Remediation & Brownfields — Page 16
214 expert articles on remediation & brownfields from Envicon Group's NY and NJ environmental engineers.
The ‘Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act’: What NJ Property Owners Need to Know
New Jersey just drew a line in the sand on PFAS: and if you own property in the Garden State, this isn't just another consumer protection story. Governor Murphy signed the Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act (S 1042) into law on January 12, 2026, and while the headlines focus on carpets and cosmetics, the real […]
Your Phase I ESA is Lying to You: (And Your Lender Already Suspects It)
You just closed on a 3-acre industrial property in Newark. The Phase I ESA came back "clean": no Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs), nothing but a few historical dry cleaners two blocks over. Your lender greenlit the deal. You're feeling good. Here's the problem: that Phase I ESA is a snapshot, not an X-ray. And it's […]
The Fastest Way to Get Brownfield Tax Credits Approved in New Jersey (Without the Usual Delays)
Let's start with what nobody wants to hear: there is no secret pathway to bypass New Jersey's Brownfield Redevelopment Incentive Program (BRIP) approval timeline. The NJEDA Board review takes six months to a year, minimum. Add the two-week Governor's veto period, and you're looking at substantial calendar time regardless of who you hire or how […]
Geotech vs. Environmental: Why Integrating Your Site Investigation is a No-Brainer
Here's a scenario every developer knows too well: Your geotechnical engineer shows up in June, drills a dozen borings, tells you the soil is suitable for shallow foundations, and leaves. Fast forward to August, your environmental consultant arrives, drills their own borings 15 feet away from the geotech holes, discovers contaminated fill, and suddenly your […]
From Liability to Luxury: The 2026 Developer’s Playbook for NJ Brownfield Redevelopment
Every contaminated site tells two stories. The first is about what went wrong: decades of industrial use, petroleum spills, heavy metals leaching into soil. The second story? That's the one you write. And in 2026, New Jersey is handing developers the pen, the funding, and the regulatory framework to turn brownfield liabilities into landmark projects. […]
Avoiding the ‘Hold’ Letter: 5 Reasons Your NYC E-Designation Filings are Getting Rejected
If you've ever received a "hold" letter from NYC's Office of Environmental Remediation (OER), you know the sinking feeling. Your project timeline just stretched by weeks: maybe months. Your financing is in limbo. And somewhere in the stack of paperwork, a detail got missed that's now costing you real money. Here's the thing: E-Designation filings […]
The Problem with 'Big Box' Environmental Firms: Why Local NYC Expertise Wins
You've been there. Your Phase I ESA comes back from a national firm, and it reads like it could have been written for a site in Phoenix or Portland. The boilerplate language is immaculate. The formatting is pristine. And it completely misses the fact that your Brooklyn property sits 200 feet from a former manufactured […]
New Jersey Brownfield Redevelopment: 5 Strategies to Maximize Your 2026 Tax Credits
New Jersey's Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program isn't just another state subsidy: it's one of the most aggressive tax credit programs in the Northeast for developers willing to tackle contaminated sites. We're talking about awards covering up to 100% of your remediation costs, with maximum credits reaching $12 million per project. But here's the catch: most […]
PFAS in Phase I ESAs: Do You Really Need Testing? Here's the Truth
The short answer? Not necessarily, but you absolutely need PFAS evaluation. And yes, there's a critical difference that could cost you big if you get it wrong. Since July 8, 2024, when the EPA officially designated PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA, the rules of the game have fundamentally changed. Property buyers, lenders, […]
Are You Making These Common Geotechnical Investigation Mistakes on Redevelopment Sites?
Urban infill and redevelopment projects in NYC and New Jersey present some of the most complex subsurface challenges in the industry. You're not dealing with a virgin greenfield: you're working with decades (sometimes centuries) of disturbance, undocumented fill, abandoned utilities, and soil conditions that have been altered by previous construction. The stakes are high. A […]
Fast-Tracking NYC OER E-Designations: A Developer's Guide to the 2026 EPIC Portal
You've closed on a prime Manhattan site. The financing is locked. Your architect is ready to go. Then you discover that little "(E)" notation buried in the zoning resolution: and suddenly your 18-month timeline just became a question mark. If you've developed property in New York City, you know the scenario. E-Designations are among the […]
2026 Phase I ESA Cost Guide: What NY/NJ Developers Should Actually Budget
Let's cut to the chase: if you're acquiring or developing property in New York or New Jersey, you need a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. Your lender requires it. Your investors expect it. And frankly, you should want it: because discovering contamination after you close is a nightmare no one needs. But here's where things […]