Six Municipalities Receive Funding to Clean Up Contaminated Property and Restore it to Productive Use

Trenton, N.J. (December 29, 2004) – Grants totaling more than $200,000 have been approved by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to advance the cleanup of environmentally contaminated sites and support redevelopment efforts in six New Jersey municipalities – Asbury Park, Bridgeton, Florham Park, Hoboken, Perth Amboy and Pleasantville.

“This month’s actions brings total dollars approved in 2004 for the assessment, investigation and remediation of contaminated and underutilized sites to more than $5.2 million, which has gone to 36 different municipalities,” said EDA Chief Executive Officer Caren S. Franzini. “More than $60 million in grants and low-interest loans has been provided to help municipalities clean up brownfield properties and restore them to productive use since funds for this purpose became available more than a decade ago.”

The largest of the grants approved in November, $83,061, will enable Florham Park to conduct preliminary assessment and site investigation of two contiguous parcels of land on Passaic Avenue currently used to store construction vehicles and materials and suspected of having environmental contamination. The borough intends to redevelop the properties for recreational use.

Other grants approved by the EDA Board in December included:

• $48,213 to Asbury Park for the investigation of potential environmental areas of concern associated with residential and commercial buildings on 28 sites. Asbury Park plans to redevelop the properties for residential use.
  
  
  
• $9,080 to Bridgeton for completion of a site investigation at the former Four Stars produce packaging facility on Grove Street. Bridgeton aims to redevelop the property for industrial use.
  
  
  
• $19,893 to Hoboken for completion of a remedial investigation at the Todd Shipyards site at Park Avenue and 15th Street, which the city plans to redevelop for residential use.
  
  
  
• $35,483 to Perth Amboy for a preliminary assessment and site investigation associated with property once used as a gas station on State Street. Perth Amboy’s plans call for redevelopment of the land for commercial use.
  
  
  
• $4,856 to Pleasantville for a preliminary assessment of properties formerly used as a storage and distribution facility on Old Turnpike, which the city plans to redevelop for mixed use.
  

The funding is made available under the Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund (HDSRF) to New Jersey municipalities for sites they acquire through foreclosure or purchase or on which they hold tax sale certificates. Municipalities can apply for grants or low-interest loans under the program to investigate and clean up contaminated, underutilized properties. The program), which is administered by the EDA in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), also can be accessed by individuals, businesses and other private entities.

Funds may be provided for preliminary assessments for onsite inspections and to review historical ownership and site use to determine if contamination may be present at the sites; site investigations to characterize suspected contamination through preliminary intrusive investigation work; remedial investigations to determine the extent of contamination present; and remedial actions to effectuate cleanup of impacted portions of the sites.

Municipalities can apply for funding for properties that have never been used by any local government for official business, and may qualify for up to $2 million per year in total grant and loan assistance for properties on which they own or hold a tax sale certificate and have a comprehensive plan or a realistic opportunity to develop within three years. The DEP first reviews applications to determine eligibility, reasonableness of costs, and the scope of work needed to investigate and remediate each site. The EDA manages the fund and makes grants or loans to projects the DEP determines are eligible.

The EDA, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, was established in 1974 to promote economic growth and create jobs. It has arranged more than $16 billion in financing since its inception. For more information about funding to investigate and clean up contaminated properties, contact the EDA’s Brownfields Redevelopment Office via e-mail at brownfields@njeda.com, or by calling (609) 341-2723.