NJEDA Approves 13 New Municipal Brownfield Grants; State Invests Nearly $1.7 Million to Further Environmental Cleanup.

Business Editors

TRENTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 2001

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has approved 13 new grants to 11 towns and cities for municipal environmental cleanup projects with a total value of nearly $1.7 million.

The projects approved by the NJEDA under the Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation (HDSR) program during October are located in Bayonne, Buena, East Brunswick, Glassboro, Linden, Marlboro, Perth Amboy, Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Trenton and Woodbridge.

"The HDSR program has become widely known among New Jersey municipalities, resulting in many new municipal project applications," said Anthony R. Coscia, chairman of the NJEDA. "As a result, the NJEDA has been able to approve a growing number of projects and put an increasing volume of HDSR grant funds into the field to clean up and recover environmentally damaged sites for useful redevelopment."

The HDSR program enables municipalities to take sites like former gas stations, former manufacturing buildings and even contaminated former residential building lots and restore them environmentally so that they can be reused for constructive new development and investment.

NJEDA Executive Director Caren S. Franzini said, "The dollars we invest today through the HDSR will result in improved properties and bring back many dollars from new investment. They will spur new economic activity and new property tax payments on land that is reclaimed and put back into use and will result in wages and salaries paid by businesses that use these sites when they are restored environmentally and economically. At a minimum, the area where the brownfield site is located will become more desirable."

The new grants are:

Bayonne, $155,128 to complete remedial investigation of the

Standard Tank/Bayonne Properties project site that is part of

the Bayonne Redevelopment Plan. The city received a prior

grant of $303,135 for investigation of the site, which it

plans to redevelop for commercial or light industrial use.

Buena Borough in Atlantic County, $134,848 for investigation

of a site at 502 NW Blvd. that had been used by a food and

produce company. The borough plans to redevelop the location

and received an earlier grant of $102,187 for preliminary site

assessment and investigation work.

East Brunswick, $144,933 to complete investigation of a

6.5-acre parcel formerly used by a bus company. The township

plans to reclaim the site for residential and recreational

development. Two earlier grants totaling $121,293 were

approved for preliminary assessment and investigation of the

site.

Glassboro, $11,404 to complete investigation of a site at 101

South Delsea Drive that was formerly the location of Consumer

Oil Service. Glassboro intends to redevelop the site for

commercial or light industrial use. Prior HDSR grants for the

site total $41,450.

Linden, $90,063, for preliminary assessment and investigation

at 1001 West Elizabeth Ave., formerly the location of United

Lacquer. The site is part of Linden's West Elizabeth Avenue

Redevelopment Area with plans calling for new light industrial

development.

Marlboro Township, $62,660 to complete remedial investigation

of a site at Route 79 and Beacon Hill Road and supplement the

work done through a $433,310 grant. The 18-acre parcel was

formerly used for various industrial and manufacturing

operations. A prior grant of $142,950 funded preliminary

assessment and initial investigation of the site, the former

location of Entron Industries, Inc. Perth Amboy, 178,685 for

further investigation of a 1.5-acre site at Washington and

High Streets that houses a vacant three-story manufacturing

building. The location is part of the city's redevelopment

area. Two earlier grants totaling $349,828 funded initial

environmental work on the site.

Plainfield, $28,850 for preliminary assessment of five

residential properties and one commercial property intended

for redevelopment as a senior citizen complex, and a grant of

$120,935 for preliminary assessment and investigation of a

site at 212-218 Lee Place that is the location of a vacant dry

cleaning facility and had been used as an auto service

station. The city plans residential redevelopment of the Lee

Place site.

Scotch Plains, $64,424 for preliminary assessment and

investigation of 5.87 acres formerly used as a zoo and

agricultural facility intended for redevelopment as part of

the Raritan Recreational Project, and $7,850 for preliminary

assessment and investigation of the proposed Plainfield Avenue

Ballfield that was formerly part of a contractor's yard.

Trenton, $650,883 for remedial investigation of several

properties comprising 18 acres that are part of a continuous

tract of land known as the Greenway Project in the East

Trenton area. Former operations on the site include a freight

yard and wire manufacturing plant. The city intends to use the

site for open space and recreational purposes.

Woodbridge, $18,875 to complete investigation of a 3.3-acre

site on Crows Mill Road that was formerly an industrial

location. The site benefited from a previous HDSR grant of

$18,875 grant for preliminary assessment and initial

investigation.

Susan Boyle, assistant commissioner for New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)'s Site Remediation Program, notes that, "The HDSR is a valuable resource to municipalities that enables them to clean up contaminated properties and encourages redevelopment in a way that protects the environment and promotes good planning and open space initiatives in the state."

HDSR program funding is available to New Jersey municipalities for sites they have acquired through foreclosure or purchase or on which they hold tax sale certificates. Municipalities can apply for grants or loans under the program, which also can be accessed by businesses and other private entities.

The NJEDA and the NJDEP operate the program jointly. The NJDEP reviews applications to determine eligibility and the scope of work needed to investigate and restore each site. The NJEDA manages the fund and makes grants or loans to projects the NJDEP finds eligible. The program provides funds for preliminary assessment of suspected contaminated sites, investigation to collect and evaluate data about the environmental contamination of a site, remedial investigation to examine contamination and the problems associated with it, and remedial action to design site cleanups.

Municipalities can apply for funding for sites never used officially by local government, and can qualify for up to $2 million per year in total grant and loan assistance for all projects within their boundaries.

Municipalities seeking additional information about the program can contact the NJDEP at [phone] or by e-mail at [e-mail], or contact the NJEDA at [phone] or by e-mail to [e-mail]. A listing of the HDSR municipal approvals for 2001 can be found at the NJEDA web site at www.njeda.com/brownfields.

The NJEDA was established in 1974 to promote economic growth and create jobs. It has arranged for nearly $15 billion in financing since its inception. For more information about the NJEDA and its programs, call [phone] or visit NJEDA's website at www.njeda.com.