Portion of Keasby Area in Woodbridge Township Designated a BDA by NJDEP
GEE is excited to promote the recent announcement of the Brownfield Development Area (BDA) designation of the Keasbey portion of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). This designation will allow the Township to receive up to $5 million each year from the NJDEP Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund for the remediation and redevelopment of this approximately 360-acre area of land located along the Raritan River. The largest property within the BDA is the 180-acre Former Nuodex Corporation Facility Brownfield site, currently owned by the El Paso Corporation of Houston, Texas. As the ecological consultant for El Paso’s remediation project, GEE is helping the development of an extensive restoration of the degraded Raritan River waterfront in this region, beyond just the El Paso site and is hopeful that this additional funding will make this ecological vision a reality. This opportunity will also streamline regulatory compliance efforts with the State, through a single case manager who has the opportunity to incorporate a holistic approach to land use planning in the BDA versus addressing each individual property separately.
On October 6, 2009, Mark Mauriello, acting Commissioner of the NJDEP, held a press conference at the El Paso site to announce the recent BDA designation. Members of the NJDEP, Woodbridge Township, local property owners, environmental consulting firms, and other local organizations gathered at the site to discuss the positive impact of the designation and impressive plans for the redevelopment of this area. The Mayor of the Township, Honorable John E. McCormac, was particularly enthused by this designation as it will support economic and ecological revitalization of this area that has remained stagnant for decades. In his speech, he alluded to the Township’s plans to promote green development, including renewable energy facilities, within the BDA that will provide for sustainable business opportunities and public enjoyment and access along the Raritan River waterfront.
Also sharing the spotlight at the event were representatives of the El Paso Corporation, Mark Ferris and Brian Johnson. Although the funding will not be directly available to El Paso as the principal responsible party undertaking a site remediation on their property, El Paso expressed their support of the Township’s ongoing efforts to improve this degraded area. El Paso, who has already spent millions of dollars on the environmental cleanup and ecological restoration of their 180-acre property, applauded the support of the Township and other local stakeholders, such as the Edison Wetlands Association, and their commitment to enhancing the economic and ecological viability of the area.
Links to articles published about the Woodbridge BDA designation:
