Remediation & Brownfields — Page 11
Brownfield cleanup, remedial investigation and site closure articles for NY and NJ: NYSDEC BCP, NJDEP SRRA, soil management, UST closure and cost control. Page 11 of 23.
The GenX Standard: NJDEP Finalizes PFAS Remediation Rules (0.02 µg/L Groundwater)
For years, "forever chemicals" have been the looming shadow over New Jersey real estate and industrial operations. On June 15, 2026, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) finally stepped out of the interim period and into a hard-coded regulatory reality. With the formal adoption of amendments to the Ground Water Quality Standards (N.J.A.C. […]
The LSRP/Developer Relationship: Why Direct Access is a Project Requirement
If you’re a real estate developer in New Jersey, you’ve likely felt the weight of a project hanging on a single signature. That signature belongs to your Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP). Since the enactment of the Site Remediation Reform Act (SRRA), the balance of power in New Jersey’s environmental landscape shifted from the state […]
The New NY Environmental Justice Siting Law: How it Redefines ‘Significant Impact’ under SEQRA
If you’re a developer in New York, the calendar just flipped to June 12, 2026, and the ground beneath your project has shifted. The State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) isn't what it was yesterday. With the official implementation of the 2024 Environmental Justice (EJ) Siting Law, the definition of a "significant impact" has been […]
NYC OER Scores $500K EPA Grant for Brownfield Assessments in Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island
The landscape of New York City real estate is shifting. On May 20, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $14 million in brownfield grants for New York State, with a significant $500,000 Community-Wide Assessment Grant awarded directly to the NYC Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation (OER). For developers and investors looking at […]
NJDEP Historic Fill Guidance: How to Avoid Unexpected Remediation Costs
If you are developing a property in Jersey City or Newark, you aren't just buying dirt; you are likely buying decades of industrial history. In these urban hubs, "Historic Fill" is the default setting. It is the ash, coal, cinders, and demolition debris used to raise elevations and build out the waterfront over the last […]
Phase II Site Investigation: Precision vs. ‘Fishing Expeditions’
You just received your Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). The report identifies three Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs): a former underground storage tank (UST), a historical floor drain in the warehouse, and some suspicious "historic fill" along the property line. Now comes the fork in the road. You can hire a big-box national firm that […]
NYC OER E-Designation Removal: The Manual They Didn’t Give You
If you’re a developer in New York City, you know the "E." It’s that little letter on the CEQR E-designation map NYC that can bring a multi-million dollar project to a screeching halt before you’ve even moved a yard of dirt. The E-designation is essentially a regulatory placeholder. It tells the city that your site […]
NJDEP Finalizes GenX Groundwater Standards: What Developers Need to Know About the 0.02 µg/L Criterion
The regulatory window for "voluntary" GenX assessment has officially closed. On June 15, 2026, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) finalized the groundwater quality criterion for GenX: technically known as hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) and its ammonium salt: at 0.02 µg/L. This is no longer an interim suggestion or a "to-watch" contaminant. […]
Fast-Track to Construction: How to Remove a NYC OER E-Designation
If you’re developing in New York City, an (E) Designation on your lot is the ultimate bottleneck. It’s a zoning marker that says your site has potential hazardous materials, air quality, or noise issues. Until it’s addressed, the Department of Buildings (DOB) won't hand over your permits. Most developers see an E-designation as a black […]
Unlocking Profits: The Developer’s Guide to NJ Brownfield Tax Credits
If you’re developing in New Jersey, you already know the story: the best sites are rarely "clean." The prime real estate: the waterfronts, the transit-adjacent hubs, and the former industrial corridors: almost always comes with a history. Whether it's historical fill, chlorinated solvents from a dry cleaner, or heavy metals from a defunct factory, these […]
The New NJDEP Technical Requirements: Why Your AOC Sampling Must Now Include PFAS and Dioxins
If you are developing property in New Jersey, the goalposts just moved. For years, when you encountered an "unknown" Area of Concern (AOC): maybe an old pipe with no records or a patch of stained soil in a corner of the lot: the standard operating procedure was to run a "full suite" of Target Compound […]
NJDEP Soil Remediation Standards 2026: Navigating the New GenX and Methanol Criteria
The regulatory landscape in New Jersey just shifted, and if you are sitting on a stalled Phase II or a complex brownfield, the clock started ticking on June 15, 2026. For years, GenX chemicals (PFAS) and methanol existed in a grey area of "interim criteria" and guidance. That era is over. As of June 15, […]