ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS
USEPA Grants to Help NJ Cleanup Brownfield Sites
Four grants totaling $ 6.5 million for brownfields cleanup are being sent to New Jersey .
Compiled by John Joseph Parker Contributing Editor
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ( BIL ) is transforming communities across New Jersey 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 .
The USEPA will be awarding four grants totaling $ 6.5 million in brownfields cleanup 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 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 .
“ We ’ re turning blight into might for communities across America ,” said EPA Administrator Michael S . Regan . “ USEPA ’ 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 USEPA 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 .”
USEPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa F . Garcia
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 .
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 these grants have proposed projects in historically underserved areas .
The grants include 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 .
Since its inception in 1995 , the USEPA ’ 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 .
NJDEP Commissioner Shawn M . LaTourette
◾ Based on grant recipient reporting , recipients leveraged on average $ 20.43 for each USEPA brownfields dollar and 10.3 jobs per $ 100,000 of USEPA 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 percent to 15 percent as a result of cleanup activities .
◾ Finally , analyzing data near 48 brownfields , the USEPA found an estimated $ 29 million to $ 97 million in additional tax revenue for local governments in a single year after cleanup — two to seven times more than the $ 12.4 million the USEPA contributed to the cleanup of those brownfield sites .
“ 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 ,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy .
“ 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
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