5 o T> 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 ------- |