United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Solid Waste and Emergency Response(5101) EPA500-F-99-116 June 1999 www.epa.gov/brownfields/ SEPA Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Orange Township, 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. EPA is funding: assessment demonstration pilot programs (each funded up to $200,000 over two years), to assess brownfields sites and to test cleanup and redevelopment models;job training pilot programs (each funded up to $200,000 over two years), to provide training for residents of communities affected by brownfieldstofacilitatecleanupofbrownfieldssites and preparetrainees for future employmentintheenvironmental field; and, cleanup revolving loan fund programs (each funded up to $500,000 over five years) to capitalize loan funds to make loans for the environmental cleanup of brownfields. These pilot programs 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 EPAhas selected Orange Township for aBrownfields Pilot. Orange Township is highly urbanized and densely populated, with more than 33,000 residents living in 2.2 square miles of space. The city's poverty rate of 30 percent is the second-highest in Essex County, while its per capita income is less than $13,000. Sixty-four percent of the city's population is African American. The New Jersey Municipal Data Index lists Orange Township as one of the most distressed communities in the state. Low education levels and job skills, combined with cultural and language barriers encountered by Orange's growing immigrant community, make it difficult for residents to find well-paying jobs. Like other inner cities, Orange has seen its infrastructure deteriorate as residents and employers moved out to surrounding suburban communities. The city has been left with abandoned buildings, vacant lots, and the resulting environmental and social problems. There are dozens of known or suspected brownfields sites within Orange's boundaries. PILOTSNAPSHOT Orange Township, New Jersey Date of Announcement: June 1999 Amount: $200,000 Profile: The Pilot targets seven city-owned sites within Orange Township, an urbanized community and one of the most distressed cities in New Jersey. Contacts: City of Orange Township (973) 266-4005 Regional Brownfields Team U.S. EPA - Region 2 (212)637-4314 Visit the EPA Region 2 Brownfields web site at: http://www.epa.gov/r02earth/superfnd/brownfld/bfmainpg.htm For further information, including specific Pilot contacts, additional Pilot information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/ ------- OBJECTIVES The Pilot's objective is to assess seven city-owned brownfields to facilitate their cleanup and redevelopment. Through the joint efforts of the Pilot and the city's holistic, community-driven approach to brownfields and environmental justice issues, the city plans to improve Orange's economic and environmental conditions, empower the community, and stimulate private investment in brownfields. The city's brownfields initiative relies on strong community involvement, uses innovative assessment and cleanup technologies, and promotes sustainable cleanup methods. ACCOMPLISHMENTS ANDACTIVITIES Activities planned as part of this Pilot include: • Developing a detailed inventory of brownfields sites within the city; • Performing environmental assessments on seven targeted sites owned by the city; • Creating cleanup and redevelopment plans for the targeted sites, and encouraging the use of innovative technologies during cleanup; and • Working with community stakeholders to involve them in the Pilot's planning and implementation. The cooperative agreement for this Pilot has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Orange Township, New Jersey June 1999 EPA500-F-99-116 ------- |