited LSRP was selected from this list. This is a new 6-month pilot program. 2 LSRPs selected from this list per month to be audited.

SRP Matrix - Click to Download

Technical Guidance Update - Sana Qureshi

Up to 16 Guidance documents looking to be updated - anything from minor editing to major modifications.
Perimeter Air Monitoring & Field Sampling Manual committees started this month. Air Perimeter anticipate a year to compile. Field Sampling Manual started with separate groups tackling Chapters 2, 5 & 6.

Direct Oversight- Kathy Katz & Kevin Katrina:

Pre-Purchaser Administrative Consent Order (Click Here for Handout) - “If a Buyer purchases a property in the SRP- those timeframes stay with the Property” unless…a Pre-Purchaser Administrative Consent Order is executed with NJDEP PRIOR TO THE TRANSACTION.
Earning Adjustment to the Direct Oversight Requirements Administrative Requirements for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites (ARRCS) NJAC 7:26C-14. (Click Here for Handout)
- 7:26C 14.2(b)- all conditions must be satisfied 30, 60 & 90 day timeframes
- 7:26C 14.4 “allows adjusted Requirements” in the Direct Oversight provisions
- Earned Adjusted ACO requirements- PPP (30 Days), RFS Cost (60 days), RFS & 1% Surcharge paid (90 days)- these get the RP- New Timeframes. Once RIR is submitted then additional earned adjustments:

§ Proceed w/o DEP approvals

§ Annual fees not DO fees

§ Continue in “normal” DEP submissions

§ Feasibility Study not required

§ RP can select remedy

Confirmed Discharge Notification- Kirstin Pointin-Hahn

CDN required when new AOC is discovered based upon
- Analytical Data*
- Olfactory or field observation*
- Exceptions on ISRA cases- only one CDN required

*In next section below - examples were discussed where CDN’s were not being issued for all of these circumstances.

Multiple LSRP’s on a Site - Panel Moderated by Mark Pedersen

A couple of mock scenarios were presented and the panel of NJDEP, Stakeholders, Attorneys and LSRP’s explored when and how should the LSRP’s work together. In summary, it was agreed that it is beneficial for the LSRPs to work together and share information….

...until “Due Diligence” for a potential sales transaction was involved. This discussion revealed where legal contracts and clauses could prohibit information being shared not just among LSRP’s, but between all parties, including the DEP. Mr. Pedersen was not in favor of these types of “contracts” and thought it was circumventing the spirit of SRRA. The attorney’s presented arguments explaining that if this wasn’t “permitted” then Brownfield sites with “potential” contamination would never be investigated and put on the marketplace for redevelopment. As an LSRP these scenarios can be unsettling. We will have to see how SRRA 2.0 addresses some of these issues.

In conclusion, it was an interesting discussion, and in my opinion, the definition of “a discharge” and when to “report” was still up for personal interpretation and/or project contractual stipulations.

Rick Shoyer

$15M in tax credits to transform former steel mill into tech hub

Fri, 29 Dec 2017 16:05:55 GMT

by Natasha Windstorm, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (PA)

Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday that the state will pitch in $15 million in tax credits to expedite construction at Hazelwood Green — the site of a massive abandoned steel mill that a group of nonprofits hopes to transform into a bustling corporate hub for research and technology.

The Commonwealth Cornerstone Group's New Markets Tax Credit funding ensures that the first of three office buildings planned at Pittsburgh's last big brownfield can begin construction early next year and be ready for occupants by spring 2019, said Donald Smith, president of Regional Industrial Development Corp., the Downtown Pittsburgh-based nonprofit real estate developer awarded the tax credits.

"It's huge. Literally the project couldn't happen without it," said Smith, whose organization owns the ionic Mill 19 building, a portion of the Hazelwood Green development.

…

For the entire article, see

http://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/13116847-74/gov-wolf-announces-15m-tax-boost-to-transform-former-steel-mill-into

Portland seeking to buy land along Connecticut River

Wed, 27 Dec 2017 20:52:54 GMT

by Jeff Mill, Middletown Press (CT)

The town is proposing to buy a 5.5-acre parcel of land along the Connecticut River that could be used to house a visitor’s center, a museum detailing the quarrying of brownstone and, possibly, a riverfront restaurant.

The town has been working for years to acquire the property, the site of the former Connecticut Tar & Asphalt Co.

…

The property, which is actually the combination of three parcels of land, was formerly an oil-tank farm. It is owned by the estate of John Balletti, officials said.

The town has already used a $200,000 state grant to determine the presence and level of petroleum oil lubricant contamination on the site, First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield said following the selectmen’s meeting.

“That property has been reviewed and tested — thoroughly tested — and we have developed a solid plan for cleanup,” Bransfield said. The town has secured money to pay for it, too, she said.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.middletownpress.com/news/article/Portland-seeking-to-buy-land-along-Connecticut-12439245.php

With New Budget In-Force, CT Unveils New Brownfields Program, Adopts Tax Credit

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 22:50:31 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

With CT Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s signing a bipartisan state budget to stop Connecticut’s lengthy fiscal stalemate, it appears a new program to support remediation and reuse of brownfields is going forward minus any tweaking.

Within the master budget, the Connecticut General Assembly in late October passed a new program called “7/7” Brownfields Program: that creates new incentives that the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) can use to reward new investors for cleaning up contaminated sites and reusing them while creating local jobs in the process. It also appears that the law would greatly remove the specter of third-party liability, which scares away many would-be stakeholders from pursuing such projects.

On Oct. 31, Gov. Malloy used his limited line-item veto power to focus only on eradicating portions of the General Assembly’s language related to a problematic tax on state’s hospitals.

The Connecticut budget impasse required Malloy to run the state using his limited executive spending authority, which in turn prompted cuts to social service programs and schools. Many municipalities also faced potential crediting rating downgrades because of the doubt over state grants.

Within 7/7 Brownfields, qualifying investors can apply a credit for the expenditures against their Connecticut state income tax liability for seven years and use the credit to offset sales and use taxes.

The 7/7 Brownfield Program is not available if the party is responsible for the contamination or pollution issues. Eligible participants must be bona fide “prospective purchasers” or innocent landowner.

To qualify as eligible under the new program, investors in brownfields will be required to apply to DECD with the following stipulations as conditions:

Description of the real property to be acquired and the proposed use;

A certification from the eligible owner that the site qualifies as a brownfield or from the municipality that the site has been underutilized or abandoned for at least 10 years;

A jobs plan that the eligible owner will submit to area high schools and regional-community technical colleges that includes the anticipated workforce needs for the proposed reuse of the property and proposed workforce training needs in order to enable such high schools and regional-community technical colleges to meet such needs;

A commitment from the eligible owner to hire not less than 30% of its workforce from students enrolled in such programs;

A written certification from the municipality supporting the application as a qualifying 7/7 site; and

Any other information required by DECD in regulations to be adopted soon.

The 7/7 Brownfields Program indicates that any 7/7 participant that seeks to redevelop and reuse a brownfield shall be able to claim the tax credit and offset sales and use tax expenditures once the brownfield remediation has been completed and verified, and the participant notifies the DECD and municipality that the cleanup work is completed.

Brownfield Remediation gets Groundswell of Support from UConn

Fri, 15 Dec 2017 19:53:28 GMT

by Eli Freund, UConn Today (CT)

Connecticut’s municipalities are dotted by hundreds of brownfield sites with remnants of toxic chemicals and industrial waste from years of unregulated activity. Federal and state assistance is available for cleanup, but the expertise and resources for the intensive process to secure those funds are not.

UConn’s new Connecticut Brownfields Initiative aims to bring much-needed assistance to the redevelopment of these sites.

“Different municipalities have different levels of readiness and resources,” says Maria Chrysochoou, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the new initiative. “Cities like Stamford and Bridgeport have built up the staff and expertise to successfully go through the process. But smaller towns sometimes don’t have the resources to put together winning proposals, which impedes their economic development opportunities.”

…

For the entire article, see
https://today.uconn.edu/2017/12/brownfield-remediation-gets-groundswell-support-uconn/

House passes EPA contaminated site clean-up bill

Tue, 05 Dec 2017 14:38:58 GMT

by Devin Henry, The Hill The House passed a bill Thursday reauthorizing an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contaminated site clean-up program.

The bill extends the EPA’s brownfields program through 2022 and authorizes new funding for it. The brownfields program provides grants to cities and states to help them clean up and redevelop contaminated industrial sites.

The EPA’s program and the House’s bill are both popular: Members passed the bill on a 409-8 vote.

…

The House bill reauthorizes the program until 2022 at $200 million level annually. It authorizes $50 million in annual grants for states and Native American Tribes and it tweaks several aspects of the program, including multipurpose grants and the law's funding caps.

…

For the entire article, see
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/362664-house-passes-epa-contaminated-site-clean-up-bill

Brownfields developer buys Brayton Point Power Station site

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 23:38:35 GMT

by Mario Hillarie, WJAR NBC 10 News

A company that specializes in brownfield properties is buying the 307-acre site of the former Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset with plans to redevelop it.
Commercial Development Company Inc. said it is hoping to finalize the purchase of the site along Mount Hope Bay by mid-December.

"Immediately following the ownership transfer, activity is expected to include asbestos abatement, environmental remediation and restoration, and demolition of most of the coal-related infrastructure on site," Commercial Development Company said in a news release.

Dynegy Inc. owned the coal-fueled plant for 2-and-a-half years before shutting it down in May. Commercial Development Company will assume all environmental responsibilities for the site.

…

For the entire article, see
http://turnto10.com/news/local/developer-eyes-brayton-point-power-station

Five-story apartment building at Hertel-Parkside wins city approval

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 23:36:51 GMT

by Jonathan D. Epstein, Buffalo News (NY)

Construction is expected to begin next spring on a new five-story mixed-use apartment building at the corner of Hertel and Parkside avenues in North Buffalo, after the city Planning Board gave its stamp of approval Monday night.

John and Ruth Ann Daly, owners of O'Dalaigh Real Estate, want to build a 34-unit apartment complex with underground parking on the site of a longtime former gas station at 1585 Hertel Ave. The site is adjacent to an M&T Bank parking lot.

Plans by Trautman Associates – where John Daly is a managing principal – call for six storefronts on the first floor, with the apartments above on the second, third and fifth floors.

...

For the entire article, see
http://buffalonews.com/2017/11/21/five-story-apartment-building-at-hertel-parkside-wins-city-approval/

Hancock sees revitalized business, economy around former tannery

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 18:33:34 GMT

by Jack Dodson, Ellsworth American (ME)

Right now it’s a health hazard, sitting empty on a small hill overlooking Route 1. But the former Hancock Ellsworth Tannery could eventually be filled with businesses and housing if two grant applications submitted by the town of Hancock are approved.

...

Right now, the former tannery site is “a dilapidated, graffiti-ridden eyesore that kids hang out in,” said Rich Campbell, who runs the Falmouth-based Campbell Environmental Group. His company specializes in brownfields grants, according to its website.

Campbell’s company wrote the grant for the town of Hancock, after an assessment by the Hancock County Planning Commission identified the site as a possible brownfields site. Hancock officials applied for the grants last year, but didn’t receive funding to clean up the tannery.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.ellsworthamerican.com/maine-news/environment/hancock-sees-revitalized-business-economy-around-former-tannery/

Connecticut Has a Budget! Key Environmental Provisions

Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:44:30 GMT

Co-authored by Beth Barton of the BCONE Advisory Board and Founding Member of NSCW

The Connecticut General Assembly adjourned in June and now – 123 days later – Governor Dannel Malloy last Tuesday signed into law a two-year state budget. The governor did not adopt the budget, as passed overwhelmingly by both houses of the General Assembly, in its entirety. He exercised his line-item veto authority to eliminate appropriations in support of a proposed hospital tax. Other programs were not directly affected by the governor’s line-item veto. There are several significant budget provisions on the environmental front, though.

To read the remainder of this article, please click on the following link to be directed to Day Pitney LLP's website -->

https://www.daypitney.com/insights/publications/2017/11/08-connecticut-has-a-budget-key-environmental

New park opens on old polluted power plant site in Mount Joy Borough

Tue, 07 Nov 2017 15:20:32 GMT

by AD CRABLE, Lancaster Online (PA)

Out of an old, polluted brownfields lot in Mount Joy Borough has arisen a new public place for quiet.

Borough officials on Wednesday will snip the ribbon on Old Standby Park, a half-acre of open space on the western edge of the town at 223 W. Main St. The ceremony will be held at 4 p.m.

“It’s a nice quiet space where you can go and spend time with your kids and admire the vegetation,” observes Sam Sulkosky, the borough’s manager.

…

For the entire article, see
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/new-park-on-old-polluted-power-plant-site-opens-in/article_072372d2-be66-11e7-8238-878dcdf30b66.html

Ground broken for redevelopment on land of former 48-acre Masland Factory

Tue, 07 Nov 2017 15:15:52 GMT

by Dawn White, WHTM ABC-27 TV News (Harrisburg, PA)

State and Cumberland County officials broke ground Wednesday on a vacant property destroyed five years ago in a raging fire. Now plans are underway to redevelop the land.

A fence lines a bare field in Carlisle, but leaders expect redevelopment of the 48-acre Industrial Brownfield to have a huge impact on the local economy.

“I grew up a few blocks from here. I remember this. This was an active factory. You had folks coming to work every day,” said Mayor Tim Scott, (D-Carlisle).

That all changed in May of 2012 when a massive fire tore through the old Masland Factory. New life was dug into the ground where hundreds of people used to work with a row of golden shovels.

…

For the entire article, see
http://abc27.com/2017/11/02/ground-broken-for-redevelopment-on-land-of-former-48-acre-masland-factory/

Don’t Sleep On Abandoned Gas Stations—They Can Be Game-Changers

Mon, 06 Nov 2017 20:23:49 GMT

Big problems come in small packages—gas stations are often located in prime locations vital to local prosperity
by Steve Dwyer

From a size standpoint, retail properties like gas stations, even dry cleaners, are dwarfed by the overall civic magnitude of such sites as former auto plants and steel mills.

As most brownfield and smart-growth practitioners know, big trouble lurks in small packages. Conversely, big opportunity is nestled in smaller footprints like gasoline units, which have more local-commerce impact than many think.

We see it all the time. A local gas station and its aligned convenience store is beset by some degree of environmental exposure—starting with the incidence of underground storage tank leaking—leaks that wreak havoc slowly over time. Owners that scrimp on investing in the proper environmental controls—from interstitial monitoring to double-wall tank containment—are living dangerously.

But out of bad comes some good. Having worked in the downstream petroleum industry for several decades, I’ve witnessed a slew of former modest-size petroleum sites—be it company owned and operated or independent marketer-owned—that sit idle for years, in abeyance while legal hassles ensue and other environmental complications need to be ironed out.

Or, they go the other route and get back on the tax roll quickly thanks to private-public cohesion. Consider the community of Chicopee, MA, and a former fueling stations owned by Racing Oil. This small “infill property” is viewed by city stewards as a “gateway or entrance” to the city.

Good impressions are vital in every community, synonymous with curb appeal with a home on the real estate market. The home must stand out and shine to attract buyers, and that gateway holds the key.

The longer a former gas station sits in limbo, the more city coffers suffer form a dearth of tax income streams.

The vacant former gasoline station in Chicopee appears to be accelerating a redevelopment timetable nicely to get back into productive use, a positive development. The city calls it “a linchpin in the continued efforts to improve quality of life for all residents, businesses and stakeholders in the neighborhood.”

Work continues to clean up hazardous waste on a small piece of land identified as a vital link in the efforts to redevelop the West End of Chicopee Center in Chicopee, MA.

The property had housed a gas station dating back to the 1920s and sits abandoned since 2004, when pumps and three underground tanks were removed. The city foreclosed on the property, owned by Racing Oil LLC, in 2009 for a lack of payment of taxes.

Since acquiring the property the city received USEPA grants to hire an environmental firm to evaluate the 0.28-acre parcel. The study showed it is contaminated by gasoline and oil spills and found an additional underground tank that had not been removed, resulting in soil and groundwater contamination.

That’s the problem, and it’s an insidious one. But thanks to the USEPA grants, an infusion of Community Development Block Grant funds, the costs of the cleanup are in place—and a prime civic “gateway” can get an accelerated timetable. After the cleanup is finished the city will request proposals from developers interested in building on the land. And “curb appeal” can be bolstered significantly.

Don’t sleep on the cache of the smallest-sized abandoned properties in your town. They often serve as the crown jewels to moving your civic fortunes northward.

BCONE Presents at ANJEC’s 44th Annual Environmental Congress

Mon, 06 Nov 2017 20:17:33 GMT

BCONE joined forces with the LSRPA (the Licensed Site Remediation Professionals Association) at ANJEC’s (Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions) Environmental Congress on October 13, 2018. Our conversations with the Congress attendees in our afternoon panel, identified a real need for local environment commission members and other attendees to learn how to obtain updated information on sites undergoing remediation and redevelopment in their communities. In addition, understanding the municipality’s role and rights when it comes to proposals for redevelopment was a big topic as was the availability of incentives for redevelopment. BCONE President Steve Jaffe and Executive Director Sue Boyle spoke to the attendees about ways that municipal officials and developers can work together to revitalize brownfield properties. BCONE also offered the services of Board members to assist attendees in navigating the NJDEP information and databases.

New Program Launched to Assist ANJEC Members

BCONE, through its pro bono support program, will assist with the LSRPA’s Sounding Board and launch a trial program to support the ANJEC Resource Center. Now, when ANJEC members have questions about the site remediation process and the sites in their communities, the Resource Center will reach out to the designated contact on the LSRPA Sounding Board. She will assign the question within the LSRPA process and/or reach out to the BCONE pro bono program contact if redevelopment information is required to supplement remediation information.

This information assistance program fulfills the mission of BCONE to work with all parties interested in putting contaminated properties back into productive use as well as the LSRPA’s mission to serve as an educational and technical resource on site remediation. Together, BCONE and the LSRPA made it clear to ANJEC members that we are here to help.

CT Creates New Brownfields Program, Adopts Brownfields Tax Credit

Wed, 01 Nov 2017 14:29:17 GMT

by Stephen J. Humes, Holland & Knight LLP

Buried in an 881-page budget bill passed Thursday by the Connecticut General Assembly was a new program to support remediation and reuse of brownfields – properties long contaminated and underutilized – as well as new job creation while rewarding investors with a new state income tax credit for remediation expenditures.

The new program, called the 7/7 Brownfields Program, creates new incentives the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) can use to reward new investors for cleaning up contaminated sites and reusing them while creating local jobs in the process. Qualifying investors can apply a credit for the expenditures against their Connecticut state income tax liability for seven years and use the credit to offset sales and use taxes.

…

For the entire article, see
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=f253c21b-49b2-49b0-81af-edfa0128b662

Officials break ground on new River Road project

Wed, 01 Nov 2017 14:27:19 GMT

$20 million River Road project to feature apartments, townhouse complexes.

by Mia Summerson, Niagara Gazette (NY)

Though construction on the River's Edge complex in North Tonawanda is just now getting underway, 10 people have already asked to be placed on a waiting list to live there.

Against the backdrop of the scenic Niagara River, representatives from VisoneCo Site Development were joined Friday afternoon by city, county and state officials to break ground on the $20 million project, located at 600 River Road. The development will feature two four-story apartment buildings with 36 units each, which will be located directly on the water, as well as three 10-unit, two-story townhouse complexes.

In addition, the facility will have a gym, a clubhouse and a pool, as well as two retail spaces located near the front of the 6-acre parcel. According to Tom Celik, project manager, they're already working on a plan to bring a coffee house into one of those retail spaces, but the other space is still up for grabs. Those areas will be accessible to the public, not just River's Edge residents, and so will the rest of the property.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/officials-break-ground-on-new-river-road-project/article_7b777ad4-3ebe-53bf-948b-4d39c2ff7b6a.html

New Life for the New York Brownfield Redevelopment Credit

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 18:19:34 GMT

by Kenneth Laks, CPA Journal

New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program was initiated over a decade ago to encourage private enterprise to redevelop contaminated properties and revitalize their surrounding communities. The program was recently extended, providing greater certainty that the incentives will continue to exist in the future, albeit at a lower level. Financial advisors of taxpayers with qualifying property should become familiar with the new requirements and engage the services of engineering consultants to maximize the potential tax benefits.

In April 2015, New York passed its annual budget, which included a 10-year extension of the Brownfield Cleanup Program. The state tax credits available for developers who clean up and build on contaminated sites were supposed to expire at the end of 2015, but now have the necessary funding to continue.

…

For the entire article, see
https://www.cpajournal.com/2017/10/23/new-life-new-york-brownfield-redevelopment-credit/

Rochester, New York, celebrates new solar field built on former landfill

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 18:18:13 GMT

Project is an example of the successful reuse of a brownfield site for the production of renewable energy.

Waste Today Staff, Construction & Demolition Recycling

Rochester, New York, Mayor Lovely A. Warren celebrated the completion of the city’s new solar field, Oct. 25, 2017, which will help power City Hall and divert more than 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Located at the former Emerson Street Landfill, the new solar field holds more than 7,800 solar panels that will generate approximately 3 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually. The field was built and will be owned and operated by AES Distributed Energy of Boulder, Colo., which is working with Solar Liberty of Buffalo as its subcontractor. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority provided financial support to the project.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.cdrecycler.com/article/rochester-new-york-celebrates-solar-field/

Gov. Baker Praises Mill Conversion Project

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 18:15:34 GMT

by Paul Tuthill, WAMC/Northeast Public Radio

The largest brownfields mill redevelopment in New England is said to be ahead of schedule. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker visited the project in Ludlow Thursday.

Baker helped cut a ceremonial red ribbon to mark the formal opening of 75 apartments in a formerly vacant 110-year-old brick building that is part of the Ludlow Mills Preservation and Redevelopment project.

After touring one of the model apartments that feature restored original brick walls, columns and beams, new insulated floor-to-ceiling windows, and loading docks converted to patios, Baker pronounced it “a spectacular reuse of an historic building.”

The apartments, which are restricted for rent by people age 50 and older, are in high demand in Massachusetts, where the governor noted that 30 percent of the population is over age 60.

…

For the entire article, see
http://wamc.org/post/gov-baker-praises-mill-conversion-project

New housing proposed for Center Island section of village

Fri, 27 Oct 2017 17:57:51 GMT

by Nicholas Buonanno, Troy Record (NY)

Village officials said they are happy the Department of Environmental Conservation has officially started the process of performing brownfield cleanup work on Osgood Avenue.

Sean Ward, who is the executive assistant to Green Island Mayor Ellen McNulty-Ryan, said this proposal is for the south end of Center Island, closer to the Green Island Bridge. Peter Luizzi & Bros. Contracting of Albany is proposing the nearly $60 million Starbuck Island Apartments development project, a proposed 270 housing unit development near the Hudson River. The location on Osgood Avenue was once home to a century-old oil terminal site.

“Right now they are still in the planning process,” said Ward. “What they’re doing there is ... a brownfield cleanup under the direction of DEC. Simultaneously, they’re going through the planning process right now and it was presented to the Green Island Planning Board this past Monday and they tabled it; they allowed the introduction of it, but they tabled it until next month because the village board set a public hearing for Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m.”

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.troyrecord.com/general-news/20171021/new-housing-proposed-for-center-island-section-of-village

Neighbors object to height of apartments planned for Hertel

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 16:03:07 GMT

by Jonathan D. Epstein, Buffalo News (NY)

A proposal to construct a five-story apartment building with retail space and underground parking at the intersection of Hertel and Parkside avenues has stirred anger in the North Buffalo neighborhood because its height would exceed city limits.

…

The Dalys say they need the extra apartments and height to generate more revenues, offsetting the high cost per-square-foot of the remediation under the state's Brownfield Cleanup Program, including the removal of four underground gas tanks. For the same reason, they also want the project to take up the entire lot, without putting in any greenspace or landscaping. The Green Code requires at least 10 percent greenspace.

…

For the entire article, see
http://buffalonews.com/2017/10/17/proposed-hertel-parkside-project-faces-resistance/

Landfill Decisions: Balancing Social with Economic Priorities

Thu, 19 Oct 2017 16:49:03 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

A landfill conversion is a high-risk, high-reward proposition. Prudent end use decision-making is paramount—all the time balancing social with economic impacts.

This prudent progression comes to mind when examining projects like the former Marble Quarry Landfill Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) site in Tuckahoe, New York. The property illustrates the inherent challenges facing New York State’s—and all other states’—extensive program to rehabilitate contaminated brownfields sites. And, this redevelopment effort shines a light on the task that all stakeholders face in end-use decision-making.

First some background: Remediation of the landfill is fragmented into three parts. A hotel developer enrolled in the BCP as a volunteer is remediating its own property, but “is not responsible for investigating or remediating off-site contamination that has migrated from the BCP site, or that was disposed off-site (i.e., the remainder of the landfill).”

In the absence of finding and holding accountable a responsible party, the Department of EnvironmentalConservation (DEC) is addressing the other two parts using state Superfund money.

Bilwin Development Affiliates purchased 3.45 acres in the middle of theelongated property, successfully applying for inclusion of those acres in New York State’s DEC Brownfields Cleanup Program. Bilwin, with support from village leaders, is building a 153-room, multi-storyMarriott Springhill Suites hotel, a restaurant, and parking lots totaling about 200 spaces.

As part of the Remedial ActionWork Plan prepared by Bilwin’s consultants, a published report stated that they excavated 10 so-called “hot spots;" capped the former landfill with buildings, concrete, and other impermeable surfaces; embarked upon vapor mitigation for the hotel and restaurant buildings; and established institutional controls and a site management plan.

At a spring 2016 public meeting, community members opposed the project, believing it would provide insufficient protection of public health, and that the remedy was incomplete since only one-half of the landfill was being addressed. According to a published report, the concern was that construction, involving dozens of pilings penetrating the landfill, would disturb and spread contamination. Also of concern was the need for construction plan details regarding the compaction of the soil with heavy weights, which had not been worked out. Community consensus also generated concern that the plan did not address the migration of groundwater and vapors off site.

Those tasked with evaluating the project said they “are not convinced that the routes of potential exposure have been fullycharacterized. Even if the remedy for a landfill is appropriate, that doesn’t mean that it is safe in the long run to build work or living spaces on property with uncertain contaminant distribution and likely settling and off-gassing. This is why most communities redevelop old landfill sites into parks and other open spaces.”

Therein lies the tricky task of pinpointing end use decision-making in the context of the historical background. A passive-use strategy for these types of parcels has proven successful in many instances—including former landfills that have been converted into golf courses, which avoids the “trap” of building living spaces on property with uncertain contaminant distribution. A golf course is one way to stimulate economic engines as well, via the green fees and other revenue. Indeed, stimulating economic impacts is often a vital and necessary endgame, particularly for communities needing to ratchet up their coffers.

Opting for social-oriented drivers—promoting green space and its residual quality-of-life components—might not generate the tax dollars desired at the time, but this course of action could win friends for generations.

From Brownfield to Greenfield: Ex-Mine Hosts Vermont’s Biggest Solar Array

Wed, 18 Oct 2017 16:53:41 GMT

by John Lippman, Valley News

Appropriately enough, the midday sun was shining on a recent Friday in South Strafford, where a few dozen people had gathered at the periphery of the bowl-shaped Elizabeth Mine property. As they looked upon a sea of nearly 20,000 glistening black solar panels covering the now-abandoned mine, it was a gratifying moment.

Elizabeth Mine, whose excavations left a moonscape of waste rock and tailings that leached orange effluent into nearby streams, is a “brownfield” that has been transformed into a “greenfield” that will generate 5 megawatts of electricity — enough to power about 1,200 Vermont homes annually — for decades to come, according to its promoters.

Joined by contractors, government officials, business executives, project consultants and a smattering of curious town residents, Dori Wolfe, an energy consultant and Strafford resident who championed the $18 million solar project, stood in front of the crowd and extolled the mine site’s rebirth.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.vnews.com/Elizabeth-Mine-Solar-Array-Sheds-Light-on-Economics-of-Electricity-12760723

Ogdensburg seeks money for Newell rehab, ongoing riverfront cleanup

Wed, 18 Oct 2017 16:51:26 GMT

by Larry Robinson, Watertown Daily Times (NY)

City planning officials are teaming up with the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency in hopes of rehabilitating the former Newell Manufacturing building on Paterson Street into a turnkey industrial facility that could be marketed to Canadian businesses.

The project is one of two the municipality is seeking state grant money for in an effort to bring new economic development to the community.

Also being sought by city planning officials is some $5.5 million in grant money, that, if secured, would be used to complete environmental cleanup and infrastructure work at the city’s Diamond-Shade Roller brownfield site.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news05/ogdensburg-seeks-money-for-newell-rehab-ongoing-riverfront-cleanup-20171009

Allot Green Space, Forge Vision To Avert Flood Catastrophe

Tue, 03 Oct 2017 15:16:09 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

Redevelopments that incorporate green space have become a core aspect of successful single- or mixed-use blueprints. Striking that balance is a compelling aspect when considering the acute flooding that occurred in the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

Might your susceptible mid-Atlantic community—located perhaps in the shadow of an ocean, river, lake or stream—be the next Houston or Florida Keys? A strong planning vision promulgated by the private-public partnership can not only avert disaster but also provide social and environmentally-friendly amenities to benefit the local community.

This type of planning takes on extra urgency when considering the long-range growth plan of Houston, Texas, which dubs itself “the city with no limits.” It’s the largest U.S. city with no zoning ordinances, all part of a hands-off approach to urban planning that might have its upside; but, might have contributed to catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey that left thousands of residents in harm’s way.

Growth that is virtually unchecked, including that in flood-prone areas, has diminished land’s already-limited natural ability to absorb water. A city’s drainage system duly suffers as most are not designed to handle the massive storms that are increasingly common.

The systemic problem transcends just a green space conversation, it includes a developer’s commercial or residential construction approach. A developer who grasps the magnitude of potential flooding establishes a building plan that comes equipped with necessary buffers—think about the implementation of a crawl space and the elevation of properties above ground level.

While it’s laudable to have autonomy when you dub yourself a “city with no limits,” well-thought-out zoning laws are actually our friend, not our hindrance as they provide necessary and vital controls.

Plan ahead with a smart, working vision to avert disaster that stems from tropical storms and hurricanes. Superstorm Sandy of 2012 might have impacted you. Thus, it serves as a compelling reminder.

EDITOR’s NOTE: If you are attending the Oct. 13, 2017, ANJEC Environmental Congress, you’ll hear from Mayor Dawn Zimmer of Hoboken, NJ about her municipality’s experience during Superstorm Sandy and the work going on now to protect the city for the future.

Former Marble Quarry Landfill Brownfield Site, Tuckahoe, New York

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:21:46 GMT

by Lenny Siegel

The Former Marble Quarry Landfill Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) site in Tuckahoe, New York illustrates the inherent challenges facing New York State’s extensive program to rehabilitate contaminated brownfields sites. Remediation of the former landfill is fragmented into three parts. The hotel developer enrolled in the BCP as a volunteer is remediating its own property, but “is not responsible for investigating or remediating off-site contamination that has migrated from the BCP site, or that was disposed off-site (i.e., the remainder of the landfill).”

…

To download the 7-oage, 5.6 MB report, go to
http://www.cpeo.org/pubs/Tuckahoe.pdf

Go With The Flow - Think Craft Brewery Opportunities

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 17:52:50 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

Do you have your hand squarely on the pulse of winning redevelopment opportunities? It certainly varies based on communities’ supply and demand indexes. In taking a broad view, waterfront and healthfield initiatives are two development courses of action to pursue, while craft brewery developments are yet another.

These days, the allure for craft, small-batch breweries and brew pubs are being fueled by the demanding appetites of demographic groups like Millennials and Gen Xers, who are captivated by the mystique and cache of craft beer and what it represents.

During your own site selection due diligence, former industrial properties appear to be a compatible craft brewpub conversion zone—one reason being that there is less resistance in navigating local zoning ordinance re-designations.

Moreover, as Millennials gravitate to urban living, savvy developers start to establish a place-making vision that consists of the construction of lofts and market-rate condos and apartments as their redevelopment anchor. The alignment of a brewpub fits into this vision rather naturally.

So, what does it take to move the needle forward? As a case in point, an upstate New York developer—Signature Development Buffalo LLC—is seeking to convert a former industrial building in the Buffalo area into its existing Thin Man Brewery and business incubator. To make it fly, the firm requires an additional 10,000 square feet of space to the existing 40,000-square-foot building. The developer needs approvals from the Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA).

The project was reviewed by the ECIDA during a public hearing in late August, and marks the latest project by the developer in the North Buffalo neighborhood, which also features loft apartment conversions.

One way to ingratiate yourself to local development agencies is to roll out the “J” word—jobs. Indeed, one set-aside is for commercial use by small business and startup tenants—resulting in the creation of about 20 jobs, according to the developer’s application to the ECIDA.

How about securing tax credits—do you have a game plan? Is there a chance to roll the site into a TIF district designation? If we are talking about a former industrial site, perhaps it’s well positioned for this. To date, the former site that Signature is pursuing has been accepted into the state of New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program, which does include tax credits. However, it's not eligible for historic tax credits.

As you think about craft brew development entities, think harder about establishing a laser-sharp site selection plan of action, as well as how you plan to engage local development agencies that hold the key to fortunes. Come armed with economic and even social positive outcomes as part of a long-range growth plan—from new jobs to the way it will enhance quality of life. Let everything flow from there.

From the Editor: Let BCONE know about your brewpub / micro-brewery success stories. We’d like to do events at brewpubs throughout the northeast region.

Greens on a Brownfield: Grocery Cooperative Coming to a Food Desert on Providence's West Side

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 17:45:53 GMT

by Joanna Detz, ecoRI News (RI)

More than 100 people gathered on a golden September afternoon to celebrate a groundbreaking that’s been years in the making.

Urban Greens, which began as a co-operative buying club, incorporated in 2007, has been working to develop a strategy to open a full-fledged grocery store on the West Side since 2010.

“The work is just getting started, but this is a huge milestone,” said Cassie Tharinger, a longtime member of the Urban Greens cooperative council, as she observed the crowd showing up for the Sept. 14 groundbreaking.

Philip Trevvett, another council member who spoke at the event, noted that, “Co-ops take a lot of people working together, and what we’re building here is something all of Providence and Rhode Island can take pride in.”

…

For the entire article, see
https://www.ecori.org/farming/2017/9/16/gmy8ryebdknwre71uq99s9o7971ir9

Soltage Completes 4.75-MW Solar Farm on Brownfield in Massachusetts

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 17:44:11 GMT

Bird Machine Solar Farm will provide low-cost clean energy to Walpole

Soltage LLC, a leading national renewable energy company, has completed the 4.75-megawatt (MW) Bird Machine Solar Farm on a brownfield in Walpole, Massachusetts. The new solar farm, built on the former Bird Machine industrial site, utilizes 14,600 panels to produce nearly 6 million kilowatt-hours of energy per year – enough to power roughly 623 homes per year and offset almost 9.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide. The town of Walpole will purchase the power from the new solar farm at a fixed-price below utility energy costs.

"Turning brownfields into brightfields is an ideal solution for municipalities like Walpole across Massachusetts and across the country," said Jesse Grossman, CEO of Soltage. "Walpole has shown real environmental and economic leadership by enabling this project which will help spur local economic development and create strong environmental benefits. By installing solar on brownfields, we're lowering power costs for local communities, creating jobs, and contributing to local economy."

…

For the entire release, see
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/soltage-completes-475-mw-solar-farm-on-brownfield-in-massachusetts-300521511.html

Pottstown eyeing contaminated land for park

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 18:02:38 GMT

by Evan Brandt, Posstown Mercury (PA)

Borough council has voted to move ahead with acquiring land at 860 Cross St., which has chemical contamination in the soil and groundwater, for use as part of an expansion of Pollock Park.

The property is roughly .86 acres and from 1971 until 1995 the property was a polyurethane sealant manufacturing plant, according to an environmental assessment of the property completed in July.

In 2001, trichloroethylene, better known as TCE, was discovered in the soil and groundwater at the site; and in 2003, polychlorinated biphenyls, better known as PCBs were found in the soil, according to the report.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20170919/pottstown-eyeing-contaminated-land-for-park

Work underway on Covered Bridge Trails project: Lewes community will provide housing options for seniors

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 13:59:18 GMT

by Ron MacArthur, Cape Gazette (DE)

Site work is underway on Covered Bridge Trails off Tulip Drive near Lewes. Residents of the community will use the county's one and only covered bridge for access.

Located behind Dutch Acres and St. Jude the Apostle Church along Route 1, the 55-plus community will contain 43 single-family homes and a mix of 91 duplexes and townhomes. The total number of units was reduced by Sussex County Council from 147 to 134 as a condition of approval.

At its Dec. 15, 2016 meeting, council voted for an ordinance to grant rezoning from AR-1 to MR and a conditional use for multifamily housing to Ocean Atlantic Communities LLC, developers of the project.

Access to the community would be off Route 1 via Tulip Drive, an entrance shared by the church and the Dutch Acres and Villas of Taramino communities. The bridge over wetlands at the entrance will be 180 feet long.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.capegazette.com/article/work-underway-covered-bridge-trails-project/141743

Chicopee to redevelop downtown gas station land abandoned for 13 years; contamination cleanup begins

Fri, 08 Sep 2017 14:22:26 GMT

by Jeanette DeForge, MassLive

Work has begun to clean up hazardous waste on a small piece of land identified as a vital link in the efforts to redevelop the West End of Chicopee Center.

The property at 181 Center St. housed a gas station dating back to the 1920s and has been vacant since 2004, when pumps and three underground tanks were removed. The city foreclosed on the property, owned by Racing Oil LLC, in 2009 for a lack of payment of taxes.

"The cleanup and subsequent redevelopment of the Racing Oil property is a crucial endeavor to diminishing the environmental hazard and promoting economic development in the West End," said city planner Lee Pouliot.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/09/chicopee_to_redevelop_former_d.html

Perkins Park: From brownfield to green space in South End

Fri, 08 Sep 2017 14:19:56 GMT

by Dyke Hendrickson, Newburyport Daily News (MA)

Many recreational parks here might be considered gifts from nature but the “new” Perkins Park exists as a resource that has been developed, in part, through repurposing “brownfield” acreage from a troubled past.

Located on Beacon Avenue and overlooking the tidal harbor, the park is about 10.1 acres.

In 1945, the park was named after Edward G. Perkins, a longtime city councilor who spent many years in service to the community. He served on the City Council from 1912 to 1953, according to city records, and rarely has an elected representative had such a long tenure on the volunteer board.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.newburyportnews.com/news/local_news/perkins-park-from-brownfield-to-green-space-in-south-end/article_2420e3f5-0b7a-5110-b6d0-abcf174ee23b.html

3 vie to transform Chelmsford site

Fri, 08 Sep 2017 14:17:36 GMT

by Alana Melanson, Lowell Sun (MA)

It took the town years to find groups interested in transforming the Katrina Road brownfield site, and now three are vying for the opportunity.

Because the former industrial site requires a $1 million hazardous-waste cleanup, MassDevelopment will ultimately have the final say over which -- if any -- of these projects will move forward, according to Town Manager Paul Cohen.

…

The town acquired the slightly more than 3-acre parcel at 27 Katrina Road through tax title in 2006. It was formerly a manufacturing site for Silicon Transistor Corporation. The building was demolished in 2011, and more than $1 million in federal and state funds have been spent to clean the site.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_31252862/3-vie-transform-chelmsford-site

Former Akzo Nobel site sold to brownfield developer

Fri, 08 Sep 2017 14:12:11 GMT

by Akiko Matsuda, Journal News (NY)

A former chemical manufacturing plant site on the Ardsley border has been sold to a Missouri-based firm that specializes in brownfield redevelopment.

And local residents, including Greenburgh town Supervisor Paul Feiner, are hoping to convince the new owner to build a solar farm there.

"There's going to be controversy over any major development," Feiner said. "But a solar farm, nobody would object to it."

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/greenburgh/2017/08/18/former-akzo-nobel-site-sold-brownfield-developer/576181001/

Glenville site under consideration for cleanup - Cohoes company seeks to develop housing, recreational site along river

Fri, 08 Sep 2017 14:09:25 GMT

Albany Times-Union (NY)

State officials are accepting comments on a proposal to clean up a brownfield at Mohawk Avenue and Maritime Drive in the hamlet of Alphas.

The Department of Environmental Conservation is considering a proposal from Prime Mohawk LLC for the cleanup.

According to a document filed with the town of Glenville last month, the Cohoes firm has proposed a waterfront development district along the Mohawk River to include about 160 residential rental units, 31 single family lots, 37 townhouses, a clubhouse and pool, public playground, basketball and tennis courts, a gazebo area, boat showroom and boat storage.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.timesunion.com/allnews/article/Glenville-site-under-consideration-for-clean-up-11944479.php

Destination Dunkirk: Brownfield Opportunity Area Plan will ‘reprogram’ waterfront

Fri, 08 Sep 2017 14:04:51 GMT

by Nicole Gugino, Dunkirk Observer (NY)

Not every community has a major resource like Lake Erie on its door step, and even fewer have the untapped potential of the city of Dunkirk’s waterfront.

A plan to make Dunkirk’s waterfront a destination and its Central Avenue business district a corridor to that attraction is in the final stages.

The city started phase two of the Brownfield Opportunity Area planning process over a year ago and according to Planning and Development Director Rebecca Yanus, she expects to have the final draft for review any day now before passing it on to the state for final approval.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.observertoday.com/news/page-one/2017/08/destination-dunkirk/

The promise of a park on Highland

Fri, 08 Sep 2017 14:01:34 GMT

NIAGARA FALLS: Residents trying to be patient about plans for area.
by Angie Lucarini, Niagara Gazette (NY)

Some Highland Avenue area residents say they have been waiting on a park to be built in their neighborhood for about five years now.

Deborah Hicks, vice president of the Highland Community Revitalization Committee, has been advocating for residents whose children have nowhere to play. Hicks lived in the Highland Avenue area for 10 years. Though she no longer lives there, she is dedicated to helping the park come into fruition.

"I would like for more leaders and residents who have a heart for the Highland Community to work together to be a voice for the voiceless. Remember, together we stand; divided we fall,” she said.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/the-promise-of-a-park-on-highland/article_53705f58-bfa9-5f43-8289-aa2acbc088e5.html

With Brownfield Funding in Peril, Your Voice Matters

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 17:01:18 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

“Do no harm” transcends the oath of responsibility physicians vow to uphold. In the environmental realm, this oath is equally applicable, serving as the responsibility of all brownfield stakeholders. No project is a one-size-fits-all, and each comes with its own set of circumstances. Knowledge is power among environmental practitioners.

Protecting, even expanding, federal funding for brownfields is the X factor, and this critical funding is currently in a tenuous state of flux.

In the industrial belt states that represent BCONE’s footprint, marshaling support for funding has an imminent call to arms. Reading the tea leaves took an ominous turn when President Trump this July urged Ohioans during a trip to the state to tear down aging factories—rationalizing that it serve as the first step to bring new jobs to the state.

Not so fast. Tearing down old factories does not subscribe to the rubric of “do no harm.” A host of these legacy properties are riddled with hidden toxins requiring a prudent environmental game plan—a plan that can only proceed with appropriate funding. Unless some new development enters the picture, Trump’s 2018 budget will call for slashing USEPA’s Superfund and brownfields program funding streams.

Moreover, funding cuts would result in key U.S. EPA staff reduction and a significant amount of decades-long agency intelligence and experience along with it. These are professionals who fully grasp how to fluently navigate and proceed with industrial cleanups—all with the endgame of returning dilapidated industrial sites to productive use—from mixed use to light industrial. And, while also protecting the health of workers and nearby residents.

In the name of economic, social and environmental results that smart-growth redevelopment advocates assure, contact your federal representatives to ensure that your voice is heard and that they are working diligently to protect and enhance the federal brownfield budget.

Developer Plans 57-Story Tower at Formerly Contaminated West Side Site

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 16:57:00 GMT

by Maya Rajamani, dnaInfo (NY)

A developer who secured an $8 million tax credit for cleaning up a contaminated lot on the West Side plans to build a 57-story tower at the site.

Silverstein Properties last week filed for permits to construct a mixed-use tower on the site of a former Mercedes dealership at 520 W. 41st St., between 10th and 11th avenues, city Department of Buildings records show.

In 2016, Silverstein received $8,028,106 in publicly funded tax credits through the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program for cleaning up the site, a state Department of Environmental Conservation spokeswoman said on Monday.

…

For the entire article, see
https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170815/hells-kitchen-clinton/silverstein-41st-street-permits-filed-brownfield-cleanup-program

DEC taking public comments on Alplaus housing project. Residents oppose proposed plan as too big

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 16:55:36 GMT

by Stephen Williams, Schenectady Daily Gazette (NY)

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is starting its own review of plans to clean up the contaminated site along the Mohawk River where a controversial multi-unit housing development is being proposed.

DEC is seeking public comment on a brownfields cleanup program application filed by Prime Mohawk LLC of Cohoes, the entity that wants to build a 228-unit development on 84 acres at Mohawk Avenue and Maritime Drive. If DEC approves, the program could provide state income tax credits to the developer for cleanup of the former industrial site, so that condominiums or apartments could be built there.

A roughly 34-acre portion of the site is contaminated with PCBs, petroleum residues, volatile organics and metals including mercury, lead and silver, according to DEC. By all accounts, all the contamination has to be removed before any kind of residential development can occur there.

…

For the entire article, se
https://dailygazette.com/article/2017/08/17/brownfield-comments-sought-on-development-site

Gowanus Land That Housed Dodgers Baseball Stadium Slated for Toxic Cleanup

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 16:52:38 GMT

by Caroline Spivack, dna info (NY)

A contaminated Con Edison site that once housed a 19th century baseball stadium is finally slated for an environmental cleanup, officials with the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced.

Con Edison's Yard Service Center - bound by First and Third streets and Third and Fourth avenues - will undergo a cleanse as part of the state's Brownfield Cleanup Program, which gives developers tax breaks in exchange for reviving polluted land.

State officials are taking public comment through Sept. 8 on how to investigate the site's contamination.

...

For the entire article, see https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170817/gowanus/brooklyn-dodgers-brownfield-cleanup-222-first-street-con-edison

On track: Developer of Ludlow Mills, largest brownfield project in New England, continues to secure funding

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 16:51:09 GMT

by Conor Berry, MassLive(MA)

The not-for-profit corporation overseeing the redevelopment of Ludlow Mills, the largest brownfield project in New England, continues to seek and secure funding to overhaul the sprawling mill complex bordering the Chicopee River.

That was the word from Eric Nelson, president and CEO of Westmass Area Development Corporation, at a recent selectmen's meeting, where he updated the board on funding plans and ongoing work at the 170-acre site between the river and State Street.

Much has happened since Westmass bought the property six years ago, according to Nelson. "I believe the board would agree that we're on the upward trend there as far as development," he told selectmen Aug. 8.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2017/08/westmass_ceo_updates_ludlow_selectmen.html

Millions in Brownfields Funds Unused, Inspector General Says

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 16:48:58 GMT

by Sylvia Carignan, BNA Daily Environment Report™

Confusion, inconsistency and a lack of direction from the EPA kept investors away from about $11 million in potential brownfields cleanup funding, according to the agency’s inspector general.

Millions in brownfields grants sit unused in city, county and state accounts, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of the Inspector General reported Aug. 23, meaning millions less for borrowers to invest in site cleanup and land reuse.

“These funds are not being placed into active use as frequently and as fully as they could be and they should be,” Michael Goldstein, managing shareholder of the Goldstein Environmental Law Firm, told Bloomberg BNA.

…

For the entire article, see
https://www.bna.com/millions-brownfields-funds-n73014463544/

New Connecticut Law Authorizes Local Land Banks for Brownfields Redevelopment

Mon, 21 Aug 2017 19:40:17 GMT

by Barry Hersh

Connecticut has joined the growing number of states utilizing Land Banks to encourage redevelopment. On July 5, 2017, Governor Malloy signed legislation allowing for the establishment of local nonprofit land banks that would collaborate with cities and towns to acquire, remediate and redevelop some of the contaminated, or "brownfield,'' sites in the state. Last year Malloy vetoed an earlier version due to tax treatment issues; the signed law resolved those concerns and creates a new mechanism to encourage more brownfield redevelopment; facilitating the use of $200-million in funding Connecticut has recently allocated to brownfields.

The new law allows qualified local Land Banks to operate as private non-stock corporations which are likely to apply for federal 501(c) 3 non-profit status; and be eligible for state and local grants, accept tax exempt contributions and may be exempt from local real estate taxes. Land Banks can help clear title and tax liens, assemble properties, raise funds and facilitate remediation, making these sites more ready for redevelopment. Connecticut currently has one state-wide Land Bank, but the new law allows local qualified Land Banks to serve one or more municipalities – a unique feature designed for a state that does not have county governments. The Connecticut land bank legislation was put forth by the State Brownfield Working Group in collaboration with the state’s offices of environment, economic development and policy, as well as legislative committees. Qualified non-profit Land Banks are distinct from the private owner and institutional practice sometimes called “land-banking”, acquiring property for long term future development.

There are a growing number, now about 170, of qualified non-profit Land Banks in the United States, many at the county level in Michigan and Ohio, aimed primarily at the acquisition and reuse of vacant, abandoned residential lots in distressed communities. The Connecticut law mainly targets former industrial and other brownfields where municipalities may be reluctant to take title. New York’s Empire State Development Corporation recently increased to 25 the number of authorized county Land Banks, some of which have received funding through the Attorney General Office’s dispersal of banks’ foreclosure settlement funds. There are also self-described Community Land Banks which tend to focus on preserving and promoting community gardens and urban open space. Overall, Land Banks have become an important tool for communities to take on various types of challenging redevelopment projects.

Barry Hersh, NYU SPS Schack Institute of Real Estate, has a new book, Urban Redevelopment, which will be published by Routledge on 9/6/17. Mr. Hersh is a long-time member of BCONE and spoke at the 2017 NSCW (as well as at previous NSCWs).

BCONE Advisory Board Member Dave Hurley (Fuss & O’Neill) is an active members of the CT Brownfield Working Group responsible for the legislation described above. It is chaired by BCONE member Gary O’Connor, Esq. of Pullman & Comley.

Destination Dunkirk: Brownfield Opportunity Area Plan will ‘reprogram’ waterfront

Mon, 21 Aug 2017 19:19:03 GMT

by Nicole Gugino, Dunkirk Observer

Not every community has a major resource like Lake Erie on its door step, and even fewer have the untapped potential of the city of Dunkirk’s waterfront.

A plan to make Dunkirk’s waterfront a destination and its Central Avenue business district a corridor to that attraction is in the final stages.

The city started phase two of the Brownfield Opportunity Area planning process over a year ago and according to Planning and Development Director Rebecca Yanus, she expects to have the final draft for review any day now before passing it on to the state for final approval.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.observertoday.com/news/page-one/2017/08/destination-dunkirk/

Think Interim-Use as the Long-Term Vision Takes Shape

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 18:31:25 GMT

by Steve Dwyer

Interim-use brownfields aren’t applicable for every development schema. If you can capitalize on it though, project stakeholders should take full advantage—particularly in densely populated urban settings where individuals don’t have to travel far to take advantage of the interim-use site.

A recent interim-use scenario in the Northeast footprint of BCONE caught our attention: The Hoboken, N.J. Northwest Resiliency Park project. The long-term plan envisions a one-two punch of addressing flooding issues in the northwestern area of Hoboken with a stormwater retention plan as well as providing residents with a green recreational component. The properties are currently undergoing focused Remedial Action activities by BASF, the former property owner. Following the completion of the remedial action, the property was deemed safe for the community’s use by North Brunswick, New Jersey’s Excel Environmental Resources Inc.’s Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP).

The short-term planning process is underway to create a temporary four-acre “pop-up” park so that the Hoboken community can start enjoying the benefits of the green space this summer. The goal of the park is to provide a fun and safe recreational area for the enjoyment of the Hoboken community for the next two to three years while the long-term plan proceeds.

The long-term Hoboken redevelopment, meantime, solves two issues within one ambitious lens: Create open space in a dense urban footprint and build green stormwater infrastructure and subsurface detention to reduce stormwater runoff in the city—long as bugaboo in this city.

Interim-use strategies are helping to breathe life into this project—a concept that has great upside if applicable and if properly executed by its stakeholders.

Seekonk gets grants for contaminated site

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 18:28:59 GMT

by Joseph S. Siegel, Sun Chronicle (MA)

The town has been given a $100,000 brownfields redevelopment grant from the state to assess an industrial mill site off Maple Avenue.

The 105,000-square-foot building which had housed the Attleboro Dyeworks and Finishing Company caught fire in May 2012.

The town hopes to redevelop the property into mixed-income housing and retail space that would provide access to the Ten Mile River.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/seekonk-gets-grants-for-contaminated-site/article_9dc42ee6-25ac-5fdc-9224-7fd1506d0216.html

State: MTA must file new cleanup plan at Yaphank site

Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:51:11 GMT

by Carl MacGowan, Long Island Newsday (NY)

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority must file a new plan to contain or remove contaminated soil from a former Yaphank rail yard because of a change in the state’s hazardous waste site cleanup program, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Conservation said.

A previous remediation plan — in which the soil would be left in place and covered with an asphalt and concrete cap, proposed by the MTA in 2012 — is no longer valid because it was filed under the DEC’s Voluntary Cleanup Program, which is being phased out, DEC spokesman Sean Mahar said.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/state-mta-must-file-new-cleanup-plan-at-yaphank-site-1.13902885

Grossinger’s owner seeks state aid

Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:47:24 GMT

by Daniel Axelrod, Middletown Times Herald-Record (NY)

The owner of the iconic former Grossinger’s Resort is seeking state help to clean soil contamination for what could become step one in building a 300-room hotel and 500 housing units.

In March, representatives of Sullivan Resorts, LLC, a subsidiary of owner Louis Cappelli’s Valhalla-based Cappelli Enterprises, applied for the state Department of Environmental Conservation to designate the former resort site a brownfield and offer clean-up assistance. The state may soon render a decision on the Grossinger’s site, said property manager Henry Zabatta.

Over the next month, Cappelli hopes state officials will approve brownfield status and help pay to remove contamination his environmental consultants say came from old underground fuel tanks, dry-cleaning chemicals and other resort-related sources, Zabatta said.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.recordonline.com/news/20170801/grossingers-owner-seeks-state-aid?start=17

Bringing back Bull's Head

Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:45:13 GMT

by Tim Louis MacalusoRochester City Newspaper (NY)

Up until about the 1950's, the Bull's Head area was a thriving part of the southwest section of the city. Though it's still remembered fondly by many people, particularly in Rochester's African-American community, right now Bull's Head is scarred by vacant lots and abandoned buildings. It's often better known for the free public health clinic on West Main Street than for its large older homes and historic sites.

But more than 100 people joined Mayor Lovely Warren and other city officials at St. Mary's Campus recently for a meeting about the city's plans to try to revitalize Bull's Head. Warren, who opened the meeting, thanked residents and business owners for "sticking with the neighborhood." The road to improving the area has been a long one, she said; planning has been underway for about a decade.
…

For the entire article, see
https://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/bringing-back-bulls-head/Content?oid=3947906

Hot Topics in Remediation and Redevelopment: Regulations, Funding and Creating Sustainable Communities in the New Era of Disruption

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 22:21:46 GMT

More from the 2017 NSCW. If you missed it, enjoy the information. If you were there, enjoy the refresh.

Like many programs focusing on environmental issues, brownfields are facing an uncertain future. Changes in Washington are signaling potential disruptions in the regulatory landscape and funding for programs that support redevelopment. These evolving diverse regulatory and budgetary challenges continue at a fast pace, and tomorrow's issues are likely to be different than today’s.

When we look to the future of brownfields, transactional and planning-driven redevelopment will likely influence the amount of money going to projects. The allocation of the federal budget will continue to shift, and it is essential for brownfield redevelopment practitioners to track and integrate into their planning, the potential loss of federal and as well as state and local funding opportunities.

The integration of sustainable infrastructure and resilient, adaptable design into brownfield projects is critical to preparing our communities to address the impact of extreme weather, flooding, or sea level rise. Support from the federal government for infrastructure, transportation, and other sectors will likely diminish, and local and state governments need to focus their efforts here to address on-the-ground realities. Even considering the unforeseeable outcomes resulting from federal changes, the strength of our communities will rely heavily on local action. Regardless of the constant evolution of programs or funding, brownfield redevelopment will continue to be a crucial component of resilient communities.

BCONE thanks Andrew Welch of CCLR for preparing this summary, and thanks Andrea Poinsett of GEI Consultants for editorial services.

Manufactured gas plant brownfield on Kingston waterfront remediated

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 22:12:46 GMT

Mid-Hudson News (NY)

State environmental officials Thursday announced the completion of a brownfield cleanup at a Kingston industrial site, located at a blighted area along the Rondout Creek waterfront. The work took just over a year and over 30,000 man-hours to finish.

Formerly a manufactured gas production facility, the property, located on Front Street behind the old Millen’s scrapyard, currently serves as a gas regulator facility for the utility.

Christopher Capone, CFO of Central Hudson, which owns the site, said the project was very important, both to his company, and also the surrounding community.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2017/July/28/King_waterfront_remed-28Jul17.html

Termini wants tax breaks for Thin Man Brewery project

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 22:09:46 GMT

by Jonathan D. Epstein, Buffalo News (NY)

Rocco Termini hopes the directors of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency like beer. A lot.

Termini is seeking help from the ECIDA to support his conversion of an old industrial building on Chandler Street into the new home of Thin Man Brewery and a business incubator.

The developer, through his Signature Development Buffalo LLC, has applied for sales and mortgage recording tax breaks for the $4.695 million project, in which he would add 10,000 square feet to the 40,000-square-foot building at 166 Chandler St.

…

The century-old building suffered a fire in 2001 and has been vacant more than 10 years, according to Termini's application. It's "in very bad condition" and is considered an "environmental hazard" because of the fire and prior uses of the building.

…

For the entire article, see
http://buffalonews.com/2017/07/28/termini-wants-tax-breaks-thin-man-brewery-project/

Credere to lead clean up

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 22:00:02 GMT

by Judi Currie, Foster's Daily Democrat (NH)

The city has chosen Credere Associates of Westbrook, Maine, to lead the cleanup effort at Breton’s Cleaners.

In March the City Council authorized Belmore to sign an agreement with the state Department of Environmental Services to accept $178,000 from the state Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund.

Despite not receiving a $200,000 EPA Brownfields grant in the 2016 round of funding, the council opted to move forward with a plan to clean up the former site and demolish the building.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.fosters.com/news/20170724/credere-to-lead-clean-up

Making It in Central Mass.: Restoring region’s environment in wake of industrial age

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 21:45:20 GMT

by Cyrus Moulton, Worcester Telegram (MA)

The juxtaposition on Grand Street in Main South is stark: A renovated, historic factory building with new windows looking into 94 affordable apartments is surrounded by an abandoned, dilapidated conglomeration of industrial buildings and vacant lots.

“Hopefully it will stimulate other work in the area,” said Steve Teasdale, executive director of the Main South Community Development Corp., of the renovated factory.
…
The factories of Central Massachusetts’ industrial age may have largely faded into the past or been repurposed for new uses. But in many cases, a legacy of that age remains: a degraded environment.
…
For the entire article, see
http://www.telegram.com/news/20170729/making-it-in-central-mass-restoring-regions-environment-in-wake-of-industrial-age

Under $1 million to clean up Putnam

Tue, 18 Jul 2017 17:50:56 GMT

by Derek Carson, Bennington Banner (VT)

Cleaning up the Putnam Block is expect to cost just shy $1 million, with the lion's share of the money going towards the removal of a chemical called "trichloroethylene."

The public was largely absent from Wednesday's hearing on the clean-up plan, but project engineers still took the time to go over the plan and answer what questions there were.

The Putnam Block Project is a $54 million renovation plan for the buildings on the southwest side of Bennington's Four Corners. Local investors, including Southwestern Vermont Health Care, Bennington College, Southern Vermont College, the Bank of Bennington, and individuals, plan to invest and take advantage of grants and tax incentives to revitalize the block, and with it hopefully the rest of downtown.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/under-1-million-to-clean-up-putnam,513488

Niagara Region Proposes new incentive program to Redevelop Brownfield Sites

Tue, 18 Jul 2017 17:48:36 GMT

by John Nicholson, Hazmat Magazine

The Niagara Region municipal government, which is made of 30 representatives from 12 area municipalities, recently announced it is changing its incentive program for the revitalization of brownfields. When the changes to the brownfields incentive program are enacted, developers will be eligible to recoup 100 percent of the costs or remediation for brownfield sites. Under the existing program, only development charges were waived.

The revised plan will be beneficial when the cost of soil and groundwater remediation at a brownfield site costs more than development charges.
...
For the entire article, see
http://www.hazmatmag.com/hazmat/niagara-region-proposes-new-incentive-program-redevelop-brownfield-sites/1003275822/

Cold storage to locate on city brownfield

Tue, 18 Jul 2017 17:46:30 GMT

by Nicole Gugino,Dunkirk Observer (NY)

It looks like the lawsuit that prevented a developer from locating in one neighborhood in the city of Dunkirk has not prevented it from setting sights on another.

Neighbors rallied against Great Lake Cold Storage building a freezer facility for Fieldbrook Foods on the empty lot between Central Avenue, Fairview Avenue and Main Street Extension, culminating in an Article 78 lawsuit.

>Many residents at the time suggested an ideal location for the development would be the former Atwater warehouse on Roberts Road. Even Mayor Willie Rosas said if the brownfield had been remediated prior to the developer’s interest it would have been everyone’s first choice.
…
For the entire article, see
https://www.observertoday.com/news/page-one/2017/07/cold-storage-to-locate-on-city-brownfield/

Penn Yan Marine project makes headway

Tue, 18 Jul 2017 17:42:49 GMT

Construction of condominiums, marina slated to begin in fall

by Mike Hibbard, Finger Lake Times (NY)

Several years after a plan to build condominiums and a marina at the former Penn Yan Boat Company site was first pitched, construction could begin later this summer.

Earlier this month, village officials signed closing papers selling the property to Chris Iversen, owner of Gorham-based Iversen Construction. Iversen entered into an agreement with Penn Yan and Yates County through a subsidiary, Keuka Outlet Development, LLC.

Iversen plans to build 42 condo units, a clubhouse and marina at the site, which was home to Penn Yan Boats for nearly 80 years. Iversen has done a number of other high-profile projects in the village, including the Birkett Landing apartment complex along the Keuka Lake Outlet on Water Street and the new Hampton Inn hotel on the lake.
…
The village previously received funding from the state’s Environmental Cleanup Reserve for remedial work at the site, which was a brownfield area. The state Department of Environmental Conservation later issued a certificate of completion for the work.
...
For the entire article, see
http://www.fltimes.com/news/penn-yan-marine-project-makes-headway/article_83dafef6-6639-11e7-871a-27e075c86223.html

From brownfield to green space: Taunton’s F. B. Rogers will re-open as riverfront park in September

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 21:27:42 GMT

by Charles Winokoor, Taunton Gazette (MA)

Kayaks and canoes should be slipping into the Taunton River by mid-September when the new Weir Village Riverfront Park on West Water Street opens to the public, according to Kevin Shea, Taunton’s economic and community development executive director.

The “passive recreation” public park, Shea said, will feature a 16-foot-wide boat ramp catering to kayaks and canoes with a separate aluminum gangway and a floating dock; a 1,000-foot-long paved walking path running parallel to the river; a sidewalk near the street; a small plaza in the middle with granite benches; and elevated lights running along the riverbank fence and in other areas.

…

The city became burdened with what eventually was deemed a contaminated brownfield site on the banks of the Taunton River — after the silver-plating company closed shop in 1986 and left the place vacant.

…

For the entire article, see
http://raynham.wickedlocal.com/news/20170707/from-brownfield-to-green-space-tauntons-f-b-rogers-will-re-open-as-riverfront-park-in-september

Rockefeller Buys 228-Acre NJ Industrial Site

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 21:25:18 GMT

The disposition of the property comes three years after Lincoln Equities and Real Capital acquired it from Dow Chemical subsidiary Union Carbide.

by Barbra Murray, Commercial Property Executive

Lincoln Equities Group and partner Real Capital Solutions just pocketed $57 million on the sale of a 228-acre industrial site in Piscataway, N.J. The partners sold the fully entitled property to The Rockefeller Group, which plans to invest as much as $250 million to develop the site.

The disposition of the property, located off Interstate 287 at 171 River Rd., comes three years after Lincoln Equities and Real Capital acquired it from Dow Chemical subsidiary Union Carbide. The former brownfield site—which Union Carbide fully restored following the closing of a Bakelite plastics manufacturing plant in 1939—has been closed since the 1960s. While most industrial real estate developers were targeting the Interstate 95 corridor, Lincoln Equities saw an opportunity for the Interstate 287 corridor.

…

For the entire article, see
https://www.cpexecutive.com/post/rockefeller-buys-228-acre-nj-industrial-site/

Lewes brownfield clean-up, development to change hands

Fri, 07 Jul 2017 18:51:35 GMT

New developer eyes Arbors of Cottagedale Apartments project

by Maddy Lauria, Cape Gazette (DE)

A 168-unit apartment complex off Plantation Road that would offer affordable housing in the Lewes area is facing more delays as a new developer eyes the project.

The Arbors of Cottagedale Apartments, originally approved with a conditional use by Sussex County officials in 2009, is slated to be built on a current brownfield site. The current owner, CB Lewes LLC, plans to sell the site to a new developer, thus requiring a new brownfield development agreement with the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, said DNREC Site Investigation and Restoration Administrator Tim Ratsep.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.capegazette.com/article/lewes-brownfield-clean-development-change-hands/135120

2018 Budget Plan Puts Cleaning Up Brownfields Above Easing Climate Change

Tue, 23 May 2017 15:21:23 GMT

by Tom Johnson

Budget proposal shifts $6 million from Global Warming Solutions Fund to general budget to help restore contaminated sites

The Christie administration is putting cleaning up contaminated brownfields ahead of trying to ease climate change in its current budget proposal.

In language in the fiscal year 2018 budget, the administration is shifting $6 million in unexpended funds in the Global Warming Solutions Fund to the general budget to provide assistance to developers seeking to return contaminated sites to productive use.

It is not the first, nor probably the last time clean energy funds have been diverted by the administration. Since its inception, it has shifted approximately $1.5 billion in such funds to other purposes, largely to close holes in the state budget. Just last week, the administration announced it was dipping into the state’s Clean Energy Fund, yet again, this time to the tune of $50 million to cover a shortfall in this year’s spending plan, which ends June 30.

The latest budgetary diversion is being done to provide aid to projects that will clean up contaminated brownfields, vacant lands that developers plan to convert to economic uses.

The brownfields program is a two-decade old law that provides tax-increment financing to reimburse developer for up to 75 percent of the cost of cleaning up hazardous wastes on abandoned or underused industrial or commercial properties. It used to be funded by a portion of the corporate business tax, but that money is now being used to preserve open spaces and farmland, another indication of shifting priorities in developing an annual state budget.

The Global Warming Solutions Fund was financed by a tax on power plants that emitted pollution contributing to climate change under a multistate effort known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Gov. Chris Christie pulled New Jersey out of the program in 2011, calling it a tax on utility customers. Prior to pulling out, New Jersey had received $113 million from the program for various clean-energy initiatives, but some of the money was never spent. Most of the money never went to its intended purposes, however, according to the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services.

If lawmakers get their way, New Jersey will rejoin RGGI under a bill (A-4701) that cleared the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on Thursday. The legislation, opposed by business lobbyists for potentially increasing energy costs, is unlikely to be signed by the Republican governor, who has blocked efforts to rejoin the initiative in the past.

The measure enjoys broad support from Democratic lawmakers, clean-energy advocates, and environmentalists, however, who hope to see it enacted by a new governor early next year.

New Jersey has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. In a report put out by the state Department of Environmental Protection, the RGGI program was identified as one of the crucial components of achieving that goal.

View the Presentations from the May 4, 2017, NJDEP Regulatory Update

Fri, 12 May 2017 17:49:11 GMT

On May 4, 2017, NJSWEP and BCONE Co-Hosted the annual NJDEP Regulatory Update. The event is well-attended each year and presenters provide up-to-date information on the current regulatory environment at the NJDEP. You can view a copy of each presentation by clicking on the following links:

Sana Qureshi, Site Remediation & Waste Management Program > SRWMP-Update-2017.pdf

Rich Boornazian, National and History Resources > Natural-History-Resources-Update-2017.pdf

Dave Rosenblatt, DEP Engineering and Construction > Engineering-Construction-Update-2017.pdf

Ginger Kop'kash, Land Use Management > Land-Use-Regulatory-Update-2017.pdf

Frank Steitz, Division of Air Quality > Air-Quality-Rule-Update-2017.pdf

Ray Bukowski, Compliance and Enforcement > Compliance-Enforcement-Updates-2017.PDF

Gladys Giron, Office of Communications > Social-Media-Update-2017.pdf

Dan Kennedy, Water Resource Management > Water-Resource-Mgmt-Update-2017.pdf

CityViews: Brownfield Redevelopment Must Include More Affordable Housing

Tue, 09 May 2017 20:19:57 GMT

by Ross Hoffman;City Limits (NY)

New York City is experiencing an affordable-housing crisis: working-class neighborhoods are being redeveloped into luxury apartment buildings. As a result, property values increase, leading to rising rents. The original residents of the community have two options: struggle to pay the rent or face eviction.

It is not a coincidence that the number of homeless New Yorkers sleeping each night in municipal shelters is 78 percent higher than it was ten years ago. This number is even higher if you include people sleeping on a friend’s sofa. There are over 60,000 homeless people living in New York City.

Many of the homeless are employed with decent jobs, such as security guards and assistant teachers, but after paying the family’s bills are unable to afford rising rents. These working-class New Yorkers end up in overcrowded and cramped homeless shelters. Since the 1980s, the city has been supplementing the shelters by placing homeless people into hotels – clearly a problem exists.

…

For the entire column, see

http://citylimits.org/2017/05/08/cityviews-brownfield-redevelopment-must-include-more-affordable-housing/

County Executive Bellone Announces Suffolk Landbank To Revitalize Additional Brownfield Sites In Babylon, Brookhaven And Islip

Mon, 08 May 2017 15:05:47 GMT

LONG ISLAND NEWS & PRESS

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today announced that the Suffolk County Landbank has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to revitalize nine blighted, environmentally distressed sites in the Towns of Babylon, Brookhaven and Islip that have been tax-delinquent for an average of 16 years. This is the second time the Landbank has issued a series of RFPs with the intention of placing blighted properties back on the tax roll to improve the region’s economy and facilitate the clean-up of potentially environmentally challenged sites. Proposals are due on June 12, 2017.

“We will use every tool in our arsenal to revitalize these neglected properties into tax-paying entities and transform each community,” said County Executive Bellone. “I encourage anyone interested to submit their proposal to the Suffolk County Landbank as we continue to make progress is restoring promise to these locations."

…

For the entire article, see http://www.longisland.com/news/05-04-17/county-executive-bellone-announces-suffolk-landbank-to-revitalize-additional-brownfield-sites.html

$50 million housing project planned for old Buffalo Forge site

Mon, 01 May 2017 14:52:47 GMT

by Mike Despond, WBFO Public Radio (Buffalo, NY)

If you head east on Broadway from downtown Buffalo, you won't go very far before you see a very large tract of green grass on your left. That seemingly open land near an old theater may be the eventual home of 189 housing units.

Developers are calling it The Forge on Broadway. The name is in remembrance of the vast industrial complex once on the land. That was Buffalo Forge, a pioneer in ventilation and air conditioning and eventually sold out of town, with the building left to rot for decades before being demolished.

…

For the entire article, see

http://news.wbfo.org/post/50-million-housing-project-planned-old-buffalo-forge-site

Another Riverfront? Wilmington to restore Brandywine brownfield

Fri, 21 Apr 2017 15:58:25 GMT

by Christina Jedra, Wilmington News Journal (DE)

Wilmington's Riverfront features restaurants, a boardwalk and a nature center, but 20 years ago it looked a lot like the weedy patch of land at 14th and Church streets today near the Brandywine River.

"Our 'before' (picture) over there didn't look any better than this one," said Mayor Mike Purzycki standing at the site. "It was pretty forlorn."

The Brandywine site's "after" picture is yet to be determined, but officials believe it could become an economic driver for northeast Wilmington. To further that goal, the Environmental Protection Agency announced the award of a $197,500 grant to Wilmington on Thursday. The money will be used to study cleanup and development options for the 14th Street site and another location at 12th Street and Governor Printz Boulevard.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2017/04/20/another-riverfront-wilmington-restore-brandywine-brownfield/100702752/

EPA Brownfields Funding to Revitalize Allison Hill Section of Harrisburg

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 18:05:58 GMT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $200,000 Brownfields area-wide planning grant today to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Harrisburg to help plan for health, environmental and economic improvements for the city’s Allison Hill section.

“This area-wide planning approach sparks the kind of economic development that meets the needs of neighborhoods, and leads to vibrant communities,” said acting EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Cecil Rodrigues, speaking at a press conference at the Hamilton Health Center. “We know that revitalization works best when local communities are directly involved in the process.”

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) used EPA Brownfields funds to clean up a large vacant parcel of land that was once Allison Hill Automotive where the Hamilton Hill Health Center now stands. This property is adjacent to the target area for the new Area Wide Planning grant. The cleanup consisted of removing buildings contaminated with asbestos, and underground storage tanks, as well as treating contaminated soil and groundwater.

With this new EPA funding, the Redevelopment Authority will collaborate with partners to plan the cleanup, as well as the revitalization, and infrastructure upgrades that are necessary for neighborhood revitalization. The partners include: PADEP; the City of Harrisburg; the Harrisburg School District; Hamilton Health Center; and, numerous community based organizations such as Tri-County Community Action, and YWCA of Greater Harrisburg.

"Along with the City of Harrisburg, we are extremely grateful for our long list of community partners,” said Bryan Davis, Executive Director for the Redevelopment Authority. “This EPA funding is crucial to our goals of protecting the health of South Allison Hill’s families, especially the children – while simultaneously removing barriers to economic development and neighborhood improvements that enhance our quality of life.”

Since the federal brownfields law was passed in 2001, EPA’s brownfields program has assessed and cleaned up thousands of contaminated brownfields sites, returning more than 66,000 acres of land to productive reuse nationwide. The program has created or retained more than 122,000 jobs and leveraged more than $23.7 billion in redevelopment investment in brownfields communities.

In Pennsylvania, EPA has awarded $66 million in brownfields funding that has been used for assessing nearly 1,000 sites and cleaning up 60.

For more information on the grant recipients: http://epa.gov/brownfields/areawide_grants.htm.

On toxic site abandoned for decades, developer sees townhouses sprouting in Chesco

Tue, 11 Apr 2017 20:20:40 GMT

by Michaelle Bond, Philadelphia Inquirer (PA)

Asleep after a long day at her social-work job, Peggy Miros was jolted awake by a booming voice through a loudspeaker urging her and her neighbors to evacuate their homes.

A cloud of toxic gas had formed when chemicals accidentally combined at the steel tube manufacturer next to her housing development in East Whiteland Township, Chester County, in the early morning hours of June 9, 1981.

…

The EPA later found trichloroethylene (TCE), a degreasing agent linked to cancer, in the property's groundwater. The former Bishop Tube Co. site, which produced stainless steel tubes from the 1950s until 1999, now is host to graffitied and dilapidated buildings, shattered windows, cracked concrete, and overgrown vegetation, one of more than 450,000 contaminated “brownfields” across the nation.

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/toxic-brownfield-development-East-Whiteland-ONeill-DEP-Bishop-Tube-Malvern.html

Federal brownfield program in question, but Connecticut’s program remains strong

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 18:00:37 GMT

by Katrina Courting, Danbury News-Times (CT)

President Donald Trump has proposed sharp cuts to the federal agency that helps turn brownfields into productive properties, but Connecticut officials say that won’t keep the state from pressing forward with its own brownfield programs.

Connecticut has about 1,000 brownfields: properties that are blighted, vacant or underutilized but ripe for cleanup and redevelopment.

Most brownfield efforts are undertaken by private owners or by municipalities. In Connecticut, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection oversees the regulatory components of any needed cleanup while the state Department of Economic and Community Development handles funding and redevelopment.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Federal-brownfield-program-in-question-but-11044634.php

Katko wants to preserve EPA's Brownfields program, eyes $250M for cleanup grants

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 14:51:04 GMT

by Robert Harding, Auburn Citizen (NY)

As President Donald Trump seeks to slash funding for the Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields program, U.S. Rep. John Katko wants to preserve the initiative - and fund it at higher levels than it receives now.

Katko, R-Camillus, and U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, a Connecticut Democrat, unveiled legislation Thursday that reauthorizes the Brownfields program, which technically expired in 2006, through fiscal year 2022. The members of Congress also want $250 million a year to fund the program and increase the cleanup grant amounts from $200,000 to $600,000.

The bill would also expand eligibility to include community development organizations, limited liability corporations and nonprofits.

…

For the entire article, see

http://auburnpub.com/blogs/eye_on_ny/katko-wants-to-preserve-epa-s-brownfields-program-eyes-m/article_c329294a-1556-11e7-a360-4348179c9395.html

Cleanup plan in the works for Newfields Brownfields site

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 14:47:25 GMT

>by Sabrina Meriano, Seacoast Online (NH)

Tropic Star LLC, owner/developer of 31 Route 108, is in the midst of developing the property into a gas station/convenience store. However, the lot is currently classified as a Brownfield site with environmental contaminants that need to be dealt with before it can be redeveloped.

…

Tropic Star filed a remedial action plan, or RAP, with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to address the issue.

Environmental investigations identified the soils on the property, as well as part of a Department of Transportation right-of-way, as being impacted by hydrocarbons similar to coal tar. This could be the result of the site having been used for auto repair businesses from the late 1960s up until approximately 2001.

>…

For the entire article, see

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20170330/cleanup-plan-in-works-for-newfields-brownfields-site

Mass. Schools, Town To Benefit From Brownfield Solar

Thu, 02 Mar 2017 19:17:40 GMT

by Joseph Bebon, Solar Industry

Renewable energy company Soltage LLC and independent power producer Tenaska have completed a 3.68 MW ground-mounted solar project in Billerica, Mass.

According to the companies, the project is located on a brownfield site and will generate 4,445 MWh of clean energy annually for four school systems and one local government through 20-year virtual net-metering credit agreements. Project off-takers include the Town of Barre, Mass.; the Tantasqua Regional School District; the Wachusetts Regional School District; the Ralph Mahar Regional School District; and the Petersham Center School.

The project is located on a 553-acre brownfield industrial complex that included manufacturing and rail yard maintenance facilities, open storage areas, landfills, and former wastewater lagoons surrounded by residential properties and wetlands.

...

For the entire article, see

http://solarindustrymag.com/mass-schools-town-to-benefit-from-brownfield-solar

Plan for Huntington brownfield properties unveiled

Thu, 02 Mar 2017 19:15:11 GMT

by Josephine Mendez, Huntington Herald-Dispatch (WV)

Plans for how the city of Huntington can transform three post-industrial brownfield properties into usable and productive space were unveiled to the public Tuesday night during an open house at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena Conference Center.

The proposed plans include the addition of a baseball field, residential units, a hotel and space for offices and commercial development in an area that encompasses 27th Street to 20th Street between 3rd Avenue and the Ohio River and includes the former Ingram Barge, the McGinnis property and the ACF complex.

These plans are the culmination of a year-long community planning process that has involved interactive workshops and other public outreach initiatives to collect input from residents, which has been the first step in the city's Brownfields Planning and Redevelopment Project.

...

For the entire article, see

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/plan-for-huntington-brownfield-properties-unveiled/article_38e3b79c-32f4-5054-ab5b-443e0f75db2c.html

Proposed EPA Cuts Incense State Funding Proponents

Thu, 02 Mar 2017 18:50:59 GMT

BCONE Board member Larry Schapf and the Executive Director, Sue Boyle, provided insight to BNA for this article on the proposed budget cuts to the USEPA.

March 1, 2017 7:18PM ET

• Proposal would gut more than 20 grants and programs

• Suggested cuts contingent on EPA, congressional approval

• Proposal appears to contradict Pruitt, Trump's priorities for local economies, state authority

By Sylvia Carignan

(BNA) -- Environmental activists and former EPA staffers are shocked about proposed deep cuts to the agency's grants to states and skeptical those cuts can survive congressional scrutiny, while some Republicans say reining in EPA's budget is necessary.

Under a proposal from the Office of Management and Budget that circulated March 1 among environmental activists and associations, the Environmental Protection Agency could cut its grants to states by 30 percent in fiscal year 2018, putting about 20 grants on the chopping block.

The cuts are subject to congressional approval. The EPA has one day, March 1, to protest the suggestions.

Bill Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, sent an email to members March 1 about the proposed cuts.

The EPA has not verified the information in the email and has not provided responses to Bloomberg BNA's questions about the budget.

The proposal identified at least 22 grants and programs that would not be funded in fiscal year 2018, including those for the agency's Brownfields program, Energy Star, environmental justice, climate change research and health research.

The budget proposal also includes a 20 percent cut in EPA staff. The EPA's overall budget could be cut by 25 percent.

Contradicting Pruitt's Promise

“What people don't understand is a substantial portion of EPA resources go either directly to states, or what's technically called STAG,” the agency's State and Tribal Assistance Grants, said Mathy Stanislaus, former assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management.

Those grants have been the largest part of EPA's budget request in past years. They formed about 40 percent of the agency's fiscal year 2016 and 2017 budgets. About $3.3 billion of EPA's fiscal year 2017 budget was allocated for STAG.

The grants help states and tribes comply with EPA regulations and fund environmental projects. But the cuts contradict EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's promise to place more control in states’ hands, Becker said.

“We were expecting state grant programs were going to increase,” he told Bloomberg BNA. “Now we just have no idea what Congress is going to do.”

Gutting Brownfields Funding

Stanislaus said the decision to cut Brownfields grants doesn't align with Pruitt's or President Donald Trump's priorities.

“This does not make any sense,” he told Bloomberg BNA. “The Brownfields program is one of those programs that provides resources for local communities for economic development.”

The Brownfields program is currently funded at $80 million, though President Barack Obama asked for the program to get an additional $10 million in his most recent request. According to Becker's email, Brownfields grants would be cut to zero in fiscal year 2018.

Sue Boyle, head of the New Jersey Licensed Site Remediation Professional Association, said local officials are trying to figure out what that could mean for them.

“Everybody in my line of work has been trying to read the tea leaves,” she said.

In New Jersey, state-offered brownfields grants outnumber federal ones, she said. Cutting federal money may persuade grantees to seek grants at the state level.

“There are going to be states where the state programs are utilized even more than they were,” if federal funding is slashed, she said.

Larry Schnapf, chair of the Environmental Law section of the New York State Bar Association, said he doesn't think the federal brownfieldscuts will make it through Congress. Cutting brownfields grants, which have enjoyed bipartisan support in past years, is “contrary to 20 years of federal policy,” he said.

“I just think this is budget cutters that are just looking for areas to trim, and I think there will be significant opposition,” Schnapf said.

Gone for Good?

Some of the programs listed have been left off past Democratic- and Republican-proposed budgets. In some cases, the agency cuts back on certain programs with the expectation that Congress will boost the numbers in the appropriations process. The popular clean water and drinking water state revolving funds, grants to state-run loan programs for rebuilding old water systems, are one example.

But Becker doesn't think Congress will revive the programs targeted in the budget document.

“You don't play games with that, especially in a budget period when there's going to be immense competition among budget programs,” he said. “I don't think they're playing that game assuming that Congress is going to fund programs.”

Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior Environment and Related Agencies, is concerned about some of the proposed EPA-wide cuts.

“When you're talking about cuts of that magnitude, you really are going to make (a) tremendous difference,” he said.

But Hal Rogers, (R-Ky.), a House Appropriations member and former chairman, said the agency still has fat to trim.

“I think EPA could stand the cuts. We've cut them back to 1989 staffing levels, but I still think they've been overextending their authority, even all the while,” Rogers said.

Marked for Cuts

Several of the programs on the list, including the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant program, were also targeted for funding cuts or elimination under the Obama administration.

Congress generally rejected Obama's proposed cuts to popular environmental grant programs, and in some cases, provided additional funding.

The DERA program, which funds projects to upgrade or replace older, higher-emitting diesel engines, is one of the EPA programs that saw its funding levels increase in recent years. The program's current annual funding level is $50 million, compared to $20 million in both fiscal 2013 and 2014.

Pruitt has indicated support for the DERA program. He said in a Feb. 24 statement announcing the grant that the EPA was “thrilled” to provide a $1 million grant to Alabama that will be used to replace a diesel-powered ferry with a 100 percent electric ferry.

“This is a tremendous example of how EPA collaboration with state partners can produce environmental as well as economic benefits,” Pruitt said. “These grants provide not only environmental and health benefits by eliminating exposure to diesel exhaust, but cost-effectiveness as well.”

Reliance on Federal Funds

The Association of Clean Water Administrators, which represents state and interstate water pollution agencies, hasn't been able to verify the cuts, but told Bloomberg BNA that their members rely heavily on state and tribal grants. For instance, the Clean Water Act's Section 319 grants are used to address nonpoint sources of pollution, such as agricultural runoff containing nitrogen and phosphorus that cause algae blooms and subsequent fish kills.

“Robust STAG funding is essential to implementation of environmental programs delegated to states, and significant cuts to state funding would seem to counter the messaging from the administration that states and EPA ‘are partners’ in carrying out the work of protecting public health and the environment,” Julia Anastasio, the association's executive director and general counsel, said when asked about the impact of the cuts.

The largest chunk of the state and tribal grants includes money for the state revolving funds for drinking water and clean water programs that provide a combination of low-interest loans and grants to municipalities to repair, rehabilitate and rebuild aging water infrastructure.

Pruitt told Bloomberg BNA he has been quietly pushing the White House to set aside funding for water infrastructure, but it is unclear how much of a priority that will be for the agency.

Ironically, Trump pledged during his campaign and after his election to triple these funds to the levels enacted in 2009 in his quest to improve and rebuild the nation's crumbling infrastructure.

In prior years, the Obama administration has proposed to zero out grants to monitor water quality at beaches, but Congress has always restored it during the appropriations process.

It is unclear, however, whether the Trump administration is proposing cuts to the beach grants program or some other research program within the EPA.

A year ago, Obama requested about $9.6 million in his fiscal 2017 budget to improve the water quality in the Long Island Sound in New York, Lake Champlain in Vermont, San Francisco Bay and South Florida. Congress, in response, appropriated $14.8 million for all three programs.

Little Change for Chemicals

Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of Bergeson & Campbell PC, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm that specializes in chemical and pesticide regulations, told Bloomberg BNA this is good news for the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Office, which oversees both chemicals and pesticides.

The OMB did not recommend any cuts to either the chemicals or pesticides offices, she said.

That gives the EPA flexibility. Given the Trump administration's priorities, the agency could choose surgical cuts in the budgets and staff within the air and water offices, while ensuring the chemicals and pesticides program have the resources they need to function, Bergeson said.

Both the chemicals and pesticides office are starved for staff right now, given the attrition that occurs at the end of every administration, she said.

Cuts in the chemicals program are not sustainable if the EPA is to deliver the enhanced chemical oversight Republicans and Democrats approved when they amended the Toxic Substances Control Act in 2016, Bergeson said.

Jack Pratt, chemicals campaign director at the Environmental Defense Fund, told Bloomberg BNA: “You can't burn down my house and still expect me to cook dinner just because the kitchen's still standing.”

“These type of drastic funding cuts would hobble the agency across the board and would be certain to affect every program, even the ones not specifically targeted,” Pratt said.

But he said a lot of work remains ahead.

“We are hopeful that the more responsible voices on both sides of the aisle will see this for what it is: a press release budget that might play well in certain circles, but will be dead on arrival in Congress,” he said.

—With assistance from Patrick Ambrosio, Brian Dabbs, Pat Rizzuto, Amena Saiyid and Tiffany Stecker.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sylvia Carignan in Washington at scarignan@bna.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Larry Pearl at lpearl@bna.com

Daily Environment Report

Sprague Seeks Funds For Mill Remediation

Wed, 22 Feb 2017 18:11:53 GMT

by Janice Steinhagen, Hartford Courant (CT)

Sprague officials welcomed news that one of two separate grant applications for brownfield remediation at Baltic Mill had been approved by the state.

Gov. Dannel Malloy announced Feb. 14 that Sprague would be receiving a $2 million grant to "abate, demolish, and remediate" the 16-acre site of a former textile mill.

"This property at the heart of our town has the potential to have an extremely positive impact on our community, and I am very pleased that the state continues to see the merit in helping towns revitalize former mill sites," said Sen. Cathy Osten, who is also the first selectman of Sprague. "This project will not only improve the aesthetics of our town for those who reside here, but will spur economic and social growth along our stretch of the Shetucket River."

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.courant.com/community/sprague/hc-kn-0223-sprague-baltic-mill-remediation-20170221-story.html

BCONE offers support for new training program

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 20:54:11 GMT

BCONE recently provided a letter of support and commitment agreement for Bergen Community College's application under the Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grant program. You can view a copy of the letter that was submitted by clicking here.

2016 Brownfield Opportunity Area Program Grants - EXTENDED

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 20:49:45 GMT

The deadline for applications for grants from the Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) program has been extended until 5:00 PM, Friday, April 7, 2017. The funding is from the $2 million allotted to the BOA program in the 2016 Environmental Protection Fund. Grants are available to communities already participating in the program; new communities are not being considered at this time.

Please note that an applicant other than the original grantee may apply for funding to complete a BOAQuestions about the grant program should be directed by e-mail to:
Sarah Crowell, Sarah.Crowel@dos.ny.gov

Brownfields grant OK’d for park site cleanup along Mystic River

Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:54:47 GMT

by Brooke Constance, White Sun staff writer

The state has approved the town’s application for a $200,000 brownfields assessment grant to investigate environmental contamination at the Mystic River Boathouse Park property along Greenmanville Avenue.

The award, which comes through the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development, will provide funding for the first step in the remediation and capping of the coal and slag on the waterfront site from previous residential and industrial activities.

Last month, the town signed the $2.2 million purchase agreement for the 1.5-acre property. Since then, town officials have begun moving forward with the site’s transformation into a public waterfront park and boathouse for the high school’s crew team with the creation of an implementation committee to oversee the project.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/stonington/9978341-154/brownfields-grant-okdfor-park-site.html

Whole Foods Got $12.9M Tax Credit For Building in Polluted Gowanus: Data

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 22:56:17 GMT

by Leslie Albrecht, DNA Info (NY)

Gourmet grocer Whole Foods earned $12.9 million in publicly funded tax credits for building a store on contaminated land it cleaned up next to the Gowanus Canal, according to recently released data.

The high-end store's first foray into Brooklyn helped gentrify Gowanus and also helped the company's bottom line through its participation in the state's Brownfield Cleanup Program, which gives developers taxpayer-funded financial incentives for cleaning up and then building on toxic sites.

Data released Jan. 31 by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, which runs the Brownfield Cleanup Program, show that in 2016 Whole Foods received two tax credits totaling $12,743,942 for building the Gowanus store. The credits are based on the value of the developed property. Whole Foods spent $63,719,710 to construct the store, according to DEC records.

…

For the entire article, see

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170207/gowanus/whole-foods-third-avenue-street-tax-breaks

Vienna looking forward to Spencer’s Landing development

Thu, 02 Feb 2017 00:53:29 GMT

by Jeff Saulton, Parkersburg News and Sentinel (WV)

While a lot of work has been done on the new Spencer’s Landing in Vienna, there is still a lot of work left to do to make about half of the 35-acre site suitable for post-industrial development.

Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp said the city applied for a Brownfields grant last May and even if the city does not receive the grant, it has received what he called “outstanding help” from the Brownfields Center in Morgantown and the regional council.

Rapp said the project has received a lot of help from a council member who ran on a platform of moving forward with redevelopment plans and took office at the beginning of this year.

...

For the entire article, see

http://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2017/01/vienna-looking-forward-to-spencers-landing-development/

BCONE Writes to Governor Cuomo of New York State in Support of Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Funding

Wed, 18 Jan 2017 20:44:02 GMT

On January 11, 2017, BCONE President Steve Jaffe submitted a letter to Governor Cuomo in support of the $2 million dollars recently allotted for BOA grants in the current budget year. That funding will go to communities that are already in the program and are working toward official designation, which will make their brownfield sites eligible for enhanced tax credits. BCONE also asked that the program be reinvigorated to a degree that would allow for new communities to seek BOA status.

To see the full letter, go to bcone-gov-letter-on-BOA-2017_FINAL_01-11-16.pdf.

USEPA's Climate Smart Brownfields Manual

Wed, 18 Jan 2017 20:11:39 GMT

The USEPA finalized and recently posted on their website a new document to assist communities and brownfields stakeholders with considering climate mitigation and resiliency when assessing, cleaning up, and redeveloping brownfields properties. Please share this document with your communities, grantees, and other stakeholders.

The Climate Smart Brownfields Manual: This manual is an excellent resource for communities that want to consider climate change as they assess, clean up, or redevelop brownfield sites. It provides guidance on best practices for climate change mitigation, adaption, and resilience at all stages of Brownfields work, from planning to redevelopment. In addition, the manual contains case studies and links to additional resources that communities can use as they develop Brownfields project plans.

https://www.epa.gov/land-revitalization/revitalization-tools-communities

A lot of potential on Western Avenue

Wed, 11 Jan 2017 19:57:18 GMT

by Thomas Grillo, Lynn Item (MA)

More than 20 years after a Western Avenue gas station closed and left a blighted lot behind, the city is hoping it will be the next location for much needed housing.

Lynn Economic Development and Industrial Corp. (EDIC), the city's nonprofit development bank, has applied for a $200,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant to clean up the so-called brownfield site and make it safe for homes. Brownfields are abandoned contaminated commercial sites.

The saga began in 1988 when the Lynn J. Robert Corp. of Peabody and Jerome Sousa of North Hampton, N.H., acquired the 12,288-square-foot lot at no cost, according to the Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds. In 2012, the city seized the abandoned station for nonpayment of $2,296 in real estate taxes.

...

For the entire article, see

http://www.itemlive.com/news/a-lot-of-potential-on-western-avenue/

Residents praise 600 River Road project in North Tonawanda

Thu, 05 Jan 2017 20:24:47 GMT

by Mia Summerson, Niagara Gazette (NY)

City residents offered primarily favorable comments regarding a development project proposed for a remediated Brownfield site on River Road.

Rock One Development of Clarence has requested assistance from the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency in the form of a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) program to help them construct a 100-unit apartment and townhouse complex at 600 River Road.

Rock One owner Lou Visone said their research has shown that there is in an interest in waterfront housing in North Tonawanda.

"Marketing studies have shown that people want to live on, or near, the water," he said. "It's the water that is the draw. They enjoy the canal system and the river system and the view."
...

For the entire article, see
http://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/residents-praise-river-road-project/article_97bde501-295c-5185-a464-c49629d52430.html

Distressed cities await Christie decision on extending business zones

Thu, 05 Jan 2017 20:22:05 GMT

by our colleagues at the Southern NJ Development Council

Urban enterprise zones that allow businesses to charge a reduced sales tax expired in five New Jersey cities Dec. 31, but legislation to renew them for two years still has a chance.

Gov. Chris Christie has until the end of the month to decide whether to sign the measure that would allow the UEZs in Newark, Camden, Trenton, Bridgeton, and Plainfield to continue and make the tax reduction retroactive to Jan. 1.

Established decades ago, the program sought to give an economic boost to struggling communities.

Michael Darcy, the executive director of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, said Tuesday the uncertainty is tough on businesses located in those zones. "They have to decide whether it may be more advantageous to relocate outside of the zone to an area that offers different benefits for their business," he said. "If these businesses do relocate, it then imposes a greater tax burden on other businesses and residents within the community as a whole."

That scenario is more likely to unfold in Camden and Trenton, according to Michael Cerra, assistant executive director of the New Jersey League of Municipalities.

200-plus housing units proposed for Green Island brownfield

Tue, 03 Jan 2017 15:22:02 GMT

by Nicholas Buonanno, Troy Record (NY)

The village could soon see new quality housing opportunities with a recent proposed 250 housing unit development near the Hudson River.

Sean Ward, who is the executive assistant to Green Island Mayor Ellen McNulty-Ryan, said that this proposal is for the south end of Center Island, closer to the Green Island Bridge. Peter Luizzi & Bros. Contracting of Albany is proposing the over $50 million development project in the village on Osgood Avenue.

Center Island does already have apartments on the north end of it, but this proposal would add over two-hundred housing units between Green Island and Troy.

"They are looking to build quality housing, along with nice quality life-amenities, such as a marina, offices, restaurants and shops on the southern tip of the island," explained Ward.

A few months ago, village officials submitted an application with the state Department of Environmental Conservation to accept the proposed project into the state Brownfield Cleanup Program.

...

For the entire article, see

http://www.troyrecord.com/general-news/20161220/200-plus-housing-units-proposed-for-green-island-brownfield

New solar farm in Edison comes online in December

Tue, 03 Jan 2017 15:03:48 GMT

by Pamela MacKenzie, My Central Jersey

Public Service Electric & Gas, New Jersey's oldest and largest publicly owned utility, is about to bring a new solar farm online in Edison.

This solar array, which will produce 7.75 megawatts of power — enough to power 1,300 homes — is one of the last sites to come online in the current phase of the utility's Solar 4 All program. When completed, PSE&G will be generating nearly 125 megawatts of power through the Solar 4 All program, which includes arrays on utility poles in North, Central and South Jersey (40 megawatts) and other solar facilities on buildings, brownfields and other sites.

The new solar array, which has been under construction since June of 2016, is built on the old ILR landfill. It is PSE&G's second solar farm on a landfield or brownfield in Edison. The first was at the PSE&G-owned Silver Lake site at the foot of Silver Lake Avenue, which was polluted around the time of the Civil War.

...

For the entire article, see http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/how-we-live/2016/12/17/new-solar-farm-edison-comes-online-month/95331544/

Planting digital seeds: Former GM site in Massena would be good spot for server farm

Thu, 15 Dec 2016 21:12:51 GMT

Watertown Daily Times (NY)

Community leaders have been debating how to best use the land in Massena where General Motors once stood, an issue that requires serious contemplation.

St. Lawrence County previously received a Brownfield Opportunity Area grant from the New York Department of State to draft a plan for how to use the site. Since the GM plant closed, the property has undergone cleanup efforts to remove contaminated soil.

"The Massena Site Brownfield Opportunity Area Revitalization Plan (Massena BOA) process is building upon the substantial efforts of the North Country Revitalization Task Force, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and site owner RACER Trust to help transform the site into a community asset and a force in driving the recovery of the regional economy," according to information on the website for the Massena Site Brownfield Opportunity Area Revitalization Plan. "Since the closure of the former GM Massena plant in 2009, the North Country Revitalization Task Force has brought together municipalities (town of Massena, village of Massena, St. Lawrence County), St. Regis Mohawk tribal government, businesses, economic development agencies, organized labor and property owners to advance revitalization opportunities for the local economy."

For the entire article, see

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/opinion/planting-digital-seeds-former-gm-site-in-massena-would-be-good-spot-for-server-farm-20161210

City seeks better understanding of brownfields, market, with new study

Thu, 15 Dec 2016 21:08:38 GMT

by Ben Lambert, Torrington Register Citizen (CT)

The city is working to turn brownfield sites, which are common in the city and can decrease surrounding property values, into economic boons, using a new brownfield-area revitalization study.

Valarie Ferro of Good Earth Advisors and Geoffery Fitzgerald, manager of civil engineering with BL Companies, came before Economic Development Commission and other city officials Tuesday to give an overview of the study, which is being largely funded by a $200,000 grant received from the state in January.

Aspects of the planned study include a market analysis, with the aim of bringing the people and demographics of Litchfield County into Torrington — the city’s status as the center of a micropolitan area was noted during the discussion — consideration of past environmental studies, and design of potential infrastructure projects, including the Naugatuck River Greenway and a pedestrian plaza on Franklin Street, if that five-way intersection is permanently closed.
…

For the entire article, see
http://www.registercitizen.com/government-and-politics/20161213/city-seeks-better-understanding-of-brownfields-market-with-new-study

PSEG close to approval for 33 MW of brownfield, landfill solar

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 16:09:26 GMT

by Peter Maloney, Utility Dive

* Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) is awaiting approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for its plans to develop 33 MW of solar projects at existing landfill and brownfield locations.

* PSEG subsidiary Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) in May asked BPU to expand its "Solar 4 All" program to allow it to invest $275 million to install 100 MW of solar capacity on landfill and brownfield sites by 2022.

...

For the entire article, see

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/pseg-close-to-approval-for-33-mw-of-brownfield-landfill-solar/429895/

Moundsville Brownfield Sites are Identified

Wed, 09 Nov 2016 20:58:42 GMT

  by Alan Olson, Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register (WV)

  Unlike many cities where blight is concentrated in speci!c neighborhoods, Moundsville's vacant and dilapidated buildings are spread throughout town, according to a study by the Northern West Virginia Brown!elds Assistance Center.

  Luke Elser, the organization's project manager, spoke before the city council at their meeting Tuesday evening to present their !ndings, joined with Rick Healy, from the Bel-O-Mar Regional Council. The majority of vacant buildings studied were in good to decent condition. Sixty were in poor condition, with just two being recommended for demolition.

  The unique trait Moundsville had, Elser said, was its lack of a "bad neighborhood" where many buildings were in disrepair - rather, the identi!ed structures were evenly spread throughout the city.

...

  For the entire article, see

  http://www.theintelligencer.net/news/community/2016/11/moundsville-brownfield-sites-are-identified/

Brownfield + NYS incentives = new 500 Seneca Street

Wed, 09 Nov 2016 20:57:30 GMT

by Chris Caya, WBFO Public Radio (Buffalo, NY)

The name "brownfield" may not sound appealing. In fact, New York State offers incentives to clean up contaminated properties. One successful project has reopened after sitting vacant for nearly a decade.

The former F.N. Burt building near Buffalo's Larkinville neighborhood officially reopened in February as 500 Seneca Street. Development partner Sam Savarino said adaptive reuse projects are challenging in the best of times.

"The building had two strikes against it: being in the neighborhood it was in and the fact that it was contaminated. So without programs like the Brownfield Tax Credit program and, in the case of this building, the Historic Tax Credit program because it is a landmark building, without those types of programs it simply wouldn't happen," Savarino said.

...

For the entire article, see

http://news.wbfo.org/post/brownfield-nys-incentives-new-500-seneca-street

Almono Gets A Street And Its First Major Pathway To Development

Thu, 03 Nov 2016 17:42:15 GMT

by Sarah Schneider, WESA Public Radio (Pittsburgh, PA)

Hazelwood's Almono site has its first a street - well, kind of.

Developers of the environmentally contaminated site, which is planned to become a hub for new housing, young workers and tech businesses, just got the money needed to finish its first infrastructure project. The three foundations that own the site, the Heinz Endowment, Richard King Mellon Foundation and Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation received a $9.5 million loan needed to finish the site's first completed street.

Part of the road is finished, but isn't completed. It's expected to be finished by March.

...

Though some have expressed fears that the Almono development will disenfranchise Hazelwood's existing population, Sonya Tilghman, executive director of the Hazelwood Initiative, said community groups are prioritizing a connection to the existing neighborhood.

...

For the entire article, see

http://wesa.fm/post/almono-gets-street-and-its-first-major-pathway-development#stream/0

The Latest News About BCONE Members

Tue, 01 Nov 2016 16:50:17 GMT

Take the time to learn more about BCONE Board members Wanda Monahan and Skelly Holmbeck, Advisory Council member Elizabeth Limbrick, and Executive Director Sue Boyle by reading their profiles and checking out BCONE’s ad in the October 28, 2016 issue of the Mid Atlantic Real Estate (MARE) Journal, pages 19-22. Congratulations to BCONE’s Executive Women in Business.

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/757847/

Tuckahoe approves controversial hotel development on Marbledale Road

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 14:16:28 GMT

by Akiko Matsuda, Lower Hudson Journal News (NY)

The village Planning Board has approved a controversial plan to build a hotel and a restaurant on a contaminated former landfill site on Marbledale Road, but opponents pledged they would keep fighting.

"This is a travesty," said Rachel Zolottev, the head of Marbledale Road Environmental Coalition, after the board's 3-2 approval of the plan this week. "We have over 2,700 members of the community who have asked for an environmental impact statement. How they could ignore all those people is an absolute shame."

Zolottev was referring to a petition that urged the board to conduct a full environmental assessment for the project, rescinding its "conditional negative declaration" under the state Environmental Quality Review Act.

...

Soil and groundwater samples from the site were found to be contaminated with a variety of hazardous chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

...

For the entire article, see

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2016/10/20/tuckahoe-hotel-approved/92421310/

The Turkey Hill Experience

Sun, 23 Oct 2016 21:19:04 GMT

The Kroger Company and its wholly owned company, the Turkey Hill Dairy, are deeply committed to preserving Lancaster County’s farmland and open spaces. As such, rather than constructing a brand new building, the company chose to undertake an adaptive reuse project and rehabilitate a vacated building in Lancaster County’s Borough of Columbia for the new Turkey Hill Experience.

The site is the former Ashley & Bailey Silk Mill, which had been vacant for more than 25 years. With the assistance of Lancaster County’s US EPA Target Assessment Brownfield Grant monies administered by the Lancaster County Planning Commission, the property was methodically moved through the State’s Voluntary Cleanup Program (Act 2).

With Environmental Standards’ help, the property was evaluated and environmental conditions managed to demonstrate attainment of Act 2 remediation standards.

The Site is a former industrial property, which for nearly 100 years operated as a silk mill and a stove manufacturing facility - until 1989. Currently, the property is owned by Museum Partners, a limited partnership that managed the property redevelopment. On April 28, 2010, a Consent Order and Agreement (COA) was executed by and between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Department of Environmental Protection; Borough of Columbia; Columbia Economic Development Corporation; and Museum Partners, L.P. for the Site. Congruent to the 2010 COA, as the “Seller,” Columbia Borough was responsible for the demonstration of attainment of an Act 2 cleanup standard based on non-residential use assumptions. The Kroger Company, parent company of Turkey Hill, and the redevelopment group Museum Partners opened an agri-tourism museum, a convenience store, and a retail fuel dispensing station at the Site on June 10, 2011.

The Turkey Hill Experience includes 26,000 square feet of exhibits, dining areas, and retail space. The facility also features nine interactive exhibit areas that allow visitors to learn more about the dairy culture, the story of the Turkey Hill Dairy, and how the company’s top-selling ice cream and iced tea flavors are selected and created.

Exhibits also feature Lancaster County cultural highlights, including some history of the lower Susquehanna River Valley and the rural farming area surrounding Turkey Hill Dairy. Visitors can truly experience what it is like to be a Turkey Hill Dairy ice cream maker for a day, including the opportunity to develop his or her own ice cream flavor. There is an entrance fee to visit the main interactive exhibit area, but a portion of the exhibits are open to the public at no charge. The first floor of the Turkey Hill Experience features a large creamery, which serves the general community.

Turkey Hill Dairy expects 250,000 visitors to Lancaster County’s newest destination each year. The Turkey Hill Experience is designed by Boston Productions, the company that also designed The Hershey Story, Connecticut Science Center, and other top attractions throughout the United States.

Recapitalization of "Business in Our Sites" Program

Sun, 23 Oct 2016 21:08:38 GMT

A state program that underwrites the development of industrial sites in the region is making a comeback in the new state budget. The Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin recently announced to recapitalize the Business in Our Sites (BOS) program announcing that the Wolf Administration was successful in securing critical funding to support business development efforts.

Governor Wolf was successful in securing critical revenue for an important business development program with the completion of the 2016-17 budget. The budget transfers unused funds from two other development programs to reactivate the grant portion of the business sites program that will give Pennsylvania a competitive edge through this action and the creation of an arsenal of ready-to-go sites for development opportunities.

The 2016-17 budget package includes $75 million to recapitalize the Business in Our Sites program to allow Pennsylvania to compete for business expansions and relocations by providing patient capital to create shovel-ready sites for business development. BOS will be recapitalized through underutilized Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) programs.

It is projected that the recapitalization will create 6,519 jobs and spur $487.2 million in private investment in the commonwealth. Since 2004, projects funded through this initiative have created more than 22,000 jobs and secured $2.2 billion in private investment.

The Business in Our Sites program was initially funded through the issuance of bonds in 2004 with $100 million devoted for grants and $200 million for loans. To date, all grant money for the Business in Our Sites program has been exhausted. All loans issued after the initial disbursement of the $200 million are funded through a revolving loan fund program and are capitalized through loan and interest repayments. The new allocation provides the opportunity to utilize up to one-third for grant funding.

For more information on the Business in Our Sites program and additional business assistance programs, visit www.newPA.com.

For more information about the Governor’s Action Team or DCED visit www.newPA.com

20-acre Reading brownfield to be cleaned, redeveloped

Sun, 23 Oct 2016 21:06:00 GMT

  by Wendy Solomon, Lehigh Valley Business (PA)

  A Missouri company that will clean a 20-acre site contaminated by a former paint manufacturing plant in Reading plans to redevelop the site.

  Commercial Development Co. Inc., a leading real estate and brownfield redevelopment company based in St. Louis, bought the property formerly owned by ICI Paints on Bern Street, known by locals as the Glidden paint plant, near FirstEnergy Stadium.

  ICI Paints, which produced latex solvent-based paints and resins for brands such as Glidden and Ralph Lauren, closed the 100-year-old plant in 2007. ICI Paints is now part of Akzo Nobel Corp.

...

  For the entire article, see

  http://www.lvb.com/article/20161019/BERKS/161019859/20acre-reading-brownfield-to-be-cleaned-redeveloped

Brownfields fewer as Fairfield cleans up for redevelopment

Sun, 23 Oct 2016 21:04:52 GMT

by Kevin Zimmerman, Westfair Online (CT)

Municipalities across the state are increasing their rehabilitation of brown!eld sites, including several notable examples within Fair!eld County.

The assessment, remediation and redevelopment of such long-vacant properties - some abandoned for dec - into usable and taxable commercial and residential parcels has the potential to revitalize previously ignore estate as never before.

On the state level, the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is taking a leading role, doling out grants and loans to qualifying towns and cities "to develop speci!c, actionable plans that will clean multiple brown!elds, leverage private investment, and bring jobs and new economic activity to long-dormant corridors throughout the state," said DECD Deputy Commissioner Tim Sullivan.

"These sites are everywhere," he said. "We have a process of determining what towns and what projects in tho towns qualify" for !nancial aid. "Generally they apply to us, but if we hear of something that we think we could address, we'll get in contact with them."

...

For the entire article, see

http://westfaironline.com/82441/brownfields-fewer-as-fairfield-cleans-up-for-redevelopment/

Public invited to comment on Lewes brownfield: neighboring property housed coal gasification plant

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 15:53:48 GMT

by Nick Roth, Cape Gazette (DE) The public is invited to comment on a proposed brownfield development agreement for a 1.04-acre parcel near Kings Highway and Beach Plum Drive in Lewes. Comments will be accepted through Monday, Oct. 17.

A coal gasification plant operated on the adjacent property from 1924 to 1932, and coal may have been stored on the site. The property was also home to the Queen Anne Railroad at one time.

According to Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control documents, the property owner intends to sell to prospective developer Hotel California LLC, which intends to build a bakery/restaurant with second-floor apartments.
...
For the entire article, see
http://www.capegazette.com/article/public-invited-comment-lewes-brownfield/118020

Brownfields project: Highlawn residents have big dreams

Fri, 30 Sep 2016 20:56:09 GMT

  by Joseph Mendez, Huntington Herald-Dispatch (WV)

  Cindy Jeffords, 66, has lived in Huntington's Highlawn neighborhood her whole life.

  When she was growing up, Jeffords said Highlawn was viewed in a much more positive light than it is today.

  In order to change that image, Jeffords and more than 30 others participated in an interactive public workshop Tuesday night at the Community of Grace United Methodist Church in Highlawn.

  Led by the city of Huntington, Huntington Municipal Development Authority and the consulting firm of Stromberg, Garrigan and Associates, residents were asked how Huntington should address its vacant underutilized industrial and brownfields areas around the Highlawn neighborhood.

...

  For the entire article, see

  http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/brownfields-project-highlawn-residents-have-big-dreams/article_22e117c6-12ee-5f0e-9f95-78999dc4ed75.html

EPA to award $820,000 brownfields grant to Philadelphia To assess and clean up abandoned industrial, commercial properties

Fri, 30 Sep 2016 20:54:27 GMT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced an $820,000 brownfields grant to support the assessment and cleanup of abandoned industrial and commercial properties in Philadelphia.

The brownfields revolving loan fund grant goes to the Philadelphia Authority of Industrial Development (PAID). Philadelphia is one of 131 communities nationwide to receive $55.2 million in EPA brownfields grants this year.

“Brownfields funding helps communities remove critical barriers to redevelopment and reuse,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “This funding supports Philadelphia’s plans for improving the quality of life of residents by reclaiming areas for housing, commercial development and open space and at the same time protecting public health and the environment.”

Brownfields are properties where real or suspected environmental contamination has prevented productive reuse of those properties.

Regional Administrator Garvin made the announcement today during a celebration at the Pennovation Works site in Philadelphia where $600,000 in previous EPA brownfields funding was used to help assess and clean up abandoned property.

Today, Pennovation Works – located adjacent to the University of Pennsylvania – is a unique blend of offices, labs and production space being developed by the university.

EPA’s Brownfields Program strives to expand the ability of communities to recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses. Investments provide communities with the funding necessary to assess, clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.

Brownfields grants provide resources early on, which is critical for the success of communities’ abilities to leverage additional partnerships and resources. Partnerships between neighborhoods, local developers and governments are essential for impacted communities to acquire the resources needed to meet their revitalization goals.

More on brownfields grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding

More on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields

More on successful Brownfields stories: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-success-stories

Distribution firm buys toxic spill site near Hazleton

Tue, 27 Sep 2016 14:58:56 GMT

by Kent Jackson, Standard-Speaker, Hazleton, Pa. (TNS)

A local distribution company purchased the former factory and toxic spill site that it had been renting and using as a warehouse at the Valmont Industrial Park in Hazle Township.

Karchner/Riccetti Partners paid $650,000 for the Chromatex plant.

Harold Karchner said his firm obtained the building through a lease purchase and will continue using it as a warehouse.

In accord with the federal Superfund law, Karchner Logistics incurs no liability for the contamination caused by others at the site and will not interfere with the efforts of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to continue cleaning up the site.

...

For the entire article, see

http://www.poconorecord.com/news/20160925/distribution-firm-buys-toxic-spill-site-near-hazleton

3 MW Brownfield Solar Project Dedicated In Massachusetts

Tue, 27 Sep 2016 14:57:06 GMT

by Joseph Bebon, Solar Industry

Officials have dedicated a 3 MW solar project built on a 10-acre brownfield site in Westfield, Mass. During a ceremony, Massachusetts Lieutenant-Governor Karyn Polito; Westfield Mayor Brian P. Sullivan; and Mark Noyes, president and CEO of ConEdison Development, developer of the solar project, celebrated completion of the 8,844-panel installation.

“We applaud Westfield and ConEdison Development for their ingenuity in transforming a brownfield into a source of clean energy and look forward to future projects continuing the growth of the commonwealth’s vibrant solar industry,” said Polito.

...

For the entire article, see
http://solarindustrymag.com/3-mw-brownfield-solar-project-dedicated-in-massachusetts

More green space, recreation: Middletown’s brownfields study nears final phase

Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:48:51 GMT

By Kathleen Schassler, Middletown Press (CT)

The environmental science and engineering firm contracted by the city submitted its final analysis this week for Middletown on the Move, a grant-funded initiative that focuses on brownfield rehabilitation, health education and ideas to create active places and green spaces for residents.

The city last year won a $143,970 grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study brownfields for possible recreational reuse. The initiative seeks to create healthier, friendlier neighborhoods that are safe places to walk, bike and be active.

Brownfields are sites that are vacant or underused because of contamination or potential contamination from oil, chemicals or other toxic substances. Though there are about 200 designed brownfield parcels in the local region, the consultant group has reduced the number of properties considered to six, according to Patrice Barrett, the city’s brownfield community outreach coordinator.

...

For the entire article, see

http://www.middletownpress.com/article/MI/20160901/NEWS/160909972

Ogdensburg’s brownfield designation presents economic development opportunities

Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:47:18 GMT

By Jimmy Lawton, North Country Now (NY)

Ogdensburg’s formal designation of a 330-acre brownfield opportunity area designation will enable the city to apply for additional funding to implement development strategic.

The designated area stretches from the westernmost edge of the City, east to Paterson Street and from the St. Lawrence River shoreline south to Lafayette Street, creating a concentrated area of strategic opportunity within the larger context of the city.

The BOA includes four strategic districts of brownfields, vacant or underutilized properties all along the city’s waterfront, spanning the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie.

Ogdensburg’s BOA is broken into four districts, the Diamond District, Fort District, Marina District and Augsbury District.

...

For the entire article, see

http://www.northcountrynow.com/business/ogdensburgs-brownfield-designation-presents-economic-development-opportunities-0179207

Green community to rise in onetime brownfield

Wed, 07 Sep 2016 18:47:52 GMT

by Dyke Hendrickson, Salem News (MA)

A $15 million apartment complex that could be among the most environmentally innovative in the country has received final approval from local planning boards, and early-phase construction could begin this fall.

The Hillside Center for Sustainable Living, to be created by veteran developer David Hall, recently got an OK from the Planning Board to proceed.

It will offer 48 rental units. In addition, it will provide affordable living quarters for 10 women in a program brokered by the YWCA.

The parcel sits on about 4.3 acres off Pond Street, near Route 1.

“We’re pleased to have the approvals, and now there is a lot of work to do,” said Hall, a major local real estate owner who built the Tannery, among other structures. He is developing the project with business partner Keith Moskow.

...

For the entire article, see

http://www.salemnews.com/news/green-community-to-rise-in-onetime-brownfield/article_f278c9dd-b4b4-56f8-90de-21312736bbba.html

Governor Cuomo Announces Designation of 12 New Brownfield Opportunity Areas

Thu, 25 Aug 2016 14:23:29 GMT

New Partners for Community Revitalization President Val Washington said, "The Brownfield Opportunity Area program has truly matured in the last two years, with dozens of designations, renewed funding and valuable brownfield tax credit assistance to help make community visions a reality. Our own recent study demonstrates that this program - unique among the states - is working as designed, and providing real promise for communities that other economic development programs don't reach."

Read the entire release.

Are Pictures Worth 1000 Words? Photos from the KIPC Tour

Thu, 25 Aug 2016 12:58:58 GMT

Here are a few shots from BCONE’s successful Keystone Industrial Port Complex Site Tour held on Thursday, 8/11/16 at 3:30pm, in Fairless Hills, PA.

Photo Courtesy of Trevan Houser, Clean Earth, Inc.

Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth Limbrick, NJIT

Details about the exciting tour of a world class industrial complex are coming your way. For now, take a look at the photos, which capture the enthusiasm of the group who were fortunate to attend the event!

DEC Announces Improvements to the Brownfield Cleanup Program

Tue, 02 Aug 2016 14:17:33 GMT

Regulation Amendments Take Effect August 12, 2016

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted amendments to the Brownfield Cleanup Program, Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today. The amendments, which take effect August 12, 2016, define the terms "affordable housing project" and "underutilized" as part of the eligibility requirements for tangible property tax credits for brownfields in New York City. The revised regulations also amend the existing definition of a "brownfield site" to comply with the changes enacted to the Brownfield Cleanup Program law in 2015.

"The Brownfield Cleanup Program is an important tool to advance the restoration of blighted areas in communities across the state, and these revisions will encourage redevelopment on many underutilized properties," Commissioner Seggos said. "The amendments, which were driven by recommendations of municipalities and other experts, will ensure a more equitable distribution of these vital property tax credits by incentivizing strategic investments in communities across the state."

To implement key provisions of the 2015 reforms to the Brownfield Cleanup Program, and ensure incentives are targeted to areas most in need, the regulation amendments provide clarification to the eligibility requirements of affordable housing projects and underutilized properties in New York City. In addition, the amended definition of "brownfield site" ensures the implementation of an environmental standards-based approach to Brownfield site eligibility determinations required by law that will ensure tangible property tax credits are prioritized on areas with contamination.

"We commend the new regulations as very much in keeping with the spirit and intent of the 2015 BCP amendments. They will help assure State support for brownfield redevelopment projects that would not happen without assistance, projects that will help revitalize communities debilitated by historic contamination," said Val Washington, president of the board of New Partners for Community Revitalization.

These enhancements to the Brownfields Cleanup Program are the result of several rounds of public comments and hearings, most recently ending on April 8, 2016. The final rule making documents, including the Assessment of Public Comment, are available on DEC's website.

DEC Adopts Amendments to Brownfield Cleanup Program at 6 NYCRR Part 375

Tue, 02 Aug 2016 13:57:50 GMT

On July 13, 2016, DEC filed a Notice of Adoption with the New York State Department of State to amend Part 375 which defines the terms "affordable housing project" and "underutilized." These definitions are part of the eligibility requirements for tangible property tax credits for brownfields in New York City. It also amends the "brownfield site" definition in accordance with 2015 statutory changes. The amendments to Part 375 are effective August 12, 2016.

The final rule making documents, including the Assessment of Public Comment, are available on DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/101908.html

R.I.’s Green Economy Bond Draws Wide Support

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 15:48:09 GMT

ecoRI News (RI)

Leaders from a broad coalition of Rhode Island environmental, tourism, recreation and bicycle organizations have voiced support for the $35 million Green Economy Bond referendum included in the budget recently recommended for passage by House Finance Committee.

The committee noted the economic and community benefits the bond would provide for the state with investments in programs ranging from land conservation, outdoor recreation and bike paths to water pollution prevention and brownfield cleanups. If approved by the General Assembly, the Green Economy Bond will be put before voters in the November election.
...
The Green Economy Bond would fund seven initiatives: historic state park development, $4 million; state land acquisition, $4 million; state bikeway development, $10 million; brownfield remediation and economic development, $5 million; stormwater pollution prevention, $3 million; local recreation grants, $5 million; and local open space grants, $4 million.
…
For the entire article, see
http://www.ecori.org/government/2016/6/8/ris-green-economy-bond-draws-wide-support

A victim of Port Covington: the “Other Baltimore” in Westport Westport needs to be spun-off from Port Covington

Fri, 10 Jun 2016 19:19:34 GMT

BY GERALD NEILY, Baltimore Brew (MD)

The adverse impact of the Port Covington plan on poor and disenfranchised neighborhoods – the “Other Baltimore” so starkly highlighted during last year’s civil unrest – is not just conjecture or a conflict of values.

The absence of development in one of them, Westport, is proof.

Kevin Plank, the CEO of Under Armour, owns the Westport waterfront as a private investment, and he’s already doing to Westport what his Port Covington plan will do to Baltimore as a whole – suck the air out of citywide redevelopment and growth for the benefit of a small isolated area.

Plank is banking the 43 acres of Westport land, with no development plan in sight, so that it won’t compete with his gargantuan dream for Port Covington that will require $660 million in TIF (Tax Increment Financing) bonds from the city and nearly $600 million more from state and federal sources.
...
For the entire commentary, see
https://baltimorebrew.com/2016/06/07/a-victim-of-port-covington-the-other-baltimore-in-westport/

Factory area to become affordable apartments in Delanco

Fri, 10 Jun 2016 19:18:24 GMT

An old, deserted former factory site may soon have life again.

The Delanco Township Joint Land Use Board granted final major site plan approval June 1 to Delanco Family Apartments Urban Renewal LLC.

In addition to 64 affordable apartment units, there will be one site manager's unit and other improvements to the property, referred to as the Rhawn Factory site.

The site, at 200 Rhawn St., is near the intersection of Rhawn and Coopertown roads, adjacent to the New Jersey Transit Delanco Rail station and bordering Rancocas Creek.

All existing buildings at the site have been demolished and industrial uses removed.

According to the builder, the Walters Group, construction could begin by October and will take 12 to 15 months to complete, with the first occupants moving in nine or 10 months after work first starts.

The eight, two-story buildings will feature eight units each, with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom rental units leased exclusively to tenants whose incomes are at or below 60 percent of the area median income, qualifying it as a "low- and moderate-income housing development."

Message from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli on the Performance of the State's IDAs

Fri, 10 Jun 2016 19:13:40 GMT

New York State and local governments spend billions to generate economic development.

But economic development is a complex process that has no simple formula or roadmap. Given the size of the financial assistance being granted, it is essential that citizens understand what their community is gaining in return.

Accordingly, my office regularly monitors the performance of the state's Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) in an effort to assess how these entities work to attract, retain and expand businesses within their communities.

Our annual IDA report, which was released today, found the state's 109 active IDAs provided $1.1 billion in total tax exemptions in 2014. These IDA-sponsored projects reported a total of 645,010 full-time jobs, which reflects an increase of 235,888 jobs over the life of these projects.

As you can see, IDAs are an important catalyst for economic development in our state. But as the value of tax exemptions to private businesses continues to increase, taxpayers must be reassured that their community is receiving promised benefits.

Thankfully, my legislative proposal to increase transparency and scrutiny of IDAs was signed into law last year and will result in better evaluation of the economic impact they are having in New York.

This legislation (S.5867/A.7915) will improve the process by which IDAs approve new projects, the quality of the information they gather about the projects, and policies for recapturing financial assistance if project goals are not met. The new law, developed with support from the New York Economic Development Council, becomes effective on June 15.

I hope you find this report informative. If you have questions, contact our Division of Local Government and School Accountability.

BCONE Hosts June 8, 2016 Site Remediation Advisory Group (SRAG) Meeting at NJDEP in Trenton, NJ

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 14:16:53 GMT

Together with the NJ Business Action Center (BAC), BCONE hosted the SRAG quarterly meeting held at the NJDEP building. This was a specially formatted meeting that dealt predominately with funding incentives and other programs offered by the state for remediation and redevelopment projects.

BCONE President Steve Jaffe served as host and moderator for the three hour meeting and was joined on the dais by Nancy Belonzi of the BAC, who is a member of BCONE’s Advisory Council. BCONE Regional Council member Alan Miller of NJDEP, BCONE Executive Director Sue Boyle of GEI, and BCONE Advisory Council member Sharon McSwieney of Langan attended the session along with 75 others from consulting firms, law firms, 5 other state agencies, members of the state’s Site Remediation Professionals Licensing Board (SRPLB), and municipal officials.

As is always an agenda item at SRAG meetings, the session started with an update on the activities of the SRPLB and a summary of the metrics from the Site Remediation Program (SRP; click here for those metrics). Presentations then followed from the BAC, the Environmental Infrastructure Trust (EIT), the Economic Development Authority, the NJ Redevelopment Authority and the NJ Department of Transportation. The PowerPoints from these agencies will be available in about a week on the NJDEP SRP website or you can contact BCONE for the weblink.

A panel discussion on the Somerville, NJ Green Seam Brownfield Development Area project followed. The PowerPoint presented by Colin Driver, Somerville’s Economic Development Director will be available on the NJDEP SRP website. President Jaffe kept the panel discussion moving by asking Mr. Driver; Michael Deely and Ron Wienckoski of NJDEP’s Office of Brownfield Reuse; and Frank Scangarella of the EIT and Gene Chebra on NJDEP’s Infrastructure Financing about requirements for each incentive program used, timeframes, loophole, and other words of wisdom.

Greater Newark Conservancy Receives EPA Grant

Thu, 02 Jun 2016 20:48:34 GMT

Project Expands Environmental Outdoor Learning for Newark Students

Contacts: Jennifer May-Reddy, 212-637-3658, may.jennifer@epa.gov; Mary Mears, 212-637-3673, mears.mary@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – June 2, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $91,000 environmental education grant to the Greater Newark Conservancy to expand its environmental education program to include 1,750 kindergarten through sixth grade students in Newark Public Schools. The expansion focuses on teaching these students environmental stewardship, using outdoor hands-on learning as a learning tool. The project includes visits to the Conservancy’s 1.3 acre Outdoor Learning Center, as well its 2.5 acre Hawthorne Avenue urban farm.

“This grant gives the Greater Newark Conservancy an opportunity to reach more children in Newark,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “By giving these students knowledge of their relationship with the environment, this project gives Newark elementary school students the tools they need to learn more about environmental protection.”

The primary goal of the Greater Newark Conservancy’s project is to increase environmental literacy among the participating students and encourage behavior that benefits the environment by demonstrating that care of trees, water resources and the natural environment is critical to a sustainable and healthy community. The project includes a “Sustainable Cities” curriculum of urban sustainable planning, lessons based on the protection of water ecosystems, and compositing among other environmental topics.

The Greater Newark Conservancy was one of three recipients to receive the 2015 round of environmental education grants from EPA Region 2, which is responsible for New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight Indian Nations. A total of $222,000 was awarded in EPA Region 2 for the three grants and funding nationwide for this round of grants totaled more than $3.3 million. Nationally, EPA funded 35 grants from organizations in 26 states for the 2015 Environmental Education Grants.

Since 1992, EPA has distributed approximately $68 million supporting more than 3,600 projects. This competitive grants program supports environmental education projects that increase public awareness about environmental issues and provide participants with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the environment.

For more information on the new awardees and on how to apply for future environmental education grant competitions, please visit:

http://www2.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-ee-grants.

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Middletown Wants Ideas For Recreational Uses Of Brownfield Sites

Thu, 02 Jun 2016 20:18:59 GMT

by Shawn R. Beals, Hartford Courant (CT)

As part of a yearlong effort to get Middletown residents talking about how to reuse brownfield sites for recreation, the city and a consultant held the first of three weekly open houses Wednesday.

The Middletown On The Move project began in September 2015 after the city received a $143,970 grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study brownfield sites for reuse. Brownfield sites are vacant or underutilized former industrial or commercial properties that have potential pollution or contamination.

"We've asked the public to envision what would a multiuse public space look like," said Patrice Barrett, the city's project coordinator for Middletown On The Move. "We've tried every kind of avenue we can to solicit what people think."

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.courant.com/community/middletown/hc-middletown-brownfield-study-0526-20160525-story.html

EPA Provides Nearly $2 Million to Communities in New York to Support Assessments, Cleanups, and Revitalization of Contaminated Properties

Tue, 24 May 2016 19:55:46 GMT

Recipients include Niagara County, City of New York, Kingston, Rome, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and Wappingers Falls

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, (212) 637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – May 20, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing nearly $2 million to Niagara County, the Cities of New York, Kingston and Rome, the Village of Wappingers Falls and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to help those communities clean up abandoned and contaminated sites. The funding was awarded through EPA’s Brownfields Program, which helps communities assess, clean up, redevelop and reuse contaminated properties. Brownfields are properties where moderate contamination threatens environmental quality and public health and can interfere with productive re-use of the sites.

“Cleaning up brownfields protects people’s health and the environment, revitalizes neighborhoods and creates jobs,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “There is untapped opportunity at brownfields sites, and these grants help communities find ways to unlock it. In many cases, these are pieces of land that had been written off, sitting unused, dragging down the surrounding neighborhoods. But with the help of these grants, they can be resources for recreation, jobs, parks and sustainable development.”

The EPA’s Brownfields funding will be awarded to communities in New York as follows:

Niagara County – $500,000

The $500,000 community-wide grant will be used to support a revolving loan fund from which Niagara County will provide one loan and one subgrant to support cleanup activities for sites contaminated with hazardous substances. Grant funds also will be used for marketing the revolving loan fund and supporting community outreach activities. The requested EPA grant funds will build upon Niagara County’s brownfield inventory, assessment, and remediation efforts over the past fifteen years and allow Niagara County to build on the community support and momentum created thus far.

City of New York – $400,000

A $200,000 community-wide hazardous substances grant will be used to conduct 16 environmental site assessments. A $200,000 community-wide petroleum grant will be used to conduct 14 environmental site assessments. Grant funds of both types also will be used to conduct community outreach activities. The NYC Department of Finance and Department of City Planning data from 2009 indicate that the city has over 3,150 vacant commercial and industrial lots, primarily brownfields due to suspected contamination from prior site operations. EPA grant activities will be targeted within such disadvantaged neighborhoods that contain clusters of brownfields, suffer disproportionate impacts from multiple environmental stressors, and demonstrate community need and thoughtful planning by strong community-based organizations. Using this approach, New York City will focus the funds on the areas of greatest need, which include the South Bronx, Harlem, and East New York in Brooklyn, along with communities that were badly impacted by Super Storm Sandy in October 2012, such as Staten Island’s North Shore.

Kingston – $400,000

A $200,000 community-wide hazardous substances and a $200,000 petroleum grant will be used to perform up to 26 environmental site assessments primarily two areas in Rondout and Waterfront and a central area of Midtown slated to become an Arts District. Grant funds also will be used to conduct cleanup planning for 10 sites and support community outreach activities.

Rome – $200,000

A $200,000 petroleum grant will be used to clean up the former Rome-Turney Radiator Company site at 109 Canal Street. The 1.4-acre site was operated by the Rome-Turney Radiator Company from 1905 until the mid-1990s as a manufacturing plant for radiators. In June 1988, the site experienced a petroleum release from fuel storage tanks, contaminating the property’s soil and groundwater. The EPA funds will be used to address petroleum contamination in two areas site, at the north end of the site near two wings of the building and at the south of the site near the entrance from Canal Street. There is an estimated 2,000 tons of contaminated soil at the site. Grant funds will also be used for community outreach activities.

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe – $200,000

A $200,000 community-wide petroleum grant will be used to conduct nine environmental site assessments former gasoline station sites. Grant funds also will be used to update and prioritize a brownfields inventory, support community involvement activities, and conduct cleanup planning. The most important sites will be evaluated using existing reports and geophysical surveys to look for underground storage tanks and piping.

Wappingers Falls – $200,000

A $200,000 community-wide hazardous substances grant will be used to conduct 15 environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to support cleanup planning and community outreach activities. The Village of Wappingers Falls will conduct assessments on blighted properties with industrial or commercial histories. Among the prospective properties are former metal plating facilities, dry cleaners, ink and dye manufacturing facilities, industrial storage, gasification facilities, and mechanical manufacturing operations. Of the 24 acre industrially-zoned property in the village, over 14 acres has been left vacant after structural collapse or fire.

The EPA has announced a total of more than $55 million in new investments this year across the country that will redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and help create jobs while protecting public health.

Since its inception, EPA’s brownfields investments have leveraged more than $20 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding from a variety of public and private sources and have created approximately 87,000 jobs. The 240 grantees receiving grants through the Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup Grants programs include tribes and communities in 45 states across the country.

Information on grant recipients can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and Facebook at http://facebook.com/eparegion2

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EPA Provides Nearly $2 Million to Communities in New Jersey to Support Assessments, Cleanups, and Revitalization of Contaminated Properties

Tue, 24 May 2016 19:51:53 GMT

Recipients include Atlantic City, Asbury Park, Jersey City and Plainfield

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, (212) 637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – May 20, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing nearly $2 million to Atlantic City, Jersey City, Asbury Park and Plainfield New Jersey to help those communities clean up abandoned and contaminated sites. The funding was awarded through EPA’s Brownfields Program, which helps communities assess, clean up, redevelop and reuse contaminated properties. Brownfields are properties where moderate contamination threatens environmental quality and public health and can interfere with productive re-use of the sites.

The EPA’s Brownfields funding will be awarded to communities in New Jersey as follows:

Atlantic City – $763,000 Total

A $200,000 in community-wide hazardous substances grant will be used to inventory and prioritize brownfields, and conduct environmental site assessments. A $200,000 community-wide petroleum grant will be used to assess sites with potential petroleum contamination. Additionally, $363,658 in hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the Bungalow Park site at 709 Mediterranean Avenue, and the Delta Basin Homes site at North Maryland, Wabash, and Adriatric Avenues. The Bungalow Park site is vacant, undeveloped land and is contaminated with historic fill. The Delta Basin Homes site was formerly developed with a vehicle inspection station and automobile repair garages, and is contaminated with historic fill. Grant funds at both sites also will be used for community outreach and involvement activities. A few key sites have been identified where housing and the local workforce can be constructed. There are redevelopment plans in place in the inlet, downtown and other areas.

Asbury Park – $400,000

A $200,000 community-wide hazardous substances grant will be used to conduct eight environmental site assessments, and prepare two cleanup plans. Grant funds also will be used to support community outreach activities. A $200,000 community-wide petroleum grant will be used to assess sites with potential petroleum contamination. This project will focus on the area just west of the train station and the core downtown, where the most of the areas brownfields are located. This project include the targeted assessment, cleanup, and re-development of properties that will bridge the gap between the “east” and “west” sides, and revitalize the area.

Jersey City Redevelopment Agency – $400,000

A $200,000 hazardous substances grant will be used to conduct eight environmental site assessments, and prepare one cleanup plan. A $200,000 community-wide petroleum grant will be used to conduct seven environmental site assessments, and prepare one cleanup plan. Grant funds of both types also will be used to support community outreach activities. Most of Jersey City’s brownfields are located within 90 community-designated redevelopment areas. Jersey City’s redevelopment areas can range in size from a handful of blocks to large swaths of land covering over 100 acres. It is in such redevelopment areas that the EPA Assessment Grant funds will be targeted, as redevelopment areas in Jersey City have the greatest concentration of brownfields.

Plainfield – $400,000

A $200,000 community-wide hazardous substances grant will be used to conduct eight environmental site assessments, and prepare one cleanup plan. Grant funds also will be used to support community outreach activities. A $200,000 community-wide petroleum grant will be used to conduct the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination. The focus area for this proposed assessment is the area immediately surrounding one of the closed train stations, the former Grant Avenue train stop, now known as the West End Station. While no longer serving as a rail station, the New Jersey government is planning a bus rapid transit line between Newark and Plainfield which would terminate at the West End station.

Information on grant recipients can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and Facebook at http://facebook.com/eparegion2

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EPA Awards Nearly $16 Million to Clean Up New England Brownfields

Tue, 24 May 2016 19:36:54 GMT

Funds help protect health and the environment; Revitalize communities

BOSTON – EPA has awarded $15,994,000 in Brownfield grants to municipalities and organizations working in all six New England states to protect people’s health by assessing and cleaning up contaminated parcels in New England communities.

The grants, funded by EPA’s Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup grant program, provide communities with the funding they need to assess, clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.

In the six New England states, EPA is awarding 38 separate grants to 35 different organizations. The funding is part of $55.2 million in EPA Brownfields investments awarded across the country this year.

“EPA’s Brownfields program has helped assess abandoned or derelict properties in communities across the region, cleaning them so they can return to productive use,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “When we put a dollar into brownfields, the community gets back $17 in the jobs and economic opportunities. Cleaning and revitalizing contaminated sites not only makes our communities cleaner, it also makes economic sense.”

In New England, since the beginning of the Brownfields program, EPA has awarded 374 assessment grants totaling $99.1 million, 73 revolving loan fund grants and supplemental funding totaling $90 million and 261 cleanup grants totaling $66.7 million. These grant funds have paved the way for more than $1.4 billion in public and private cleanup and redevelopment investment and for nearly 8,859 jobs in assessment, cleanup, construction and redevelopment. These investments and jobs target local, under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods – places where environmental cleanups and new jobs are most needed.

In New England, the following Brownfields grants are being awarded this year:

Connecticut – $1,184,000

City of Shelton, $200,000 (cleanup)
Northwest Regional WIB, $100,000 (job training)
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments. $400,000 (assessment)
City of Norwich, $384,000 (assessment)

Maine - $7,340,000

Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission, $820.000 (revolving loan fund for Prime Tanning)
Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission, $200,000 (assessment for Prime Tanning)
Town of Berwick, $500,000 (cleanup for Prime Tanning)
Marble Block Redevelopment Corp., $200,000 (assessment for Prime Tanning)
Greater Portland Council of Governments, $400,000 (assessment)
City of Portland. $800,000 (revolving loan fund)
Town of Lisbon, $200,000 (assessment)
City of Gardiner, $200,000 (assessment)
City of Gardiner $200,000 (cleanup)
Town of Wilton, $200,000 (cleanup)
Midcoast Economic Development District, $820,.000 (revolving loan fund)
City of Belfast, $400,000 (assessment)
City of Old Town, $400,000 (assessment)
Eastern Maine Development Corp., $400,000 (assessment)
Hancock County Planning Commission, $400,000 (assessment)
Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, $400,000 (assessment)
Northern Maine Development Commission, $200,000 (assessment)
Washington County Council of Governments, $400,000 (assessment)

Massachusetts – 4,650,000

Greylock Flume Inc., $200,000 (cleanup of Area-wide Planning Study Area In Adams)
City of Adams, $400,000 (assessment for AWP Study Area)
City of Chicopee, $600,000 (cleanup of AWP Study Area)
Town of Lee, $300,000 (assessment of AWP Study Area)
Town of Plymouth, $600,000. Cleanup of Revere Copper)
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, $400,000 (assessment)
City of Everett, $200,000 (assessment)
City of Gardner, $600,000 (cleanup of Garbose Metals)
Town of Merrimack, $530,000 (cleanup of Coastal Metals)
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, $820,000 (revolving loan fund for Coastal Metals)

New Hampshire - $800,000

Upper Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission, $400,000 (assessment)
Lakes Region Planning Commission, $400,000 (assessment)

Rhode Island - $1,220,000

RI Department of Environmental Management, $400,000 (assessment for Providence)
RI Infrastructure Bank, $820,000 (revolving loan fund for Providence)

Vermont - $800,000

Windham Regional Commission, $400,000 (assessment for Making a Visible Difference in Brattleboro)
Chittendon Country Regional Planning Commission, $400,000 (assessment for Burlington)

More information:
- Brownfields grants by state: http://cfpub.epa.gov/bf_factsheets/
- National EPA Brownfields info: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

# # #

Learn More about the Latest EPA News & Events in New England ( http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-1-new-england)

Follow EPA New England on Twitter (http://twitter.com/epanewengland)

Connect with EPA New England on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EPARegion1)

Open houses planned as Middletown initiative considers reuse of brownfields Public recreation, health focus of initiative

Fri, 20 May 2016 17:06:05 GMT

By Kathleen Schassler, Middletown Press CT)

An indoor farmers market, skating rink and potential brook-side trail between the Connecticut River and Wesleyan University’s campus were all ideas suggested during two bus tours Saturday of area brownfields.

More than three-fourths of city residents do not use the parks for recreation, according to a recent survey by Middletown on the Move, a grant-funded program. Citing a lack of quality amenities as a reason, just 23 percent of people say they use city parks, according to Patrice Barrett, the city’s brownfield community outreach coordinator.

The Middletown on the Move initiative, to study the use of brownfield sites for public recreation, is paid by a $143,970 grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was awarded last year through a CDC division focused on effects of hazardous substances in the environment.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.middletownpress.com/article/MI/20160516/NEWS/160519708

PSE&G Seeks Regulatory Approval For More Landfill/Brownfield Solar

Tue, 17 May 2016 15:41:36 GMT

by Solar Industry

New Jersey-based utility Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G) has filed a request with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) to extend its Solar 4 All program.

If approved, the extension would allow PSE&G to invest approximately $275 million to design and construct 10 more grid-connected projects totaling 100 MW on landfills and brownfields in its electric service territory by the end of 2021.

Solar 4 All is a 125 MW universal solar program that utilizes rooftops, parking lots, utility poles and landfills/brownfields for large-scale, grid-connected solar projects. The NJBPU initially approved the program in 2009 for 80 MW and extended it in 2013 for an additional 45 MW of solar capacity. The program currently has 115 MW in service through 174,000 pole-attached solar units and 28 centralized solar projects. The remaining 10 MW of the currently approved 125 MW total will be in service by the end of 2016.
…

For the entire article, see
http://solarindustrymag.com/pseg-seeks-regulatory-approval-for-more-landfillbrownfield-solar

Boutique Environmental Law Firm Looking for Associate

Tue, 17 May 2016 15:33:59 GMT

Associate needed for growing boutique environmental law firm focused on site remediation and brownfields redevelopment located in Passaic County (impending move to Union County). The ideal candidate should have two to five years’ experience and be a highly motivated self-starter who works well independently and as a dynamic team player. Superior writing and oral communication, analytical skills and a strong academic record are essential. The successful candidate should also possess exceptional organizational skills (to effectively organize, track and manage client work), be detail oriented and self-motivated with a strong demand for excellent work product. Unique potential for equity compensation for entrepreneurial candidate.

NJ Bar Admission required. Salary is commensurate with experience, health benefits and (other benefits) 401K offered. Please send resume to brtwcm@gmail.com Location: Passaic County, NJ

Compensation: Negotiable
Principals only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster. br>
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Recent Report by Arcadis Includes "Urban Land Restoration Index"

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 18:27:16 GMT

Hannah Moore of NYC OER and Regional Council member of the Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) brought a recent report by Arcadis to our attention. It includes an “Urban Land Restoration Index” comparing cost of cleanup in cities vs. opportunities in those cities. NYC #1.

Click here to read the report.

Photo Caption: On the left, BCONE Regional Council member Hannah Moore at the 2016 Big Apple Brownfield Awards.

Another Shout Out for BCONE and NSCW!

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 18:25:20 GMT

This from our friends at Brownfield Listings and their recent spring Newsletter, who called NSCW 2016 a “high impact day”:

“Spring is upon us, the housing market is thawing and the development season is cranking up in markets across North America… Spring also opens up the conference season. To kick things off, the Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) held another excellent and engaging workshop. This year’s theme was "Imagination and Creativity in Urban Change for the NJ/NY/CT/PA Metropolitan Area,” drew 200 municipal officials, planners, developers, attorneys and environmental advocates to the New Jersey Institute of Technology for an interactive series of panels, talks and discussions.”

Land bank offers new hope for polluted properties

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 13:45:47 GMT

By Hugh Bailey, Connecticut Post

If the location is right, pollution is no obstacle.

For some of the former industrial properties known as brownfields, new owners are willing to pay exorbitant cleanup costs to reuse the land. Elsewhere, when the payoff isn’t quite so clear, governments can work with developers on the piecemeal assemblage of a cleanup plan, which can take years to develop.

For some sites, even that much is impossible. In the wrong location, with expensive contamination and a bleak outlook, some properties will simply sit, year after year, decade after decade, as a building’s physical deterioration brings down a neighborhood and any hope of an economic rebound.

A new nonprofit enabled by legislation pending before the General Assembly is aimed at helping those properties that might otherwise be a lost cause.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.ctpost.com/business/article/Land-bank-offers-new-hope-for-polluted-properties-7303681.php

Everyone will benefit from cleanup of Westwood site

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 13:44:28 GMT

By Andrew J. Sheaves, Buffalo News (NY)

The supervisor of the Town of Amherst has decided not to pursue his prior plan to acquire Glen Oak and Westwood and sell off part of the Audubon Golf Course, so the logical next step for the town is to approve the rezoning of the Westwood site to allow for its cleanup and development.

In July 2014, Mensch Capital Partners unveiled an innovative $238 million plan for Westwood, proposing a traditional, walkable and sustainable neighborhood, rooted in the planning goals and objectives of Town of Amherst’s Comprehensive Plan.

Following a series of Mensch-sponsored community “town hall” meetings, the Erie County Health Department asked Mensch to conduct a Phase 2 environmental study. The test results revealed traces of arsenic in the soil of the tee boxes, greens and some fairways, with concentrations that often exceed New York State Department of Environmental Conservation soil cleanup objectives for residential, commercial or industrial uses.

…

For the entire column, see

http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/viewpoints/everyone-will-benefit-from-cleanup-of-westwood-site-20160424

Shout out for BCONE at the April 18, 2016 Big Apple Brownfield Awards

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 19:45:44 GMT

From the recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Service Award: Nathaniel Montgomery, Sr. VP for Real Estate Development of the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, SoBro.

He mentioned the good work the Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast does along with his high praise for the NYC Brownfield Partnership.

The sold out event hosted by the Partnership was held at New York Law School in New York, NY and was attended by BCONE Board members Hannah Moore of the NYC OER and Larry Schnapf, Esq. of Schnapf Law and Sue Boyle, GEI Consultants, Inc. and Executive Director for BCONE.

Esty discusses brownfields, economic future of city with officials

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 19:44:07 GMT

By Ben Lambert, Torrington Register Citizen (CT)

City officials met Monday with U.S. Representative Elizabeth Esty to discuss the ongoing redevelopment of brownfields and the economic future of the city.

The city is currently engaged in a series of brownfields-related projects, buoyed by a state grant received earlier in the year from the state Department of Economic and Community Development.

As part of this effort, two properties, at 100 Franklin Street, the former Hendey Machine Company and Stone Container site, 100 Summer Street, are set to be put into use, and a strategy to govern the future of brownfields sites around the city is to be created and codified.

Economic Development Director Erin Wilson said Monday that the Franklin Street property is to be developed as part of an ongoing “riverfront recapture” project, which includes the construction of a walking trail along the banks of the Naugatuck River. The grant will be used to assess the site, and how it can be better set up for future investment. Wilson mentioned the closure of the five-way intersection as a potential step.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.registercitizen.com/article/RC/20160418/NEWS/160419601

EPA Study: Do Housing Values Respond to UST Releases?

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 19:01:51 GMT

Underground storage tanks (USTs) containing petroleum and hazardous substances are ubiquitous. Accidental releases of these substances can present risks to local residents and the environment. The purpose of this paper is to develop monetized estimates of the benefits of preventing and cleaning up UST releases, as reflected in house values. We focus on 17 of the most high profile UST releases in the United States with release discovery and other milestone events occurring at different points between 1985 and 2013. These data are the broadest analyzed for property value impacts of UST releases, as previous hedonic studies of USTs focused only on a single county, city, or subset of counties within a state. We employ a two-step methodology in which (i) site] specific hedonic regressions are estimated using a difference-in-differences approach, and then (ii)an internal meta-analysis of the resulting estimates is conducted. The spatial and temporal variation among the 17 sites improves our identification of the treatment effects by reducing local idiosyncratic biases; thus providing greater confidence to a causal interpretation of the estimated average price effects. The results suggest significant heterogeneity in the price effects across sites, but on average reveal a 3% to 6% depreciation upon the discovery of a high profile release, and a similar appreciation after cleanup. These average effects diminish with distance, extending out to2 or 3km from the site.

Click here to read the entire article.

Defining "Underutilized" (Or Not)

Wed, 13 Apr 2016 00:54:22 GMT

by Sue Boyle
BCONE Executive Director & Sr. Practice Leader: Environment at GEI Consultants

What BCONE does really well is bring together experts from throughout the northeastern United States to share experiences about brownfield remediation and redevelopment laws, regulations, policies, successes, and obstacles. You see this on display at the annual Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop (NSWC) which consists of panels with participants from at least 3 states in the region comparing and contrasting programs and policies in their individual states.

Earlier this week, BCONE Board members from CT, DE, NJ, NY and PA had a robust conversation over the course of less than 3 hours about the definition of brownfields in their states and what the term "underutilized" means. The exchange, which was fascinating, was prompted by the public comment period on the regulations defining "underutilized" being re-proposed by the New York State (NYS) Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). If you attended this year's NSCW Panel on Hot Topics in the States, you heard Jane O'Connell of NYSDEC discuss the definition.

The representative from DE on the BCONE Board shared that NYS is not the only state struggling with the term. The State of Delaware has been struggling with the inclusion and meaning of "underutilized" as one of the conditions necessary to certify the site as a Delaware Brownfield, which will allow prospective purchasers liability relief for existing contamination and provide them with grant funds for investigation and potential remediation.

New Jersey informed the group that a brownfields is defined under NJ Brownfield and Contaminated Site Remediation Act (N.J.S.A. 58:10B-23.d) as: "any former or current commercial or industrial site that is currently vacant or underutilized and on which there has been, or there is suspected to have been, a discharge of a contaminant." This allows the local municipality, if it chooses, to define underutilized via its Master Plan, although he wasn't aware of any municipality that has defined "underutilized" (some have defined vacant).

CT joined the discussion with information from Section 32-760 of Connecticut's General Statutes, which defines a brownfield as "any abandoned or underutilized site where redevelopment, reuse or expansion has not occurred due to the presence or potential presence of pollution in the buildings, soil or groundwater that requires investigation or remediation before or in conjunction with the redevelopment, reuse or expansion of the property." CT does not link the definition to future plans and interprets "underutilized" fairly broadly.

PA then let us know that the Commonwealth has not defined "brownfields" by statute or regulation. PA generally assumes that any property which is (or may be) contaminated is a brownfield regardless of its current or prior use land use (industrial, commercial or residential) or current operational status (active, underutilized or abandoned).

After this healthy exchange of information, one of NYS's representatives on the BCONE Board summed things up by saying: "And therein lies the problem. Most state brownfield programs do not define underutilized." The term's meaning is often borrowed from other statutes and programs. The proposed NYSDEC definition can be viewed as trying to adopt an unnaturally narrow definition that is not really linked to current conditions at a site but future use.

If this exchange and the topic interests you, go to http://brownfieldcoalitionne.org/news/3941330 for a copy of the comments on the NYSDEC definition submitted by BCONE.

Do YOU have a topic for which you'd like to get a multi-state perspective in real time? If you do, send it to BCONE via sboyle@geiconsultants.com and we'll circulate it among the Board members and eblast out the answers provided.

Text of Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) Comments Regarding NYSDEC’S Revised Definition of “Underutilized” Sent to Mr. Michael Ryan of NYSDEC on April 7, 2016

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 15:54:17 GMT

The Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast’s (BCONE) mission and objective is to provide education on the benefits of brownfield remediation and sustainable redevelopment and to work with member states and brownfield stakeholders in the northeast, including New York State and New York City, to facilitate brownfield cleanups within member states. BCONE members have extensive experience in the brownfield remediation and redevelopment process and include state regulatory agencies and brownfield practitioners in the fields of environmental remediation, land use consulting, real estate, law, land development, and green jobs training programs that supply well-trained, accredited, and certified entry-level technicians for a variety of brownfield and green energy jobs.

We welcome this opportunity to comment on the revised definition of "underutilized" as proposed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). As a 501 (c)(6) organization with members who are involved in the development of brownfield sites in New York City and New York State, BCONE appreciates the opportunity to comment on NYSDEC's proposal.

BCONE believes the revised definition improves on NYSDEC's earlier proposal, but is still restrictive and will serve to prevent many sites which are truly underutilized in any normal sense of the term, from qualifying for tangible property credits under the 2015 Brownfield Cleanup Act Amendments.

Steve Jaffe
President

Additional Information for BCONE Members on "Underutilized"

Here is a paper on the topic: http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/26726/59759354-MIT.pdf?sequence=2

“Underutilized land is a cloudy and somewhat elusive concept, meaning different things to different people. For some, it is simply vacant land, a seemingly basic term until you scratch beneath the surface. Indeed, vacant land can be a multitude of things from beaches, wetlands, community gardens, parks, and farmland to parking lots, abandoned buildings, empty lots and inactive industrial sites, just to name a handful of possibilities. For others, the notion of underutilized real estate extends even further beyond vacant land to encompass all properties that can be put to a higher and better use, whether it is from a financial, community, social and/or economic standpoint. Underutilized land can be a parking lot that would better serve the community as a grocery store, a use that would reduce negative externalities to the community and/or a property that brings in more income to its owner. It is even more subjective and difficult to define

Real estate appraisal and development professionals fundamentally center on the financial concept of the “highest and best use” of a property as the use that maximizes its profit-making capacity. Highest and best use is “the legally permissible and physically possible use that generates the highest residual income to the property over a reasonable period of time.” Hence, any real estate that is not the highest and best use qualifies as underutilized.

The planning profession looks not only to evaluate the general financial condition of the parcel itself, but also to the externalities imposed upon the neighborhood in determining the underutilization of parcels. Many of these impacts are difficult to quantify or standardize as the focus is beyond the property and may be subjective to the neighborhood. For example, just a few of the elements that planners look to evaluate may include a site’s sense of place, the perception of safety and economic well-being offered, the impact on the sense of community and fit within the existing urban context, all of which are very hard to assign consistent values to. Even some of the more quantitatively-oriented effects such as a parcel’s influence on neighboring property values, job creation and its economic multiplier effect can be quite challenging to figure.

GSA has their own definition – but it is very specific to GSA -- it defines underutilized as “an entire property or portion of a property that is used only at irregular periods or intermittently by the accountable agency or property that is being used for the agency’s current program purposes that can be satisfied with only a portion of the property.””

Queen City Landing files application for Brownfield Cleanup Program

Fri, 08 Apr 2016 16:10:14 GMT

by James Fink, Buffalo Business First (NY)

The team behind the Queen City Landing project has filed an application with state Department of Environmental Conservation seeking approval to have the Fuhrmann Boulevard site of the proposed $60 million project included in the Brownfield Cleanup Program.

The application was expected.

If approved, it would open the door for some tax breaks and incentives for the project.

The filing is one of many pre-development steps that the Queen City Landing team must undertake.
…

For the entire article, see
http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2016/04/07/queen-city-landing-files-application-for.html

The Multiple Award Winning The Salvation Army's Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, (RJKCCC), Camden, NJ

Wed, 06 Apr 2016 19:45:08 GMT

by Geoffrey R Forrest PG CPEng LSRP, Dresdner Robin

Highlights

The Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center has been the recipient of numerous community and Agency awards since its opening in October 2014. The project has successfully incorporated many desirous environmental, community, sustainability and energy efficient features and these components have been locally and nationally recognized by the following awards:

New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award (2014)
ULI Willard G. “Bill” Rouse III Awards for Excellence (2015 Finalist)
New Jersey Governor’s Conference Award for Leading Public Private Economic Development Partnership (2015)
USEPA Region 2 Phoenix Award [Brownfield Redevelopment] (2015)

Background

The Salvation Army Kroc Corps Community Center of Camden, NJ opened in October 2014 in a city that is perhaps best known for its struggles with violent crime and urban decay. Approximately 45% of families in Camden live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate as of August 2013 was 16.6%, nearly double the national average. Some of the problems of concentrated neighborhood poverty often include high unemployment rates, rampant crime, health disparities, inadequate early care and education, struggling schools, and disinvestment. Though poverty often spans generations, the creation of a safe gathering place in the community for learning, exercising, worship, and community-building, can provide “a beacon of hope and an agent of change”.

Conception

In January 2004, The Salvation Army USA announced that it would be receiving nearly $1.6 billion from the estate of Mrs. Joan Kroc, (whose husband founded McDonald’s), to establish community centers similar to the one Mrs. Kroc established in San Diego. Following a competitive, nationwide-wide proposal process, The Salvation Army regional office in the City of Camden received an award of $59 million of funding. By forging new relationships in the community and partnering with corporate sponsors and political leaders, The Salvation Army was able to secure an additional $31 million to complete the project.

Camden officials and The Salvation Army representatives chose to locate the community center on a portion of the former Harrison Avenue Landfill site at the confluence of the Delaware and Cooper rivers in the Cramer Hill section of the city. This site was chosen in particular because it was large enough to accommodate the project, was owned by the Camden Redevelopment Agency, and was located along bus routes and a proposed rail station allowing for easy access. The location is also in close proximity to the 12,000 children who reside in Cramer Hill and North Camden.

Before Remediation (January 2012)

Environmental Remediation

The Harrison Avenue Landfill is a former 85-acre landfill that was owned and operated by the City of Camden from 1952 to 1971. The landfill,which is now owned by the CRA, is located on the northwest corner of Harrison Avenue and East State Street in the Cramer Hill neighborhood. The landfill is located within the Cramer Hill Brownfield Development Area, which is a voluntary designation between local stakeholders, city officials and NJDEP to expedite the reuse of brownfield sites that border a 2-mile stretch of the Delaware River.

The reclamation of the 24-acre portion of the landfill into the Kroc Center was made possible after several phases of remediation. In September 2008, NJDEP completed a $4.1 million publicly-funded cleanup which removed approximately 14,000 tons of industrial waste materials placed under Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in a one-half acre area of the southeastern portion of the landfill where the Kroc Center was originally planned. Beginning December 2010 until May 2011, the relocated Kroc Center site was prepared for remediation and received 221,000 cubic yards of Delaware River channel material (“clean fill”) from the Palmyra Nature Cove for use as building foundation and capping of landscaped areas. From December 2011 until February 20 13, MSW was relocated away from the building footprint area and the capping material from Palmyra was placed under the building foundation and over the Kroc campus landscaped areas where the MSW was relocated. From February 2013, most of the activity at the site involved construction–related activities with the foundation of the building being poured and steel framing erected. The remaining remediation work, surficial landscaping and final top cover, was completed before the Kroc Center opened in October 2014.

By initiating the remediation of the Harrison Avenue Landfill, the development of the Kroc center enhanced nearly 100 acres of vital, waterfront land. Additionally, the RJKCCC project includes open spaces with ball fields, walking paths and connections to the future waterfront nature trails. Diverting roof stormwater to existing wetlands adjacent to the project site is designed to enhance them by keeping them recharged. A 300-foot buffer to the river has been kept in tack for Bald Eagle foraging.

After Completion (October 2014)

RJKCCC Facility Details

The Center itself is 120,000 square feet, nearly 3 football fields in length, and provides recreational, health, educational, cultural, family and spiritual programming for area residents. It also serves as the hub for The Salvation Army services in the tri-county region. The amenity-laden facility includes both indoor and outdoor recreational spaces and the facility serves as many as 360,000 members and visitors per year.

The indoor program is divided into three areas meant to serve the Mind, Body and Spirit. The Fitness space includes and 11,000 square foot gymnasium with spectator seating, an aquatic center with 8-lane competition pool and an associated indoor water park, an exercise center with dance studios, a thirty feet high rock climbing wall and comprehensive locker room spaces with showers and dressing rooms. There are social gathering places for teens and youths, a senior center, drop-in babysitting, a 200 seat performing arts center, and a 250 seat chapel. Available social services will include a family life and personal development center, classrooms, art room, computer lab, music room, library learning center, a commercial kitchen, an early childhood education center servicing 90 preschool children and a health clinic run by Cooper Hospital. All of these are separate spaces connected via an 8,000 square feet indoor “Town Plaza” gathering space and café, situated beneath a spectacular glass skylight.

While The Salvation Army is not proceeding with a LEED application, the project has been designed with abundant sustainability elements, enough to achieve a Gold Rating should they so desire. Sustainable features include brownfield redevelopment, aquifer recharging with constructed wetlands and bio-swales, daylighting internal spaces, regional available materials, white roofing to reduce heat island effect, high-efficiency pool filtration systems that reduce annual water and energy consumption, Energy Recovery HVAC systems, recycled content in building materials, efficient lighting, waste steam separation, and recycling.

Ogdensburg takes major step forward in brownfield development plans

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 15:18:52 GMT

By Jimmy Lawton, North Country Now (NY)

After years of work, community meetings, and studies, Ogdensburg has finished Phase 2 of its Brownfield Opportunity Area Program.

City planner Andrea Smith said the completion of nomination study is major step for the city, which applied for BOA funding in 2009. She said the brownfield projects that it encompasses date back into the 1990s.

Smith said the city received a $355,000 grant in 2010 with a 10 percent local match to create a plan that could be used to develop the city’s brown properties.

Smith says this step allows the city to apply for the official designation, which opens the door to a wider range of incentives and funding opportunities for the properties located within the BOA.

…

For the entire article, see

http://northcountrynow.com/news/ogdensburg-takes-major-step-forward-brownfield-development-plans-0166987

Sen. Murphy Touts Brownfield Bill In Ansonia

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 15:16:46 GMT

By Ethan Fry, Valley Independent Sentinel (CT)

The lower Naugatuck Valley is dotted with contaminated “brownfield” properties where environmental issues related to their previous uses have thrown question marks over redevelopment plans, caused hiccups to demolition, or stalled projects altogether.

On Wednesday U.S. Senator Chris Murphy visited a similar site - the sprawling Ansonia Copper and Brass complex - to laud a new bill he says would help property owners and developers return such properties to productive reuse sooner.

…

The city reached a deal with Ansonia Copper & Brass in August 2014 in which the company agreed to demolish about 30,000 square feet of buildings and was allowed to deduct the cost of the work against an outstanding tax bill of roughly $800,000.

Demolition began in December 2014. The city and the company are in talks to extend the deal to other parts of the 42-acre complex in the heart of the city’s downtown.

…

For the entire article, see

http://valley.newhavenindependent.org/archives/entry/sen._murphy_touts_brownfield_bill_in_ansonia/

Batavia Morning News

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 19:37:18 GMT

WBTA radio (Batavia, NY)

One of Batavia’s so-called brownfield sites is destined to be re-developed into 3-three-acres of luxury apartments, Class A office space, new light manufacturing space and a restaurant/brewery.

The site is the former location of Santy’s Tire and Della Penna Construction on Ellicott Street.

As we reported yesterday morning, Savarino Companies of Buffalo has been selected to re-develop the site.

…

For the entire story, see

http://www.wbta1490.com/LocalNews/tabid/115/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/7202/Batavia-Morning-News-Mar-17-2016.aspx

Ogdensburg completes latest stage of brownfield cleanup program

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 19:35:36 GMT

By Larry Robinson, Watertown Daily Times (NY)

OGDENSBURG - The city has moved a step closer to its long-term goal of redeveloping hundreds of acres of once-contaminated property along the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie rivers by completing the latest stage of the state’s Brownfield Opportunity Area program.

The BOA program was created in 2003 to give municipalities access to state grants to plan and investigate the cleanup and redevelopment of abandoned industrial and commercial sites known as brownfields.

In Ogdensburg, most of the municipality’s 330-acre brownfield area is located near the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie rivers. The sprawling tract of riverfront property contains 45 individual brownfield sites including residential, industrial, commercial and retail properties within the city limits.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news05/ogdensburg-completes-latest-stage-of-brownfield-cleanup-program-20160316

Neighbors in Lackawanna hear update on Brownfield cleanup

Tue, 01 Mar 2016 15:44:09 GMT

by Cierra Johnson, WKBW TV-& News (Buffalo, NY)

LACKAWANNA, N.Y. - Wednesday night, those living in the city of Lackawanna were updated on a state funded project designed to revitalize the now desolate area were Bethlehem steel once stood.

The meeting was the first in a series of informational gatherings addressing future development of the city’s first ward - specifically the areas near Ridge road, Route five and the waterfront.

The first portion of the informational broke down the process the state DEC is using to select, clean and develop underutilized, vacant or brownfield sites.

…

For the entire story, see

http://www.wkbw.com/news/neighbors-in-lackawanna-hear-update-on-brownfield-cleanup

A positive pathway

Thu, 25 Feb 2016 18:38:32 GMT

Editorial, Batavia Daily News (NY)

Batavia’s Pathway to Prosperity has been a hard road to find. All the involved parties knew where they were and where they wanted to go; the trick was in getting everyone to agree on how to get there, and finding enough gas money to make the trip. With the county Legislature’s approval last week, the city is fueled up, ready to go and take along the rest of the county as a passenger.

The Legislature was the third of the three taxing entities that needed to sign on to Batavia’s Pathway to Prosperity Redevelopment Fund. The city and the city school district had already approved participation in a program that would take half of the tax revenue from increased property values for certain projects and put them into a fund for infrastructure and construction work in future developments. The area targeted is the Brownfield Opportunity Area, where development is sorely needed if the city is to move toward prosperity.

…

For the entire editorial, see

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn06/a-positive-pathway-20160222

Brownfield cleanup grants helping reshape downtown Meriden

Thu, 25 Feb 2016 18:35:28 GMT

By Molly Callahan, Meriden Record-Journal (CT)

MERIDEN - Between cleanup grants, Transit-Oriented District planning and implementation grants, and Choice Neighborhood grants, the city has received more than $24 million in state and federal money for downtown Meriden in recent years.

Any visit downtown yields the sights of a city in transition, with construction in almost any direction one looks. The former Hub site is nearing completion as a flood storage basin and park; a new train station on State Street is taking shape; a Meriden Housing Authority and Westmount Development Group joint venture at 24 Colony St. is springing up; 11 Crown St., 116 Cook Ave., and the former Factory H site are all nearing cleanup and demolition; and residents of the Mills Memorial Apartment complex are leaving and the buildings are about to be torn down.

All this, while year after year, residents urge elected officials to attract more businesses and more private development to lighten the tax burden on homeowners.

…

For the entire article, see

http://www.myrecordjournal.com/meriden/meridennews/8479300-129/brownfield-cleanup-grants-helping-reshape-downtown-meriden.html

From dirty to clean: Brownfield site may soon be source of clean energy

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:09:45 GMT

by Eve Britton, Bristol Pres (CT)

BRISTOL - A new “ultra-clean” power plant is being envisioned at an old contaminated scrap-metal yard on Middle Street.

Officials at FuelCell Energy in Danbury have begun negotiations with the city to build the green-energy generation grid a block south of ESPN.

The 15-acre city-owned site, at 894 Middle St., has been designated a Brownfield - a contaminated site eligible for federally funded rehabilitation - by the state.

FuelCell Energy officials have expressed interest in leasing between two and three acres on the site to support seven to 12 units, producing anywhere from two to 20 megawatts of power.

Those numbers could change. “It frankly hasn’t been determined yet,” said Frank Wolak, vice president for government and business, about the company’s plans.
…
For the entire article, see
http://www.centralctcommunications.com/bristolpress/article_8b6b29ec-d130-11e5-885c-470c822cf026.html

Southington Gets $400K To Clean Former Factory Site

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:07:09 GMT

by Bill Leukhardt, Hartford Courant (CT)

SOUTHINGTON – Cleanup work should begin soon at the former Beaton and Corbin plumbing fixture factory, vacant since 1989, marred by severe industrial pollution and gutted by an 2003 arson fire, town economic development director Louis Perillo said Friday.

A $400,000 state grant awarded Wednesday for the job will allow remediation to begin so a private developer can buy the property and build a 13,000 square foot office retail complex on the 3-acre lot, he said.

"We're really excited about this," Perillo said of the pending reuse of a prime North Main Street lot that's been an eyesore for decades. Some of Perillo's relatives once worked at the factory, one of many heavy industrial businesses here that provided jobs for decades until those firms closed shop in the 1980s.

For the entire article, see

http://www.courant.com/community/southington/hc-southington-brownfield--grant-0213-20160212-story.html

North Adams' Greylock Mill project accepted into Brownfields Covenant Program

Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:20:19 GMT

by Adam Shanks, Berkshire Eagle (MA)

NORTH ADAMS - Developers of the Greylock Mill can move forward with the cleanup of the former industrial site without fear of liability for the contamination.

The project, along with two others in the state, has been accepted into the Brownfields Covenant program, according to the state Attorney General's Office.

Under the program, the developers will enter a special Covenant Not to Sue agreement, which will reduce its liability as it revitalizes the massive, but environmentally contaminated complex on State Road.

"The covenant process was critical to understanding and containing the risks associated with the pre-existing conditions of the site," said Salvatore Perry, developer for the project. "The meetings we had with experienced professionals at [the Department of Environmental Protection] increased awareness among the many stakeholders, and fostered a collaborative dynamic to shape a reasonable plan that will clean up the Greylock Mill site."

For the entire article, see

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_29465490/north-adams-greylock-mill-project-accepted-into-brownfields

Southington Moving To Clean Polluted Factory Site

Fri, 29 Jan 2016 16:40:39 GMT

by Bill Leukhardt, Hartford Courant (CT)

SOUTHINGTON - A company that prepares former industrial sites for eventual sale to developers is now involved in the tricky job of cleaning the polluted, fire-scarred Beaton & Corbin factory site.

The nonprofit Connecticut Brownfields Landbank won town council approval Monday night to help the town clean and resell the 3-acre site, owned by a now-bankrupt corporation that went out of business in 1989.

The town is owed more than $94,000 in back taxes by the defunct owner. Ownership is in limbo but town officials will not foreclose because it means Southington would then own the land and be legally responsible for cleaning industrial wastes that soaked into the dirt during the plumbing factory's decades of operation.

For the entire article, see http://www.courant.com/hc-southington-brownfield-clean-0127-20160126-story.html

The New York Governor's Budget has Good News for BOA Communities

Fri, 29 Jan 2016 16:06:24 GMT

Information from the New Partners for Community Revitalization

On January 14th, Governor Cuomo announced his budget proposal for 2016, and it includes new spending for Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) program participants and other communities struggling with revitalization.

The New Partners for Community Revitalization (NPCR) has been following the BOA program from its inception, and we know that it works. (See NPCR's Albany Times Union Op-Ed, published on the morning of the Governor's State of the State). As the only Statewide program in the country that drives community-based revitalization in poorer neighborhoods burdened with brownfields, the BOA program has provided hope and real economic uplift across the State. And now Governor Cuomo has endorsed the program by providing new BOA funding for the first time since he took office.

In yesterday's budget announcement, there was important news for low-income communities struggling with revitalization. NPCR is particularly excited about the Governor’s decision to begin funding Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) grants after a three year hiatus. The new funding - $2 million for 2016 – will be part of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), a logical funding source for a program designed to get contamination cleaned up and communities rebuilt after decades of post-industrial blight.

There was more good news for the same communities that the BOA program was designed to help.The Governor is proposing to increase spending on municipal parks from the $15,750,000 made available in 2015 to $20 million in 2016, half of which is earmarked specifically for inner-city/underserved communities. Likewise, of the $15 million announced for waterfront revitalization - up from $12.5 million - $10 million is carved out for inner city/underserved communities. The Administration will also grow its environmental justice program; the Governor is proposing $7 million in spending for another new EPF category, an environmental justice initiative to be developed with input from the EJ community.

All of these programs are in addition to a large infrastructure investment the Governor has proposed for downstate, and new competitive grants for upstate "downtown" revitalization.

This is all good news, but more needs to be done.The BOA program is burdened with duplicative steps and long delays in funding; it needs to be streamlined. There is also a need for a pre-development funding cycle once planning completed, to help communities begin to implement their plans and work with private investors. NPCR will be looking to the Senate and the Assembly to reintroduce A.7970, Brindisi/S.5341 Avella to streamline and strengthen the BOA program. We will need your help to get it passed.

It must also be said that the $2 million to be made available for BOA grants, though very welcome after years of no funding, is not nearly enough to match both need and readiness to move communities through the BOA process, or to provide for the brownfield assessments that are key to moving forward with development. We will be talking to the Governor and Legislative leaders about increasing this amount in the final budget agreement.

NPCR heartily thanks all of you who have written to the Governor and your legislators about the importance of the BOA program. Please keep those communications going!

Bridging the Gap: New Website Connects Brownfield Owners to Brownfield Buyers

Mon, 04 Jan 2016 22:12:08 GMT

by Anastasios Lazaropoulos

What’s harder to sell than a story about a bronze rat statue? A Brownfield property.*

Brownfields, underutilized but valuable properties sometimes littered with environmental contamination, are the hardest properties to sell in this day and age. The fear of coming under fire from federal statutes like CERCLA or RCRA keep many developers at bay. The developers that take the challenge often end up with a nice payout at the end of the day but only after navigating the arduous process of Brownfield remediation. For these developers, even before the remediation, comes the hard part: How do you find one of these sites for sale and is there an inkling of what lurks within the potential Pandora’s Box of this type of rehabilitation?

In comes Mr. Dan French, an attorney turned CEO who’s advised DOW 30 companies and small rural cities alike and saw the same issues holding Brownfields back. A more difficult due diligence process, a disconnect between buyers and sellers of these sites and an overall broken system to obtain the information about the sites themselves. With his extensive knowledge of real estate and a strong social mission to assist those in the public sector challenged by Brownfield issues came BrownfieldListings.com.

Brownfield Listings is an online self-listing service for Brownfields and other development sites, currently in its beta stage and launching its full release later this month (January 2016). Sellers and organizations from all over the U.S. and its territories are able to post their Brownfield sites in an organized and easy to understand system. Each listing calls for essential details like what kind of pollution is on the property or whether or not any work has been done. Listers can upload documents including photos and aerials of the site, and tag its current status and property conditions. In this national marketplace, buyers can contact sellers directly regardless of their location, expanding the market and giving more chances for these sites to get cleaned up by organizations with the right know-how.

The platform provides much of its functionality for free, such as signing up, creating organizations and posting basic listings. Brownfield Listings also provides premium products like the premium listings, which are shareable and include a “Project Board” property listers can use to daylight even more information online. This project tool includes a newsfeed to share updates on project progress, plans, and needs as well as an optional forum section, for public engagement, professional advice, and even recommendations to be posted. Also included is a “Diligence Repository,” which is a simple and customizable data room to organize documents, images, and other due diligence materials. These premium tools come with a $44.99 monthly subscription, with portfolio and public sector discounts available.

The best part about this website, is the fact even with all this innovation, Brownfield Listings isn’t content sitting on its laurels. The team at Brownfield Listings is constantly working to simplify the redevelopment process and develop more powerful tools. Having recently launched “Portfolios”—sites grouped by owner, geography or type—French expressed excitement for the upcoming Brightfield Portfolio. Brightfields are sites great for renewable solar energy systems. By posting in the Brightfield Portfolio, listers will make it much easier to market to solar developers who can more easily find sites, investigate them and connect directly to the lister.

Expect much more to come. Brownfield Listings provides a nexus for every developer and public and private sector Brownfield owner to connect online and exchange information, redeveloping more properties, cleaning up more contaminated sites and helping the economy and the Environment. Their easy to use website is bridging the brownfield gap and driving market innovation forward into the future. Visit this most excellent website at: https://brownfieldlistings.com.

*(To understand this obscure reference, please click here AFTER you read the article: http://www.jokesabout.net/lawyers-the-bronze-rat).

Solar farm at L&D Landfill operating fully

Mon, 04 Jan 2016 21:33:48 GMT

The last of nearly 200 electricians and laborers at a Mount Holly landfill finished last week, leaving behind a sprawling solar farm that will capture the sun's rays and convert them into energy.

The solar farm atop the former L&D Landfill has begun silently churning out about 12.9 megawatts of energy. That's enough electricity to power about 2,000 homes, PSE&G officials say.

"It's our largest solar farm in New Jersey," said Todd Hranicka, director of Solar Energy for the utility company, as rows and rows of 42,000 panels were being installed on a gray day last month. In recent days, a direct "interconnection" was made between the panels and the grid.

Francis Sullivan, a PSE&G spokesman, said the solar farm is in full operation and "only needs maintenance every six months." Snow, rain and wind typically do not create any problems for the panels, but minor adjustments may need to be made, he said.

The interconnection was performed by linking the wires in the solar panels to a line of wires underground that travel up a single utility pole at the edge of the site, Sullivan said. The solar energy directly enters the grid, he said, mingling with the current traveling into peoples' homes. "It's hard to say exactly where the electrons go, exactly, but they would go into homes in the surrounding area," in Burlington County, Sullivan said. There's no storage system, so the amount generated depends on how sunny the day is and also the length of the day, he said. The output is also calculated by considering the amount of solar power generated by each panel, the average amount of electricity used per household, and other factors, Sullivan said.

BCONE President Steve Jaffe and BCONE Treasurer Geoff Forrest attend Leading Women Entrepreneurs Top 25 Recognition Event in Jersey City

Wed, 16 Dec 2015 15:07:06 GMT

Two of BCONE’s Executive Committee attended "Embracing the Future, the Leading Women Entrepreneurs Top 25 Recognition" Event held at Liberty House in Jersey City on Monday, November 16, 2015. It was a warm, crystal clear evening with a fantastic view of the NYC skyline outside and a high-energy celebration inside the venue. BCONE’s Executive Director, Sue Boyle of GEI Consultants, was recognized as one the best and brightest women entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs of New Jersey. Sue refers to the NYC and Jersey City skylines when she discusses her brownfields career in an interview on the Leader Woman Entrepreneur – Embracing the Future 2015 YouTube Channel. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpEffX36nRg).

The photo, taken by President Jaffe, shows Sue surrounded by BCONE members (from left) Elizabeth Limbrick of NJIT, Colleen Kokas of NJDEP, and Caryn Barnes and Sharon McSwieney of Langan. The event showcased exceptional women with strong business acumen and their reinvention of themselves and their businesses in an ever changing and ever challenging marketplace and economy. The LWE finalists support hundreds of non-profits, employ thousands of people, and generating millions of dollars.

Networking Success in Atlantic City

Mon, 07 Dec 2015 17:06:20 GMT

On November 17, 2015, the Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE), Economic Development Association of NJ (EDANJ), and the Licensed Site Remediation Professionals Association (LSRPA) joined forces over margaritas and Mexican appetizers at Los Amigos and held a joint networking event after the League of Municipalities Conference sessions in Atlantic City. Over 40 people, including developers, financial firms, law firms, environmental consultants, planners, government officials, contractors, real estate professionals and other real estate and environmental service providers enjoyed conversations in the packed bar and on the side porch due to unseasonably lovely weather. There was an excellent energy level and lots of mingling across organizations. New members of all three associations who attended really enjoyed the introduction to the groups and made connections that will benefit them, and the groups received new volunteers for their committees. A win-win all around.

Seen and Heard at the National Brownfields Conference 2015, Chicago

Tue, 29 Sep 2015 15:16:49 GMT

by Elizabeth Limbrick, NJIT / NJII

Many of the movers and shakers in the brownfield industry were in attendance at the National Brownfields Workshop 2015 in Chicago. The conference was well-attended and sparked a great dialogue. One ever-present mover and shaker, was Dan French, of Brownfield Listings. Mr. French was a featured panelist at BCONE’s 2015 Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop. Mr. French’s company, Brownfield Listings, provided a new web portal giving communities an opportunity to list their brownfield properties, projects, and profiles for free.

Several of the educational sessions were standing room only, including: Hopportunity Knocks, and the Keys to Sustaining a Local Brownfields Program. In addition, to the plethora of education sessions, there were plenty of opportunities to network with colleagues and meet new people. BCONE co-hosted a lunch meet up, with over 30 people attending.

One of the overarching themes discussed at Brownfields 2015 was that the there has never been a better time for brownfield redevelopment. The challenge for brownfield redevelopment is taking risk, and our jobs as brownfield professionals are to minimize that risk.

Even before the conference kicked off there were great pre-conference sessions on many topics including Environmental Justice, which was hosted by the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization. Other important topics covered at the conference included, managing stormwater on brownfield sites, working with railroads, green infrastructure and environmental justice. A bike tour of Chicago provided an opportunity for participants to tour former brownfield sites within the City that had been transformed into park space.

The Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, USEPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, and Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanisalaus kicked of the official start of conference with a rousing opening plenary session. The session harkened back to the 1980s with Administrator McCarthy calling for communities to demand clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. She also noted, “People need to have a connection to the natural world.” Administrator McCarthy added, “We have the moral obligation to address local environmental issues, like protecting vulnerable populations.” Administrator McCarthy also stated that the choices for local communities are best by those local communities and that EPA’s role is to fund and assist, “A little bit of money can spark a lot of investment.” Administrator McCarthy provided us with many interesting statistics on the program. Since the EPA Brownfield grant program began, over 24,000 sites have been assessed, 1,000,000 acres have been cleaned up and made ready for reuse, and $23 Billion has been leveraged for cleanup and redevelopment. One of the most interesting statistics Administrator McCarthy shared was that when brownfields are redeveloped 32-52% fewer vehicle miles are traveled in those neighborhoods. This indicates that brownfield redevelopment is transforming communities into vibrant places / destinations, and that they are no longer a drive through community where people are running to get out. Mathy Stanislaus noted that “Brownfields are the economic engine of the future” and that brownfields unleash potential.

For the Mayor’s Roundtable session, Congressman Dan Kildee interviewed several mayors. Congressman Kildee asked, “How can the federal government find support for all kinds of large-scale projects, but we can’t seem to find ways to subsidize a full-scale supermarket?” Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson of Gary Indiana noted that when it comes to sustainable practices “Everyone loves density until it comes to their neighborhood.” She also noted that “It takes a lot of patience to get brownfields work done. The work has to be done over a period of time over many administrations.” Duluth Minnesota Mayor Don Ness, summed it all up with the quip that “As a mayor, brownfield work seems magical. We need to tell better stories." He added that Brownfield works takes courage. And Dayton Ohio Mayor Nan Whaley noted that brownfields redevelopment is "about making people believe that their community can be great again." Mayor Madeline Rogero of Knoxville Tennessee noted that there is so much brownfield redevelopment in Knoxville that “Our new city flower is the orange construction cone.” The mayors also noted that over the years, we had turned our back on our natural resources, such rivers, because they had such a bad legacy of pollution (whether it was from tanneries, or slaughterhouses, or chemical factories). In recent years, there has been an awakening, and communities want to take their resources back. Many communities have now embraced rivers as resources, and included them in their redevelopment plans.

This and more was seen and heard throughout the days of the conference. Seek out a professional or firm who attended for more detailed information regarding technical, financial, and regulatory stories that are currently driving brownfield redevelopment near you. The conference was a great success, with so many experts in one place.

Updates on Delaware DNREC Brownfield Program

Tue, 29 Sep 2015 15:11:47 GMT

Gregg Crystall, BCONE Regional Council member and Sr. Project Director for BrightFields, Inc. in Wilmington Delaware, reports that the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Site Investigation and Restoration Section (SIRS) currently has the responsibility for overseeing 235 Certified Brownfield Sites in the State of Delaware. Fiscal year 2015 had a record number of Brownfield Sites certified by SIRS. The Delaware Brownfield Program provides grant incentives for approved Brownfield Developers on Delaware Certified Brownfield Sites. Commercial entities are eligible for up to $200,000 in grant funding for environmental investigation and/or remediation activities and non-profit and public entities are eligible for up to $625,000 in grant funding for these activities. Last fiscal year DNREC allocated and spent a total of $5,000,000 on Brownfield Sites throughout the State. From 2004-2015, $38,921,400.72 has been reimbursed to Brownfield Developers under the State Brownfield program. In the first two months of FY’16, DNREC has reimbursed a total of $1,589,671.77 of the $5M allocated for the year.

DNREC has commissioned the University of Delaware to update the Return on Investment study that they completed in 2013. This study showed a return of $17.50 for every State dollar invested on Brownfield Sites! The updated study will be published this fall. The link to the 2013 UD Study “Beyond Natural and Economic Impacts: A Model for Social Impact Assessment of Brownfields Development Programs and a Case Study of Northeast Wilmington, Delaware” is:

http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/dwhs/bac/Documents/Final%20Submission_Brownfields%20Social%20Impact%20Report%20-%203_5_13.pdf.

BCONE’s Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop 2016 - Call for Ideas is open!

Tue, 25 Aug 2015 16:55:00 GMT

Now in its 7th year, the Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) will be hosting the Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop (NSCW) 2016 at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark, New Jersey on March 16, 2016. The NSCW’s goal is to break new ground, offer new ideas, and posit new concepts on the topics of sustainability, collaboration and leverage, contamination, resiliency, brownfields, technology, and their impact on community revitalization. Our past events have been attended by representatives from government, higher education, professional organizations, and laboratories, as well as attorneys, developers, contractors, and consultants.

This year’s theme is “Imagination and Creativity in Urban Change for the NJ/NY/CT/PA Metropolitan Area.” NSCW is like no other conference you’ve attended. PowerPoint presentations are sparse and image-only; speakers are concise, yet informative; and, there is plenty of time in each session for dialogue between attendees, speakers, and moderators. Come be a part of the conversation! BCONE is issuing a call for ideas on topics related to sustainability for NSCW 2016.

What topics would you like to discuss with experts and leaders in the field of sustainability? Do you have a great idea for a speaker or presentation that you'd like to see at the Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop on March 16, 2016? Submit an idea for NSCW 2016! For more information, click here to visit the page on our Call for Ideas.

Submissions are due by September 21, 2015, 11:59 PM ET.

Find Out Which BCONE Members Are Presenting and Exhibiting at the National Brownfields Conference

Tue, 25 Aug 2015 16:46:44 GMT

Come out support your colleagues from BCONE at the National Brownfield Conference in Chicago. Many BCONE members will be presenting and/or exhibiting. Stop by and say hello.

Alan Miller New Jersey Department of State, Office for Planning Advocacy, NJ Business Action Center will be a panelist on the "Can You Really Trust Those LSPs, LSRPs, and LEPs?" session on September 2 at 10:15 AM in Stevens Salon A-2.

Sue Boyle, of GEI Consultants, Inc., will be speaking at two Learning Lounges: "On the Urban Waterfront: The Benefits of Hiring Two Environmental Job Training Graduates for Utility Projects" on September 2, at 2:45pm in Steven's Salon B; and "Professional Associations as Brownfield Resources" on September 3, at 10:50am in Steven's Salon B.

Gary Rozmus, of GEI Consultants, Inc., is a panelist on the "Banking on Progress: Land Banks as Catalysts for Brownfields Redevelopment" session on September 2, at 4:15pm in the Waldorf Room.

Colleen Kokas, of the NJDEP, is a panelist on the "State Financial Redevelopment Strategies" session on September 2, at 4:15pm in the Williford Room.

Representatives from the New York City Mayor's Office of Environmental Remediation will be speaking in several sessions:

1 Sept, 4pm - Region 2 Open House. Daniel Walsh, City of New York (NYC Brownfields Initiatives Advance Social Equity), along with representatives from Camden, NJ and Groundwork USA. Location TBA
2 Sept, 10:45am - Equity, Equity, Where is the Equity? Daniel Walsh, City of New York. Location: Williford B/C
2 Sept, 10:45am - Keys to Sustaining a Local Brownfields Program. Lee Ilan, City of New York, & Mark Gregor, City Of Rochester. Location: Stevens Salon A-2
2 Sept, 5:30pm - Poster: Vacant Land Cleanup & Revitalization Initiative. Hannah Moore, City of New York. Location: Exhibit Hall poster gallery. Please come vote for your favorite!
3 Sept, 2:15pm - Local Government and Equitable Development: Policy, Strategies, and Community Best Practices. Daniel Walsh, City of New York. Location: Boulevard
3 Sept, 3:45pm - Brownfields Data Lab - An EPIC Application: Environmental Information and Community Engagement in NYC. Hannah Moore, City of New York. Location: Normandie Lounge
3 Sept, 3:45pm - Dishing the Dirt on Clean Soil: Reuse Opportunities. Samantha Morris & Daniel Walsh, City of New York. Location: Continental Ballroom A
4 Sept, 9:45am - Heard on the Hill: State and Federal Brownfields Policies. Mark McIntyre, City of New York. Location: Continental Ballroom A
4 Sept, 11:15am - Characterization for Cash: Financing Redevelopment in Urban and Rural Settings. Mark McIntyre, City of New York. Location: Williford B/C

Elizabeth Limbrick and Colette Santasieri from NJIT TAB will be presenting at the "Let's Talk TAB" session at 3:45 - 5:00 PM on September 3, 2015, in the Steven's Salon A-2. In addition, NJIT TAB will have office hours from 12:30 - 3:00 PM on September 3, 2015, in Salon A-5.

Elizabeth Limbrick and Colette Santasieri will also be participating in the Environmental Justice Caucus on September 1st from 6:30-9:30 PM at the Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East and the Area Wide Planning Grantee Meeting, September 1st from 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM at EPA Region V office 12th floor conference center, 77 West Jackson Blvd.

NJIT will be sharing booth #802 with other TAB providers (KSU, and CCLR).

Ramboll ENVIRON is exhibiting at booth #110.

GEI Consultants is exhibiting at booth #501.

Beth Barton, Esq. of Day Pitney; Michael Taylor of Vita Nuova; Lee Hoffman, Esq. of Pullman & Comley; and Leah Yasenchak and Michele Christina or BRS, Inc. are also speakers.

Expanded Significant Environmental Hazard Requirements for Connecticut Site Owners: Changes, Pitfalls, and Impacts

Wed, 22 Jul 2015 19:51:29 GMT

The following information is from our BCONE colleagues at Robinson & Cole

As of July 1, 2015, significant changes took effect for the Significant Environmental Hazards (SEH) program established by Conn. General Statutes §22a-6u. This program requires reporting to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and other parties upon discovery of any of several specified environmental conditions deemed to be SEHs. Reporting requirements run both to technical environmental professionals, who conduct the actual sampling or otherwise discover an SEH condition, and to site owners. This alert focuses on requirements for site owners.

WHAT'S CHANGED

This program now has broader reporting triggers and requires follow-up investigation and/or remediation within narrow response deadlines. The changes also include certain exceptions to reporting requirements and adds various other details regarding the program.

BROADER REPORTING TRIGGERS

Impacts or potential impacts to drinking water wells: An additional reporting trigger was added for discovery of “nonaqueous phase liquid” (a/k/a free product) of any kind in a drinking water well. Also, reporting is now required where groundwater within 200 feet in any direction of a drinking water well exceeds a groundwater protection criterion in the state’s Remediation Standard Regulations (RSRs). This trigger is in addition to the preexisting trigger for impacted groundwater within 500 feet in an upgradient direction from a drinking water well.
Impacts in shallow soils: Existing reporting thresholds for shallow soil (top two feet) contamination have now been reduced from 30 times (30X) to 15 times (15X) applicable RSR direct exposure criteria at a parcel in residential use or at a parcel in industrial/commercial use but within 300 feet of a residence, school, park, playground, or day care facility. Exceptions are provided for substances at industrial/commercial facilities that meet specified paving or fencing requirements.
Subsurface vapor intrusion into buildings: Reporting is now required for volatile substances in groundwater within 15 feet of an occupied building. (Previously, this trigger was limited to impacted groundwater within 15 feet beneath a building). The trigger level for reporting has also been broadened, from 30X to 10X applicable RSR volatilization criteria.
Impacted groundwater discharging to surface water: This reporting trigger has likewise been broadened, from 30X (of the state’s acute toxicity water quality standards for aquatic life) to 10X. Reporting is also required for discharged groundwater containing nonaqueous phase liquids (a/k/a free product) that has not already been reported to DEEP under other water quality programs. The changes also set a deadline of one business day for reporting such a free product discharge.

REQUIRED INVESTIGATION AND/OR REMEDIATION

The SEH program now also requires the site owner to take steps to address the condition that sparked the notice requirement. In the past, DEEP typically required such action on a case-by-case basis, but the agency’s response times and directives varied. Now, a site owner must proceed with specified steps under relatively short deadlines without waiting to hear back from DEEP.

For example, for threatened or impacted drinking water wells, required follow-up depends on the conditions that triggered the SEH report and may include identifying and requesting access to sample any other nearby drinking water wells, and reporting such sample results and proposing appropriate further action to DEEP. The deadline is 30 days after the owner becomes aware of the condition. For potential vapor intrusion into buildings, the site owner’s notice of the condition to DEEP must include a proposed mitigation or abatement plan.

BEWARE : COMPLIANCE HAZARDS REGARDING "SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS"

The revised program requires careful reading to avoid potential compliance pitfalls. For example:

Depending on the SEH condition, the deadline for a site owner’s initial notice to DEEP may or may not match the deadline for other investigation, reporting, or response actions.
The definition of “residential” also appears to vary slightly among various SEH conditions. DEEP’s interpretation of any differences in use of the term is not addressed in its website notice or guidance document.
Requirements and standards may also vary within the same SEH condition. For example, for impacted groundwater near drinking water wells, the program bases notice requirements on whether the location of the impacted groundwater is within certain distances of any drinking water wells (500 feet in an upgradient direction or 200 feet in any direction). However, the site owner’s duty to identify and request access to any off-site drinking water wells extends more broadly (500 feet in any direction).

TIE-IN TO "TRANSFORMATION" OF DEEP REMEDIATION PROGRAMS

The SEH program changes were actually adopted in 2013 legislation regarding DEEP’s remediation “transformation” effort but with an effective date postponed to July 1, 2015. In the interim, DEEP was to reconsider the risk-based numeric criteria on which the SEH reporting triggers are based and to recommend related changes to the SEH program. In brief, this process has not yet been completed. Legislation was proposed earlier this year to further postpone the effective date but failed to pass.

BROADER IMPACTS OF THESE CHANGES ON BUSINESS OPERATIONS

The impacts of the SEH program changes extend beyond release response and remediation. For example, in buying or selling property, due diligence that includes environmental sampling can now trigger requirements for response actions under relatively short deadlines that can complicate the transaction. New requirements to ask third parties for access to sample their off-site drinking water wells will necessitate communications and risk management strategies with respect to potential claims by such parties.

The SEH program changes include details beyond the summary discussion above, and should be reviewed in full. DEEP’s SEH webpage does not yet reflect the program changes, but an unofficial version of the SEH statute as revised by the 2013 amendments is available through the Connecticut General Assembly’s website.

New York State's Reformed Brownfield Cleanup Program Update

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 18:39:05 GMT

An update for all NSCW 2015 Attendees and any BCONE members in New York State or doing business in New York State - The Reformed Brownfield Cleanup Program from our contacts in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation:

July 1, 2015, was the effective date of the reformed Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP), based on the revisions to the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) enacted as part of this year’s State budget. DEC is accepting applications for the new program and the application form and instructions are available on the web, as described below.

BCP Reform Changes

Most of the significant changes which initially will affect implementation of the program are associated with eligibility for the program and the two-tiered approach for sites in New York City. To address these, DEC has developed a new application form and directions for its use which are available on the website, along with some additional guidance on how DEC will process and handle the applications. Information about eligibility, the application process, and program requirements can be accessed through the following link:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8450.html

Several other changes have been made to the program as outlined in the summary of changes, which can be accessed through the following link:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/101350.html

Changes of Note:

Volunteer Oversight Costs: The recent changes to the BCP include a change to subdivision 2 of section 27-1409 of the ECL which removed the obligation for Volunteers accepted into the BCP to pay state oversight costs, effective July 1, 2015. This change does not remove the obligation to pay state costs incurred up to that date. DEC will be preparing and sending final bills for state cost incurred up to July 1st for all BCP sites with approved brownfield cleanup agreements based on our regular schedule for such billings. All volunteer Applicants can anticipate receiving a final bill through this date over the next year which is our regular billing cycle.
BCP-EZ Status: In exchange for waiving any right to tax credits, lightly contaminated sites would be able to enter a streamlined program, the BCP-EZ option, with State oversight of the cleanup work. BCP-EZ will enable sites to get the critical liability release and obtain financing.

The law requires DEC to promulgate regulations before the program can be implemented. DEC currently has a 6 NYCCR Part 375 regulations proposal out for comment with promulgation required by October 1, 2015 for definitions related to the BCP. DEC plans to start the process for adding the BCP-EZ and other required updates to Part 375 within the next few months and does not expect to have proposed regulations until early 2016. It is not likely the BCP-EZ program will be available until the summer of 2016.

Lawsuits Filed Over Final Rule on the "Waters of the United States"

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 18:32:03 GMT

Thanks to Steve Jaffe, President of BCONE and the Manko Gold law firm for bringing this to the attention of BCONE members.

On June 30th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published their final rule defining the scope of the term "waters of the United States," which is used to determine federal jurisdiction pursuant to the requirements of the Clean Water Act, including but not limited to the federal Section 404 wetlands permitting program. The final rule in the Federal Register will take effect in 60 days -- Friday, August 28.

18 states filed suit in three different lawsuits opposing the final rule, alleging in the lawsuit filed by Texas that the final rule "is an unconstitutional and impermissible expansion of federal power over the states and their citizens and property owners." The Texas lawsuit was filed in federal court in Texas and was joined by Mississippi and Louisiana. Ohio and Michigan sued in Ohio federal court. Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming filed suit in North Dakota federal court. Notably, no New England, Mid-Atlantic or southern states have filed suit as of this date.

Although the resolution of these lawsuits is uncertain, one thing is clear - the dispute over the meaning of the phrase "waters of the United States" as used in the Clean Water Act is far from over.

New Jersey Supreme Court Holds Spill Act Contribution Claims Are Not Subject to a Statute of Limitations Defense

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 18:28:46 GMT

Thanks to Steve Jaffe, President of BCONE and the Manko Gold law firm for bringing this to the attention of BCONE members who work with and under the New Jersey Spill Act:

In the landmark decision, Morristown Associates v. Grant Oil Co., the New Jersey Supreme Court finally resolved what many often wondered, "whether New Jersey's general six-year statute of limitations applies to a private party contribution claim to recover cleanup costs under the state's Spill Compensation and Control Act?" The answer from the Court is - a Spill Act contribution claim is not subject to any statute of limitations. The case has been under the watchful and undoubtedly anxious eye of not only the parties to the case, but many Spill Act contribution plaintiffs, potential defendants, New Jersey practitioners, the NJDEP and a host of interested amici parties preparing for the possibility that the Court would uphold the two lower court decisions - and fall in line with several federal cases that have held the general six-year statute of limitations applied to such claims. Such a result would certainly have had a greater impact than the current ruling, which maintains the status quo of how Spill Act contribution claims had historically been handled in state court, with the exception of the lower court rulings in the Morristown Associates case. In reaching its decision, the Court did not seem to struggle with the various and complex arguments presented by the parties in the case, but found support for its ruling in what it viewed as the plain language of the Spill Act, its legislative history and policy considerations.

The Court noted that "while the contribution provision does not explicitly state that no statute of limitations applies, it does state that '[a] contribution defendant shall have only the defenses to liability available to parties pursuant to [N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.11.g (d)].'" The defenses set forth at N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.11.g (d) are limited to an act or omission caused solely by war, sabotage, or God, or a combination thereof, and do not include a statute of limitations defense. The Court concluded that by expressly listing which defenses are available to defendants, that there is "significant support for a conclusion that no statute of limitations applies" and that such a finding reflects legislative intent. The Court stated that although it does not find the language of the Spill Act to be ambiguous, its construction is "support[ed by] the longstanding view, expressed by the Legislature and adhered to by the courts, that the Spill Act is remedial legislation designed to cast a wide net over those responsible for hazardous substances and their discharge on the land and waters of this state."

While the Court's ruling provides relief to any contribution plaintiff that might otherwise be facing a potential statute of limitations defense, there is always a chance the New Jersey State Legislature will amend the Spill Act to incorporate a specific statute of limitations. Accordingly, the Court invited the Legislature to correct it if the Court erred in its decision, stating that "[i]f the Legislature intended something other than what we perceive to be a broad approach to holding parties responsible for their role in polluting the land and waters of New Jersey, then legislative correction can fix any interpretive misunderstanding." And, it is still important to fully consider the various implications of when a Spill Act contribution claim is pursued. Aside from potential future Legislative action, there are other factors to consider in deciding whether to pursue and defend contribution claims early in the remediation process, including: the preservation of evidence; less risk that potentially responsible parties, including additional third-parties, will no longer be viable or financially able to contribute to the cleanup; the potential for buy-in and agreement on the selected remedy; and the potential for reaching a resolution outside of costly litigation.

Brownfields in New Jersey: New Opportunity in Mistakes of the Past

Thu, 11 Jun 2015 18:34:17 GMT

By LUKE MALANGA

June 4, 2015 at 10:30 PM

New Jersey, “The Garden State,” is home to acres of parks, farmland and reservations. The Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge and Passaic River are examples of these pristine locations. However, New Jersey is also the most densely populated state in the U.S. with overflow from New York City leading to increasing development in New Jersey such as the enormous sports complexes in the meadowlands.

Situated in the metropolitan area, New Jersey struggles with the balance between industrial development and protecting its natural areas. One solution to this density issue in New Jersey to to look at remediating past mistakes. Former industrial or commercial sites affected by environmental contamination, known as "Brownfields," are perceived by environmental scientists as a huge issue. However, these Brownfields can and should be seen by developers and zoning committees as opportunities for rebuilding natural land.

One Brownfield success story in New Jersey is a prime example for how future remediation should be dictated. Snyder Field Park in Berkeley Heights was once an abandoned fuel depot. in 2003, Union County and Berkeley Heights Township cooperated to purchase the property for public use for a total of $13 million.

The park was constructed with funding from the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, and a New Jersey Green Acres grant. Snyder Park occupies part of a 17-acre piece of land that formerly housed a plastics factory and a fuel depot. As a condition of the purchase, the previous owners (Shaw Plastics company, as well as Barry Oil Service and Duffy Fuels) cleaned up environmental hazards on the site at no cost to the public.

The Freeholder board voted in 2005 for the PMK Group of Cranford, which specializes in environmental services, to operate the remediation of the Snyder Avenue property in Berkeley Heights. The multi-use county park opened in 2010 after remediation of the soil to remove oil and other contaminates and the construction of a multi-sport turf field (with lighting and bleachers), baseball field, playground, walking trails and parking.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan, who signed the agreement to purchase the land in 2003, said, “This is one of the best projects we’ve ever done. It shows how a municipality and the county can work together. This was a fuel depot and plastics factory. It could have been high density housing….(look at) how much can be accomplished when we all work together.”

In a Union County press release, Union County Alliance president stated, “Brownfields have become critical resources in Union County. The (New Jersey Green Acre) grant award (helped) make it possible to reclaim land for economic development.”

New Jersey’s population density and overall lack of space for development has begun to spur desire for Brownfield remediation and redevelopment of old land. The remediation of these sites in the proper way allows for protecting local health and environment (including soil and water safety), opening up new usable land, and the economic benefit of using the land for development.

In the case of Snyder Field Park, the taxpayers had no significant increase in costs and the surrounding area was blessed with a state-of-the-art park and sports complex. Now, rather than a site with the threat of causing environmental and health risks, the park is home to club and youth soccer teams, baseball clinics and open public use.

Fifteen miles north of Snyder is another Brownfield with its fate still undecided. Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains is home to a 673,700 square foot Kirkbride Building on 743 acres of land.

Originally opened on Aug. 17, 1876, the hospital was home to hundreds of patients and quickly grew to accommodate thousands suffering from PTSD, schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. As de-institutionalization and drugs capable of relieving psychotic disorders become more prevalent, the hospital saw a huge decline in patients.

The state-run mental institution quickly deteriorated from a sanctuary meant to promote treatment and have a curative effect into an overcrowded and underfunded insane asylum. The decision to close Greystone came about in 2000 because of concerns for the aging buildings and due to negative press it was receiving.

Today, the entirety of the old Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital is abandoned and deteriorating. Morris County purchased approximately 300 acres of the Greystone Park Psychiatric Center property in 2001 for one dollar, with the stipulation that it would clean up asbestos and other environmental hazards on the site within its decaying buildings. When this land was sold, a law was also passed that Greystone land cannot be used for any purpose other than recreation and conservation, historic preservation or farmland preservation.

Many have been fighting the demolition of the building due to its historic significance. The state, however, is also determined to demolish the building and turn it into recreational space to build upon Central Park of Morris County, which surrounds the hospital. The reason the government gave for tearing Greystone down was that anything else is “economically not feasible.”

In addition, they claimed the building is “too far gone to save.” Before demolition begins, an environmental remediation process must be conducted, removing asbestos, lead paint and other hazardous material from the site.

“The Christie administration is committed to converting the property to open space for the public to enjoy," Joseph Perone, communications director for state department of the treasury, said. "We discussed the (preservation) group’s concerns because we thought they were worth exploring. However, we concluded that the financial risk of preserving or rehabilitating the Kirkbride Building is insurmountable.”

Will Needham, the vice-president of Preserve Greystone quoted Winston Churchill saying, “ ’At first we shape our buildings, and thereafter, they shape us,’ What type of legacy are we leaving behind if we bulldoze all of our historic buildings?”

This question raises the importance of using this precious remediated land in the right way, whether that means preserving history, restoring park space, or creating residential or commercial spaces.

The process to turn Brownfields into “goldfields” is one that is taking shape throughout New Jersey. Harrison is home to one Brownfield success story, but also many other abandoned lots and factories that pose a threat to the local environment.

Red Bull Arena, home to Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls, was built on land bought by the private company Red Bull GmbH that was a Hudson County Brownfield, housing abandoned warehouses.

“This area was a blighted, abandoned collection of warehouses on contaminated soil, which has been cleaned up," Erik Stover, former managing director of the New York Red Bulls, said. "The stadium is phase one, which will be followed by the building of useful housing and retail.”

Stover’s comment is insightful to the aspirations of Brownfield Remediation across New Jersey; improving one site with the hope of it sparking more remediation and development action. The stadium is a cornerstone for redevelopment in the cities of New Jersey, but also a vivid example of how Brownfield Remediation can improve the environment, economy, and city life.

New Jersey Monthly describes Harrison as the “latest hotbed for urban redevelopment” with “redevelopment plans to transform the Hudson County town’s blighted industrial section into a gentrified neighborhood.”

The warehouses that besiege the surroundings of the shiny arena are also representative of the work that still needs to be done. The success of turning Brownfields into recreational, residential, and commercial sites has been widely examined. However, it’s important to avoid past mistakes of continuing the cycle of destroying and repairing land through profligate development.

Instead, with these new projects, developers, city planners and environmental agencies must work together to redevelop land and create a better New Jersey. Brownfields should be seen as fields of dreams to repair mistakes of the past and create a more sustainable future.

Updates from the NJ Brownfield Office

Thu, 28 May 2015 19:49:18 GMT

The Brownfield Office webpage has been updated. For those of you who attended the May 1^st Roundtable, the presentations have been posted on the website. Please also note the future dates for the remaining roundtable meetings and save the dates.

http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/brownfields/roundtables/index.html

Analysis of 2015 U.S. EPA Environmental Workforce & Job Training Grants

Thu, 28 May 2015 19:02:35 GMT

We'd like to thank Michael Goldstein, Esq. from The Goldstein Environmental Law Firm for sending us a copy of this analysis. Several of the Training Grant Recipients are in the BCONE geographic area and we thought our members and readers would be interested in this information. Click here to download this analysis.

New Report: Attracting Infill Development in Distressed Communities: 30 Strategies

Thu, 28 May 2015 18:59:20 GMT

Many communities across the country have been revitalizing their older neighborhoods, traditional downtowns, and central business districts. However, economically distressed communities have been less able to attract this kind of infill development and attain the accompanying economic, environmental, health, and quality of life benefits.

EPA’s new report, Attracting Infill Development in Distressed Communities: 30 Strategies, can help these communities determine their readiness to pursue infill development and identify strategies to better position themselves to attract infill development.

It presents strategies and case studies to establish priorities, policies, and partnerships and change public perceptions, which can help make infill development more feasible.
It discusses innovative strategies to help finance infill development and replace aging infrastructure.
It includes comprehensive self-assessment questions communities can answer to determine if they are ready to pursue infill development and if particular strategies are appropriate for their context.

Many of the strategies in this publication stem from work in Fresno, California, that was part of the Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) initiative, which provides intensive technical assistance and capacity building to economically distressed cities. EPA and the state of California partnered with the city to convene a task force of experts in development finance, law, public policy, planning, and business to identify strategies to promote infill that were feasible in Fresno’s challenging economic and fiscal environment. EPA developed this publication based in part on the task force’s work.

To download Attracting Infill Development in Distressed Communities: 30 Strategies, go to www2.epa.gov/smart-growth/attracting-infill-development-distressed-communities.

To learn more about EPA’s work on smart growth and infill development, go to www2.epa.gov/smart-growth/smart-growth-brownfields-and-infill-development.

You are subscribed to EPA's Smart Growth Listserv. To unsubscribe from this mailing list, click here: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opei/opeipub.nsf/Membership

EPA's Smart Growth Listserv is maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Sustainable Communities. To contact us, please e-mail smartgrowth@epa.gov. Learn more about smart growth at www.epa.gov/smartgrowth

Updates on the EB-5 Program

Wed, 20 May 2015 15:20:34 GMT

Did you attend the Innovative Private Funding for Site Redevelopment panel at BCONE’s NSCW 2015? If you did, you heard about the EB-5 program, which offers legal immigration status in exchange for investment in redevelopment projects. If you missed the session, or you want to read more, go to the New York Times Real Estate section article from May 17, 2015 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/realestate/want-a-green-card-invest-in-real-estate.html?_r=0

The NYC Brownfield Partnership recently released updated study on New York State Brownfield cleanup program

Mon, 20 Apr 2015 15:18:56 GMT

The New York City Brownfield Partnership, a non-profit public-private partnership promoting the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites in New York City, recently released an update of its 2014 study that analyzed the impact of the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) on the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites in New York State. Both the 2014 study and the update were authored by Barry F. Hersh, Clinical Associate Professor at New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate, with financial support from the Partnership. Click here to go to the NYC Brownfield Partnership website and learn more about the study.

NJDEP 2015 Regulatory Update Provided Attendees with Wealth of Information

Thu, 19 Feb 2015 21:05:24 GMT

On February 4, 2015, BCONE joined the New Jersey Society of Women Environmental Professionals (NJSWEP) to host the NJDEP Regulatory Update. The session was a big deal! It was the first time in years that the NJDEP has held the Regulatory Update with NJSWEP. The Department's expressed gratitude that the event was held at the NJDEP building and that NJDEP personnel were allowed to attend and receive the training was great news for NJSWEP and BCONE.

The NJDEP has been busy and reported a large amount of interesting news about programs, regulations, enforcement and compliance. A summary of the event can be read by clicking on this link. Thanks to Rick Shoyer of Advanced GeoServices for the summary. NJSWEP and BCONE look forward to putting the Regulatory Update back on their annual calendars of events.

From the Southern NJ Development Council - New Jersey should Leverage Private Capital to Achieve Resilient Energy Goals

Mon, 19 Jan 2015 19:06:55 GMT

Historic storm exposed antiquated power grid’s vulnerability – but public funding’s not sufficient to accomplish needed modernization

Super-storm Sandy was a wakeup call. It further exposed New Jersey’s and our country’s vulnerability to extreme weather events linked to climate change, alerting us to the hard reality that our central power grid is outdated and vulnerable.

New Jersey, as well as other badly hit areas, turned their attention to enhancing the electric grid’s resilience. The federal government, New Jersey, and the state’s electric utilities have invested heavily in hardening the grid and promoting clean energy technologies – such as renewable energy, microgrids, and energy storage – to upgrade to a smarter, more flexible energy system that can withstand the effects of future storms and keep people safe and warm when they need it most.

New Jersey’s resiliency efforts are impressive, but it’s become resoundingly clear that limited public funds alone will never be enough to build the state’s clean energy future. Private capital investment is key to establishing the large-scale, clean energy markets needed to ultimately save customers money, increase grid resiliency, and slash harmful pollution.

To spur private investment, New Jersey set up an Energy Resilience Bank to finance clean energy and resiliency projects. The Energy Resilience Bank launched with $210 million of federal funds to finance resilient energy systems operating the state’s critical infrastructure, such as water and wastewater treatment facilities, hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Financing resilience is a priority in New Jersey. In November, the Christie Administration, Environmental Defense Fund, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology hosted the Resilience Finance Symposium, bringing together over 120 public and private sector participants from across the state and country to explore innovative ways New Jersey and beyond are financing resilient energy systems.

The New Jersey Energy Resilience Bank, the New York Green Bank, and the Connecticut Green Bank were on hand to share strategies and successes, while New Jersey companies spoke about their projects and barriers to growth. The state’s transportation authority, New Jersey Transit, discussed plans to use $410 million in federal funds to develop a microgrid, which can generate electricity on-site or nearby where it’s consumed and keep trains running in the event of a power outage.

New Jersey’s focus on critical facility infrastructure upgrades in the wake of Sandy made perfect sense. Moving forward, however, the state should begin laying the groundwork to leverage available public funds to access private capital. This will expand the market for clean energy technologies and improve grid resilience.

New Jersey might follow Connecticut’s lead, for instance, whose green bank was able to turn every dollar in system benefits charges (a small surcharge on customers’ electricity bills used to finance energy efficiency and clean energy programs) into three dollars of private capital. The state then used this extra funding to help finance Connecticut’s successful Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program, which allows business owners to pay for energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades on their property tax bills.

Growing momentum for private capital engagement in the clean energy sector was also evident in New York at a recent International Green Bank summit, hosted by the New York Green Bank, which brought together green bank stakeholders from around the world. The New York Green Bank recently announced its first set of deals, using $200 million of public funds to catalyze $600 million in investment from prominent Wall Street banks like Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank.

New Jersey’s Energy Resilience Bank is already off to a great start by allocating $65 million for water and wastewater treatment plants, for which the bank is accepting applications. In coming months, the Energy Resilience Bank will distribute grants and low-interest loans to help finance clean energy technologies that can operate independently from the power grid like solar power with battery storage.

The Energy Resilience Bank could enhance its financing capacity by fully harnessing the potential of private capital, enabling it to expand its range of products and types of projects. Ideally, the bank would merely bridge the financing gap that exists due to market barriers by providing attractive interest rates or other incentives. This would allow the private sector step in and do what it does best, resulting in a self-sustaining clean-tech market with minimal support from public funds. New Jersey has taken innovative steps to address grid vulnerability and resiliency. Next on the agenda is ensuring the state has adequate resources to get the job done, and accessing private capital is the most effective way to do it.

Mary Barber is the Environmental Defense Fund's New Jersey Director, Clean Energy.

NJSWEP & BCONE to Host the NJDEP Regulatory Update on February 4th

Mon, 22 Dec 2014 16:56:26 GMT

The Brownfields Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) is pleased to partner with NJSWEP to host the popular keystone event: The NJDEP Regulatory Update.

Early registration is now open for NJSWEP and BCONE members, and is available until January 4th! This event will sell out - don't wait to sign up! Registration opens to the public Jan. 5th. BCONE members only, use code: NJRegBCONE

Location:

NJDEP Public Hearing Room

Department of Environmental Protection Headquarters

401 E. State Street

Trenton, New Jersey

Date: February 4, 2015 (Snow date - February 18, 2015)

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Cost and Registration: $25 for NJSWEP members and BCONE members; Free for NJDEP employees; $85 for non-members

For early registration, click here.

Woodbridge Brownfield Event - September 19, 2014

Thu, 11 Dec 2014 18:54:05 GMT

BCONE’s Woodbridge Brownfield Event was held on September 19, 2014 at Hatch Mott MacDonald’s Iselin, New Jersey Headquarters. More details can be found here.

PSE&G Solar 4 All Program – Benefits Landfill and Brownfield Reuse

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:10:18 GMT

PSE&G released a Request for Proposal (RFP) announcement related to PSE&G’s Solar 4 All Extension program to interested Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractors and site owners to provide proposals for construction on fully-engineered solar projects located on landfill or brownfield sites within PSE&G’s electric service territory.

Specifics and the requirements for qualified EPC contractors are detailed in the RFP (download announcement here). Registration for interested parties opened on Tuesday October 8, 2013 and closes on Friday October 19, 2013. EPC contractors MUST register and provide required documentation in order to access the complete RFP.

2014 Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:08:30 GMT

Planning is underway for the 5th Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop to be held in Jersey City in early 2014. Past years have sold out to maximum capacity with an attendance level of over 300 people from a wide-range of sectors. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

EPA Guide Addresses Runoff at Brownfield Sites

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:05:48 GMT

The Environmental Protection Agency released guidance Sept. 25 to inform urban planners, engineers and developers how they can use bioswales, rain gardens and porous pavements to capture stormwater runoff at brownfield sites without mobilizing pollutants in the soil and contaminating groundwater. The guidance, “Implementing Stormwater Infiltration Practices at Vacant Parcels and Brownfield Sites,” addresses six key questions to determine whether infiltration-which allows accumulated stormwater runoff to percolate into the subsoil-or other management approaches are appropriate for a specific brownfield property. The guidance, prepared by the EPA Office of Water and the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, said stormwater management planning should be done alongside site investigation, state approvals, selection of cleanup approaches and design and engineering of site improvements. The guidance is available here.

Brownfield Site Tour & Networking - Camden, New Jersey

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:02:16 GMT

On a beautiful September afternoon, the Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) partnered with The Salvation Army Camden, Dresdner Robin, Hunter Roberts Construction Group, NJDEP, and the Camden Redevelopment Agency to provide a first-hand look at one of New Jersey’s biggest brownfield redevelopment projects currently underway. Over 30 attendees enjoyed an overview of the project and then a “behind the scenes” look at this redevelopment success story. The former 85-acre Harrison Avenue Landfill in the Cramer Hill neighborhood of Camden provided the backdrop for BCONE’s guided tour and for an opportunity to network with industry colleagues. Read the full story.

Sweeping Changes of NJEDA Funding Programs

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 15:59:47 GMT

The New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013 (summary) was signed into law on September 18, 2013. The Act streamlines New Jersey’s five existing economic development incentive programs into two; the Grow New Jersey Assistance (Grow NJ) Program will be the State’s main job creation and retention incentive program and the Economic Redevelopment and Growth (ERG) program will be New Jersey’s key developer incentive program. The EDA is no longer accepting applications for assistance under the Business Employment Incentive Program (BEIP), Business Retention and Relocation Assistance Grant (BRRAG) Program and Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit (UTHTC) Programs; applications that have been submitted prior to the enactment of the new law will be processed by December 31, 2013. To view the Act, click here.

EPA Brownfield Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund & Cleanup Grants – Start Preparing Now

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 15:58:25 GMT

Each year EPA receives numerous inquiries regarding preparation of proposals for the Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) grant competitions. Many potential applicants find that it is difficult to prepare their proposals in only 60 days, the typical amount of time the Request for Proposals (RFP) allows from publication until the proposals are due. While the RFP for the ARC Guidelines is on schedule to be available in early Fall, there are still many activities that applicants can perform in advance of the RFP. Many of the activities are listed in a new 3-page EPA guidance document.

Solar Metrics for New Jersey

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 15:54:27 GMT

There is a lot of buzz about New Jersey being a national leader in solar installation. Here are the latest statistics on the amount of solar installed and the amount of solar to be installed (according to registration numbers supplied by the NJ Board of Public Utilities.)

Listed below is the preliminary update of the NJ Clean Energy Program Installed Solar Capacity as of September 18, 2013.

Listed below is the preliminary update of the NJ Clean Energy Program Solar Capacity for projects in the Pipeline as of September 18, 2013.

Brownfield Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup Grant Workshop

Sun, 01 Sep 2013 15:51:32 GMT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 Brownfields team would like to invite you to participate in its upcoming Brownfields Proposal Guidelines Workshops (Helping Applicants Understand Grant Requirements). The workshops are designed to assist local government and nonprofit organizations to better understand the proposal criteria and selection process for EPA’s Brownfields assessment, cleanup, and RLF grants. Download the PDF for more information.

Design Assistance for State Capitols

Thu, 01 Aug 2013 15:43:44 GMT

EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities is seeking letters of interest from state capital cities interested in receiving design assistance to create a clear and implementable vision of distinctive, environmentally friendly neighborhoods that incorporate smart growth strategies and green infrastructure systems. Letters of interest are due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on September 23, 2013.

Design assistance is provided through the Greening America’s Capitals program, administered by EPA. EPA conducts the program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Partnership for Sustainable Communities. Fourteen state capitals plus the District of Columbia have received assistance from the Greening America’s Capitals program to date; up to 5 capital cities will be selected in 2013.

EPA is providing this design assistance to help state capitals create stronger neighborhoods that protect the environment. EPA will fund a team of designers to visit the successful applicants’ capital cities for up to three days to produce schematic designs and illustrations intended to catalyze or complement a larger planning process for a neighborhood. In the past, the EPA team has provided sustainable design techniques for streets, parks, waterfronts, and town squares. This assistance will help the selected state capitals envision ways to clean up and reuse vacant lands, provide more housing and transportation choices, reduce infrastructure and energy costs, and build civic pride in neighborhoods and the city as a whole. The design team and EPA, HUD, and DOT staff will also assist the city staff in developing specific implementation strategies.

See the Request for Letters of Interest (PDF) for more information.

Brownfield News in BCONE’s Area

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:40:51 GMT

The New York Times Real Estate page on 12/11/12 featured an article on community health centers and noted a national trend to build them on brownfield sites, due in part to the availability of tax credits and grants that serve as seed money to attract other funding. The article by Ronda Kaysen features the Spectrum Health Services Center in Philadelphia on Haverford Avenue.

Smart Growth and Economic Success

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:35:39 GMT

Smart Growth and Economic Success (download the PDF here) is a new report from EPA’s Smart Growth Program designed to inform developers, businesses, local government, and other groups about the economic advantages of smart growth development. As this report shows, smart growth development undefined compact, walkable, and diverse undefined is attractive to developers, investors, local governments, and communities because it offers new opportunities for economic growth that is also environmentally sustainable:

Compact: Using land and resources more efficiently and redeveloping old or neglected areas while retaining existing infrastructure can create economic advantages for real estate developers and investors, businesses, and local governments. Compact development can generate more revenue per acre because it uses land more efficiently. It can reduce the costs of land and infrastructure for individual projects and the costs of providing fire and police protection, utilities, schools, and other public amenities. By locating companies closer together, compact development can create a density of employment that increases economic productivity and attracts additional investment.
Walkable: Walkable neighborhoods have well-connected streets and a mix of land uses near each other, making walking and bicycling more convenient and appealing. Projects in walkable neighborhoods command a price premium, earning real estate developers and investors a higher return on investment. Improvements to streets and sidewalks can help local businesses by attracting more customers. Local governments benefit from additional property and sales tax revenue.
Diverse: People and businesses value places that bring together a variety of activities to create vibrant environments. The demand for such places exceeds the supply. Many baby boomers and their children are particularly interested in lively neighborhoods with services to meet their daily needs close by. Communities with access to transit also help people reduce their transportation costs.

Smart Growth and Economic Success is the first in a series. Additional reports will explore how real estate developers and investors can overcome real and perceived barriers to infill, how decisions about where to locate will impact the bottom lines of businesses, and why smart growth strategies are good fiscal policy for local governments.