Brownfields in New Jersey By Priyal Patel Brownfields are quite abundant in Currently, New Jersey is developing our daily lives. However, many people are better tools to help its economic and unaware of their existence. The EPA environmental conditions. The most defines a brownfield as “a property, the recent tool is a Geographic Information expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of Systems (GIS) mapping inventory layer which may be complicated by the created by the New Jersey Department of presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or Environmental Protection. The NJEDA will contaminant” (US Environmental use this layer to assess our economic Protection Agency). Brownfields can be growth and find the most efficient and created by developing industrial and commercial sites like dry cleaners and economically feasible options to redevelop these contaminated sites. This gas stations. Funding to clean up and reuse these sites is costly and increases mapping layer will help make “ valuable local taxes, so it is crucial for our information about brownfields sites easily administrations to map and locate these accessible” (Shinske and Hajna). Making sites correctly. this information readily accessible will allow more investors and developers to make the most environmentally sound decisions. It could help them better assess locations before deciding to build other brownfields. The mapping of these sites can help us prevent or help us track contamination outbreaks as well. Currently, the map includes information such as “acreage, cleanup status, and property owner contact information” (Shinske and Hajna). This information is crucial for smart planning, and the NJDEP is planning on adding brownfields from other municipalities throughout the coming years. In order to get other towns to investigate their brownfields and facilitate redevelopment
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