NJIT Selected as EPA Region 2 Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities Provider
NJIT has been chosen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide training and technical assistance to communities in EPA Region 2, which comprises New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, under the Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Program.
Much of the technical assistance will be provided to communities in underserved and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods - places where environmental cleanup and new jobs are most needed. This assistance is available to all stakeholders and comes at no cost to communities.
The NJIT TAB Program will serve as an independent resource and provide technical assistance to communities attempting to cleanup and reclaim brownfields in EPA Region 2. The program helps communities through the challenges they commonly face, like engaging the public, interpreting technical data and reports, understanding the health impacts and risks, identifying funding and financing options, understanding environmental regulations, coordinating with stakeholders and building partnerships, and leveraging resources.
In a press release issued by the EPA April 19 accompanying the award notice, the EPA stated that this program is an important part of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to advance economic opportunities and address environmental justice issues in disadvantaged communities. "A primary goal of our Brownfields technical assistance program is to help communities transform environmental liabilities into community assets," said Barry N. Breen, Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management." Today's selected grant recipients will serve as independent resources for communities facing the challenges of assessing, cleaning up, and preparing brownfield sites for redevelopment."
“I applaud NJIT’s work in helping communities redevelop brownfield sites, which will revitalize neighborhoods, create jobs, boost the economy and make it safer and healthier for everyone living near them. As one of the nation’s leading science and technical institutes, NJIT is well-equipped to partner with the EPA and lead this effort,” said U.S. Senator Bob Menendez. “By ensuring environmental justice is at the forefront of our nation’s priorities, we can improve people’s lives for generations to come and create a sustainable economy that works for all. I look forward to continuing to work with President Biden on ways to improve our environment, especially by restoring brownfields in communities that have been faced with legacies of pollution and hazardous waste.”
“Rehabilitating brownfield sites, especially those in underserved and low-income communities, places us on the path to correcting environmental injustices while also helping to bolster local economic growth,” said Senator Cory Booker. “I’m glad to see NJIT receive this funding and am confident their previous research and experience with brownfields will be invaluable assets to New Jersey as it seeks to transform these contaminated sites back to productive use.”
“I am proud to hear that the Environmental Protection Agency selected the New Jersey Institute of Technology to support efforts to provide environmental and economic benefits to New Jersey’s underserved and economically-disadvantaged communities,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. “The Brownfields program is crucial to the growth and prosperity of these areas.”
"NJIT is proud to be selected by the EPA to share its expertise in brownfields redevelopment and to foster economic growth in underserved and economically disadvantaged communities throughout our region," said NJIT President Joel S. Bloom. "Our experience in this area is extensive, and we are enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve these communities."
The executive director of the NJIT TAB program will oversee the technical assistance provided to hundreds of brownfield-challenged communities over the past decade. “Our team of experts look forward to working closely with the EPA Region 2 brownfield's team,” said Colette Santasieri, Ph.D. “We intend on working with communities throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands in their efforts to become more sustainable, resilient, environmentally just, and economically sound."
–More information on NJIT's TAB program can be found at njit.edu/tab
–The Technical Assistance for Brownfields grant is a competitive grant awarded every five years; providing up to $200,000 per year over the course of five years.
–More information on the TAB program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-technical-assistance
–More information on EPA's Brownfields program: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/