United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5101) EPA500-F-97-123 April 1997 National Brownfields Assessment Pilot Jersey City, 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. OVERVIEW EPA has selected Jersey City as a Brownfields Pilot. Located on the Paulus Hook peninsula and in close proximity to New York City, Jersey City served as a magnet to the railroad and shipping industries over the last century. In the 1960s, railroad use began declining and industrial companies began departing from the area. These changes resulted in both envi- ronmental and economic problems. Approximately one-fifth of the city's acreage has been identified as potential brownfields sites. The pilot area consists of the former industrialized and rail areas surrounded by the residential communities of BergenHill, Greenville, and Lafayette. OBJECTIVES Jersey City's brownfields pilot will serve as a prototype for development of a standardized redevelopment model. It will focus on methods for the completion of brownfields site inventories, site assessments, and remediation planning. Particular emphasis will be on funding a comprehensive community-based environmental education and participation program. PILOT SNAPSHOT Jersey City, New Jersey Date of Award: April 1997 Amount: $200,000 Site Profile: The pilot area consists of former industrial and rail areas surrounded by the residential communities of Bergen Hill, Greenville, and Lafayette. Contacts: Paul Hamilton Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (201)547-4799 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 ------- Jersey City believes the brownfields pilot will encourage redevelopment and reuse of brownfields properties that will lead to an increased municipal tax base, create new industrial jobs, and reduce potential exposure to contaminants by residents of adjacent neighborhoods. ACTIVITIES Activities planned as part of this pilot include: • Developing an inventory of brownfields sites in a comprehensive data and graphic information retrieval system; • Conducting programs for community involvement, environmental education, and public participation, and establishing a mobile educational information center; • Completing site assessments in the target area; and • Developing remedial work plans for site cleanups, incorporating innovative technologies whenever possible. The cooperative agreement for this Pilot has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. National Brownfields Assessment Pilot Jersey City, New Jersey April 1997 EPA 500-F-97-123 ------- |