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Brownfields 2008
Grant Fact Sheet
Newark, 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 City of Newark was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located along the
Passaic River approximately five miles west of Man-
hattan, Newark (population 266,736) is New Jersey's
largest city and home to one of the largest ports in the
nation. Throughout most of the 19th Century, Newark
was New Jersey's most important industrial city;
however, its industrial development came at a cost.
Industrial waste created a major health crisis in the
city, and Newark is still paying the price for its mighty
industrial past in the form of brownfields. There are
more than 700 acres of abandoned and underutilized
sites within the city. These sites range from large tracts
of vacant industrial land along the waterfront to small
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Newark for two
brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to conduct a
minimum of four Phase I and two Phase II envi-
ronmental site assessments. Petroleum grant funds
will be used to develop an inventory of former gas
stations and conduct up to 10 Phase I and four
Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant
funds also will be used to support community
outreach activities.
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: City of Newark, NJ
973-733-8506
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.
former gas stations. Bringing the sites back to produc-
tive reuse is critical to returning prosperity to the city.
Today, Newark's unemployment rate is 12.5 percent,
and more than 24 percent of individuals live below the
poverty level. Brownfields assessment is expected to
clarify environmental concerns and help expedite
redevelopment in the city.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-08-042
April 2008
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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