5 o T> Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, NJ EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu- nities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. Abrownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under this law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located on the west bank of the Hudson River across from New York City, Jersey City (population 241,789) was once a manufacturing and shipping center. Former manufacturing facilities and rail yards near port areas contain fill material contaminated with metals and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Brownfields make up more than one third of the city's land. Roughly 18 percent of the city's population lives below the poverty Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct 10 Phase I and three Phase II environ- mental site assessments, and community outreach activities. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination. Contacts For further information, including specific grant contacts, additional grant information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/ brownfields. EPA Region 2 Brownfields Team 212-637-4309 http://www.epa.gov/region2/brownfields Grant Recipient: Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, NJ 201-547-5604 The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. The cooperative agreement for the grant has not yet been negoti- ated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. level. The low-income target communities expected to be addressed with grant funds have even higher poverty levels. With a population density of 16,000 people per square mile, Jersey City needs to reuse developed space to provide land for housing, busi- nesses, and recreation. Assessments are expected to allow the completion of site characterizations as part of the city's emerging development plan. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-08-041 April 2008 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |