BCONE and NJSWEP held their NJDEP Regulatory Update on May 12 and 19, 2022—the first time in years, and it was virtual this year.

     

On May 19, we were delighted that Assistant Commissioner Elizabeth Dragon shared that her presentation at the Update was the first time the new office was discussed publicly!  What an honor.  Although the office and its programs were announced in a March, 2022 NJDEP listserv, it was wonderful for our audience to see the first PowerPoint presentation on how the Assistant Commissioner and her programs are leveraging resources and stacking tax credits and other incentives to bring about economic revitalization in NJ.  Any member of BCONE knows that those activities are vital to successful brownfield redevelopment.

More detailed information on both days of the Update are coming soon. Many thanks to BCONE Treasurer, Sandra Gaurin, for her terrific moderation of the May 19, 2022 session.

Posted May 26, 2022

BCONE was pleased to see more than 40 people attend the half-day PFAS Workshop on March 31, 2022.  Located at the border of Vermont and New Hampshire, the Fireside Inn was a perfect venue to share knowledge on such an important topic.  Happy for an in-person event, attendees met for networking for over an hour prior to the educational workshop.  

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of emerging contaminants that are coming under regulation in many states, including NH and VT. An expert panel of PFAS experts guided the audience through a deep dive into a full range PFAS topics, as they provided their unique perspectives on topics ranging from testing methods, site characterization issues, regulatory concerns, legal issues, and remediation technologies.  

The panel of PFAS experts included moderator Stephen Zemba from Sanborn Head & Associates, who hosted the educational workshop, and Jim Occhialini from Alpha Analytical.  

     

Additional panelists included Jennifer Sanborn from Sanborn Head & Associates and a case study from John Schmeltzer from Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation.

    

The expert panelists continued with Mindy Bubier from New Hampshire’s Department of Environmental Services and a legal analysis from Jeffrey Polubinski from Gravel & Shea. 

    

Finally, PFAS treatment was discussed by Patrick McKeown from ETC2. BCONE Board Member, Jamie Snook, attended the workshop and provided this photo gallery summary.

    

After the workshop, attendees enjoyed drinks and appetizers at the beautiful Garden Court Bar while discussing these PFAS hot topics with the expert panelists.  

A special thank you to Steve Zemba, Sanborn Head and Associates, and Nancy Struzenski, Alpha Analytical, for their time and effort in putting together such an informative and fun event.

Thank you to our event sponsors Alpha Analytical, Sanborn Head & Associates, Gravel & Shea, Weston & Sampson, ECT2, Downs Rachlin Martin (DRM) and Absolute Resource Associates.  Please continue to check BCONE’s website and follow us on social media for information on upcoming events and opportunities for networking in your area.

Our Event Sponsors:

Our Annual Double Platinum Sponsors

Posted May 4, 2022

By:  Sue Boyle, BCONE Executive Director and Senior Consultant, GEI Consultants, Inc.

If these topics interest you, go to the BCONE website soon https://www.brownfieldcoalitionne.org/events and watch your emails because BCONE is hosting a Roundtable on these subjects in mid-June, 2022 featuring speakers from the Environmental and Energy Section of the NYS Bar and NYSDEC.

The Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) joined its colleague NYC Brownfield Partnership in the NYS budget process for the first time in  spring 2022.  Thanks to a coalition of organizations including the New York League of Conservation Voters, Real Estate Board of New York, New York State Association for Affordable Housing,  and Environmental and Energy Section of the NYS Bar and others, BCONE learned some of the nuances of the NYS process and some new phrases, too (“a big ugly,” for one).  At the same time the budget discussions were happening, BCONE, the NYC Brownfield Partnership and others in the  coalition were working on important comments to NYSDEC proposed Part 375 regulations. The Part 375 effort was led by NYC Brownfield Partnership Board Member, George Duke, Esq.  Both efforts are crucial to brownfield efforts in New York City and to NY State in its entirety  as they directly impact the viability of brownfield remediation, redevelopment, financing, and the continued implementation of beneficial policies and programs to safely and cost effectively revitalize brownfield properties into much needed safe, affordable housing.  

Over fifty people attended  the NYC Brownfield Partnership virtual presentation on April 27, 2022  for a briefing on all of these topics, as well as an additional update on the NYSDEC Part 360 regulations.  Moderated by Larry Schnapf, Esq. of both BCONE and NYC Brownfield Partnership, speakers included Patrick McClellan of the League of Conservation Voters and Sarah Bangs of Bolton-St. Johns as well as NYCBP Board members George Duke, Esq. on the Part 375 effort and Kevin McCarty with the  Part 360 “intel.”

Major takeaways:

•  A major win for brownfields in NYS:  The budget included the 10-year reauthorization of the Brownfield Cleanup Program and  strengthened the Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program by increasing the funding!
• Disappointingly, the budget also included a new $50,000 non-refundable application fee.  BCONE and all of the coalition members remain concerned that the steep fee  may deter smaller organizations, especially not-for-profit, MWBE, and upstate developers, from participating in the program.
• There is  language regarding  a hardship waiver for the fee.
  
• The budget legislation appears to have undermined the  usefulness of BCP for affordable housing projects by excluding benefits from affordable housing project determination and revising the housing definition.
  
• BCONE signed on to the NYC Brownfield  Partnership’s  “lucky 13” collection of comments on the proposed Part 375 regulations, which cover implementation on the BCP: go here on the website to read the full text.  A few major points:  comments over BCP eligibility concerns (BCONE and the Partnership want broader eligibility than the regulations propose); concerns about proposal for off-site sampling by volunteers; and concerns about the proposed new definition of cover system requirements or site cover.
• Part 360: Keep an eye out for an Environmental Notice Bulletin on May 11, 2022 for revised Part 360 regulations and expect to see new categories for fill.

BCONE, the Partnership and the coalition will continue to work together to improve the BCP and its impacts on affordable housing.  All of our efforts to date are documented on the BCONE website here.

Posted May 4, 2022

Forty professionals were registered for this informative webinar with insight from Rachel Stopper, Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund (HDSRF) Coordinator at NJDEP’s Office of Brownfield and Community Revitalization (OBCR), Elizabeth Limbrick, Director of Brownfields & Sustainable Systems for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJDEA), and Michele Christina, co-owner of Brownfield Redevelopment Solutions, Inc. (BRS).

The following are just a few highlights from our program. Please make sure you join us in the future for both in-person and virtual events to receive all the insights, analyses and suggestions from our panels of experts.

The HDSRF receives more than $10 million dollars every year to reduce the financial burdens on the redevelopment of brownfield sites by municipalities, counties and redevelopment entities. Ms. Stopper described the grant opportunities for public entities to receive funds to cover 100% of the cost of Preliminary Assessments, Site Investigations, and Remedial Investigations. Additional grants are available to cover a portion of the costs for the cleanup of contaminated sites. Both public and private entities that meet HDSRF criteria are also eligible to receive loans for projects.

Ms. Limbrick described various programs available through NJEDA including Tax Incentives, Grants, Loans and free guidance for municipalities, counties, and non-profit organizations through the NJ Brownfield Assistance Center at NJIT. A Brownfield Assessment Grant is also available for underfunded communities in Bayonne, Bridgeton, Paterson and Perth Amboy. Under this program, NJEDA’s contractors complete the environmental investigations for certain projects.

Ms. Christina described how BRS helps municipalities to bundle multiple funding sources using Berry Lane Park in Jersey City, NJ, as a case study. Various Federal, State, County and other funding sources were used to complete the investigation and remediation of 11 properties formerly used as rail yards, auto repair shops, industrial facilities and warehouses. These former contaminated properties are now the largest municipal park in Jersey City with opportunities for active and passive recreation.

Tim Mangold, Pennoni, served as the moderator for the session and facilitated the discussion of additional topics related to Brownfield Redevelopment.

BCONE would like to thank all of our webinar attendees for their participation in our Roundtable discussion. Please remember to check BCONE’s calendar as we continually add more educational and networking opportunities.

A special thank you to our Annual Double Platinum Sponsors!

Posted May 4, 2022

BCONE had an amazing turnout at our in-person networking event at the Barcelona Wine Bar in West Hartford, Connecticut on March 1, 2022. It was so nice to catch up with friends and colleagues from BCONE, CTSWEP, EPOC, and many others who were interested in getting more involved with the Brownfields Coalition of the Northeast. 

 

 

 

A huge thank you to Nancy Struzenski from Alpha Analytical and Almariet Roberts from HRP Associates for helping organize this event. We’d also like to thank our event sponsors, Alpha Analytical, Resource Options, Day Pitney, and Pullman & Comley. 

             

And a special thank you to our Double Platinum Annual Sponsors who help us to provide quality educational and networking opportunities throughout the year.

Posted March 3, 2022

Twenty people spent part of their morning on February 24, 2022, learning about Thermal Remediation at brownfield redevelopment sites and earning continuing education credits applicable for LSRP, PE and PG licenses.  Presenters John Haas  of Terra Therm and Gary Angyal of Ramboll were totally engaging and provided lots of useful information about the application of the technology at two NJ sites. They also mentioned its application at sites elsewhere in the Northeast.  A big thank you to Ramboll for also being the event sponsor.

Alan Miller of NJDEP and Bill Silverstein of GEI moderated the Roundtable discussion and raised thoughtful questions.  Knowing their audience and hot topics, John and Gary mentioned that thermal remediation is effective on PFAS and 1, 4 dioxane in soil (not groundwater), although the sites described in depth had other contaminants of concern. Other lessons learned that were shared by the speakers:  account for subsurface obstructions, know who to talk to at the utilities and at the permitting agency(ies), and give yourself lots of lead time for required interactions with both groups. Plan for site security (high voltage equipment, chemical storage, and high visibility) and plan for community relations, especially if working in populated areas.

One interesting question raised was whether NJDEP considers thermal remediation as an innovative technology for purposes of RFS posting.  The moderators and BCONE staff didn’t know the answer but obtained one from NJDEP quickly:  it depends on the case specifics! 

Posted March 1, 2022

Thanks to our colleague from the NYCBP, attorney David Freeman,  and BCONE Board Member Emeritus, Larry Schnapf, for sharing their recent article on the future of the NYS Brownfield Cleanup Program:https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/new-yorks-brownfield-cleanup-program-17?context=search&index=2 

BCONE President Rick Shoyer and BCONE’s Executive Director, Sue Boyle are working with both gentlemen and a coalition of organizations including the NYS League of Conservation Voters and REBNY on BCP improvements for legislative consideration.

Posted February 17, 2022

On January 19, 2022, the Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE), the NJ Licensed Site Remediation Professionals Association (NJ LSRPA), the NJ Chapter of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals (NJ SWEP), and the New York City Brownfield Partnership (NYCBP) collaborated on one of the largest webinars that any of those organizations has hosted in several years.  What was the topic that drew the attention of 200+ participants?  Changes to the ASTM Due Diligence standard from the experts who participated in  the design of the revised standard that resulted from over  75 meetings. 

Moderated by Kathi Stetser and Michelle Martin, both LSRPs from GEI Consulting, with content provided and presented by Chemmie Sokolic, Falcon Real Estate Group; Chris Martell, ESA Environmental Consultants, and Larry Schnapf, Esq. of Schnapf LLC, attendees heard about the ASTM standards update process; new and revised definitions; records review and “The Big 4” property records; emerging contaminants and how they are handled under the updated standard; shelf life of thestandards and of the documents prepared; and important new appendices.

If you missed the webinar, here is our gift to you:  these are “The Big 4” property records: i) aerial photographs, ii) fire insurance maps, iii) local street directories, and iv) historical topographic maps. 

The session was recorded;  the Boards of Directors of the four organizations are discussing the release process.  If interested, contact sboyle@geiconsultants.com for further information. 

Posted January 27, 2022

BCONE joined with  eleven other environmental, business, and social justice organizations from throughout NYS to inform Gov. Hochul of the importance pf a long-term reauthorization of the Brownfields Cleanup Program.  You can find the letter here.  BCONE’s frequent organization partner, the New York City Brownfield Partnership, is credited with October 2021 report that quantifies the number of cleanups under the program and the on-site rate of return ratio of $6.63 in private development for every $1 of tax credits. For the entirety of the BCP, $17.61 billion in private investment has resulted from  $2.77billion in tax credits.

Posted January 3, 2022

On November 18th, we had a joint event with the New York City Brownfield Partnership on the impacts of COVID. This was Part 4 of an ongoing series we have been holding. 

Based on this event, we have some suggested reading material for all those who are interested:

• BCONE NYCBP Covid Impact Reading List 1 2021 to 11 2021.docx
  
• NJM magazine article Nov. 2020.pdf
  

Posted November 22, 2021