Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact
Sheet
Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, NJ
RECOUERY.GOV
EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states.
communities, and other stakeholders to work together to
prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse
brownfields. A brownfield 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
February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into
law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The
Recovery Act is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our
economy, and create or save millions of jobs. This law
provided stimulus funds to the Brownfields Program to
award grants to evaluate and clean up former industrial
and commercial sites. Under this law, EPA will provide
financial assistance to eligible applicants through four
competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving
loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants.
Community Description
The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency was selected to
receive three brownfields cleanup grants. Located on the
west bank of the Hudson River across from New York
City, Jersey City (population 241,789) was once a
thriving manufacturing and shipping port center. It was
part of a great transportation infrastructure that included
rail yards and the former Morris Canal. Today, more than
a third of the city's acreage has been identified as
potential or known brownfields. Over 86 brownfields
have been identified in the Morris Canal Redevelopment
Area alone. The unemployment rate in this area is greater
than 14 percent, and more than 24 percent of area families
live below the poverty level. Nearly 100 percent of
residents are minorities. The lack of open space in the area
puts these residents at a greater risk for health concerns.
Cleanup of the target sites will help reduce threats posed
to human health and the environment, and have a
beneficial impact on the neighborhood. When these sites
are cleaned up, they are expected to become part of the
planned Berry Lane Park, a recreational centerpiece for
area residents.
Cleanup Grants
$600,000 for hazardous substances
(Recovery Act Funding)
EPA has selected the Jersey City Redevelopment
Agency for three brownfields cleanup grants.
Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to
clean up the 75 Woodward Street site, which has a
long history of industrial and commercial use; the
Garfield Junkyard site at 958-960, 964, and 966
Garfield Avenue, which was used primarily for
auto repair and salvage; and the JR Transportation
site at 1000 Garfield Avenue, which was used as a
seed storehouse for more than 50 years and later
became a bus maintenance facility. All three sites
are contaminated with polyaromatic hydrocarbons
and metals. Grant funds will be used to dispose of
contaminated soil, place a two-foot cap on the
properties, and file deeds of notice for the sites.
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
(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields).
EPA Region 2 Brownfields Team
(212) 637-4358
EPA Region 2 Brownfields Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/region2/bro wnfields)
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
negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this
fact sheet are subject to change.
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20450
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5105T)
EPA560-F-09-198
May 2009
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