ENVIRONMENT
Advances in Site Remediation Sustainability , Stewardship
Compiled by Diane C . Walsh Editor , COMMERCE
New Jersey earned a national reputation for its environmental activism , education , and justice . The state Department of Environmental Protection was established more than 50 years ago to safeguard the Garden State ’ s natural resources . Much of its work is aimed at remedying and cleaning up the contamination from the old industrial era . Today , environmental concerns are foremost and , at CIANJ , a large part of its membership work in the field , using the latest innovations to create green buildings , recycle waste , build energy efficiency , reclaim brownfields , and take other steps that protect our air , water , and land . In this feature we asked businesses to share their accomplishments for our annual celebration of Earth Day . Our tribute will culminate April 21 with an Environmental Leadership Breakfast at the Highlawn in West Orange .
Brownfield
EAI , Inc .
EAI has installed millions of square feet of vapor barriers from high-profile manufacturers such as CETCO and GCP . Vapor barriers help to ensure that sites with previous uses — such as oil tanks , manufacturing plants , and sites with methane gas in the soil — become safe for redevelopment and reuse . We ’ ve installed these barriers to prevent vapor intrusion on many high-profile sites with venting / sub-slab depressurization systems for safe redevelopment of commercial , retail and residential buildings on brownfields and landfills . We hire interns every year from Stevens Institute and help them develop practical skills for the industry so they can make a difference . Two interns from 2022 , Shea Bontempo and Dylan Inguardi , worked as project managers . They are also pursuing master ’ s degrees in Environmental Engineering . Shea hopes to play his part in cleaning up the planet when he graduates . Dylan hopes his studies will help him to improve the environment and impact people ’ s lives for the better .
Environmental Education and Community Outreach
Continuing Professional Educational Services
What happens when three people with a passion for education are in the same meeting at
“... STEM programs offer experiential learning on climate change , sustainability , farming , composting , xeriscape gardening – all while integrating “ hands-on ” opportunities for girls and young women .”
a State University to decide the fate of its environmental continuing education program ? They become a team ! In 2017 , Montclair State University transitioned their program to the team of Dr . Jorge Berkowitz , Julianne Mosolgo , and Philip I . Brilliant , who were all integral components to the success of the original MSU / CEEP program . The trio formed Continuing Professional Education Services ( CPES ), LLC to continue the mission of providing quality education and to further its partnerships with organizations such as CIANJ and ITRC to present stellar industry programming . In 2023 , the team migrated to a non-profit organization ( 501c3 ) with a Board of Directors comprised of the highest regarded environmental and legal experts in the state . This transition allows CPES to partner with the NJDEP , enabling them to share their unparalleled environmental regulatory experience with attendees . CPES is committed to providing the highest quality of technical and regulatory education to assure the citizens of New Jersey are being afforded protection of public health and the environment .
YWCA of Northern New Jersey
Environmental education has been embedded in the work of YWCA Northern New Jersey , even prior to COVID . Our ongoing STEM programs offer experiential learning on climate change , sustainability , farming , composting , xeriscape gardening – all while integrating “ hands-on ” opportunities for girls and young women . We encourage family participation and volunteerism at many of these events to help inspire a deeper generational understanding around environmental issues . We also include environmental racism in our racial justice work .
EAI student interns , Dylan Inguardi , left , and Shea Bontempo from Stevens Institute in Hoboken , are proud of their efforts .
Empowerment is key in our mission and work . Integrating environmental education in our programs empowers program participants to take responsibility for their actions , plan for the future , and maintain a healthier planet .
In addition , we have adopted sustainable organizational best practices , including supporting a hybrid workforce , using digital platforms not hard copies to connect to our community , putting company-wide documents on the cloud , incorporating paper-less billing and making office recycling easy and accessible .
CSG Law
For its 2022 annual service project , CSG Law ’ s Environmental Group volunteered to construct an outdoor classroom at The New Weis Center for Education , Arts and Recreation in Ringwood , N . J ., which is owned and operated by the Highlands Nature Friends , Inc ., a 501 ( c ) 3 nonprofit organization . The project was led by CSG Law ’ s Diana Buongiorno . The team spent several hours clearing and revitalizing an unused area of the grounds full of weeds and invasive species and incorporated benches crafted by local Boy Scout Troops to create the Agro Corner Classroom , which will serve as a learning space for many of the educational programs
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Photo : EAI , Inc .
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