United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5101) EPA 500-F-97-047 May 1997 Regional Brownfields Assessment Pilot Camden, NJ Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5101) Quick Reference Fact Sheet EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is designed to empower States, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield is a site, or portion thereof, that has actual or perceived contamination and an active potential for redevelopment or reuse. Between 1995 and 1996, EPA funded 76 National and Regional Brownfields Assessment Pilots, at up to $200,000 each, to support creative two-year explorations and demonstrations of brownfields solutions. EPAis funding morethan 27 Pilots in 1997. The Pilots are intended to provide EPA, States, Tribes, municipalities, and communities with useful information and strategies as they continue to seek new methods to promote a unified approach to site assessment, environmental cleanup, and redevelopment. BACKGROUND EPA Region 2 selected the City of Camden, New Jersey for a Regional Brownfields Pilot. Camden (population 87,500) is the fifth largest city in New Jersey and is an economically distressed area. It has a predominantly minority population, a high unemployment rate (3 6 percent), and a one in three poverty rate. Manufacturing and related land use account for one third of Camden's nine square miles, and brownfields constitute more than half of all industrial sites in the City. Abandoned industrial sites contain chemicals, transformers, and other contaminants that pose significantthreats to human health. There is potential contamination of soil and groundwater. A lack of information about site conditions and potential liabilities at abandoned facilities have inhibited reinvestment, resulting in adecreasedtaxbase, increased blight, and decreased community morale and diminished employment opportunities. OBJECTIVES The objective of Camden's brownfields program is to develop an effective strategy for assessment, cleanup, and reuse of Camden's brownfields. The City proposes a comprehensive approach that will integrate technical, community, government, and PILOT SNAPSHOT Camden, New Jersey Contacts: Edward Williams Office of the Mayor Camden, N.J. (609)757-7214 Date of Award: September 1996 Amount: $200,000 Site Profile: The Pilot targets development of two industrial parks and creation of a public non- profit corporation to clean up the sites. Larry D'Andrea U.S. EPA-Region 2 (212)637-4314 dandrea.larry@ epamail.epa.gov Visit the EPA Brownfields Website at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- financial resources to: 1) establish effective government, private, and community partnerships for environmental assessmentandplanning; 2) provide "one-stop shopping" for community groups and developers on site conditions and reuse potential; 3) coordinate and make readily available preliminary assessments and site investigation reports for Camden's brownfields; 4) monitor the completion of all site assessments; and 5) prioritize Camden's brownfields for redevelopment. ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES The Pilot is: • Completing an inventory of its brownfields using a GIS system; • Establishing partnerships with local, State, and Federal agencies; • Developing a Brownfields Advisory Committee; • Considering site reuse options; and • Developing community participation strategies and fostering coordination among the community, developers, the State, and other interested parties. Regional Brownfields Assessment Pilot Camden, New Jersey May 1997 EPA 500-F-97-047 ------- |