DEP presents Brownfield success map showing $28M in remediation grants and landfill redevelopment plans

The Borough of Somerville on Feb. 17 heard a presentation from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection officials and borough partners on a multi-decade brownfield remediation effort that officials say returned contaminated landfill property to productive use.

Ron Wankoski of the DEP’s Brownfield Reuse office told the council the department has supported remediation in Somerville and other municipalities with roughly $28,000,000 in hazardous-discharge remediation grants used for about 10–11 sites in the Brownfield Development Area (BDA). "This is truly a success story," Wankoski said, describing reused sites that now host housing, trails and stormwater infrastructure.

Colin Driver, a local coordinator who helped shepherd the project, said the site work included a "green seam" stream remediation that cost about $12.5 million and extensive stormwater improvements and capping. He said the DEP approved a geosynthetic cap design that will allow grass cover and open up redevelopment options. "We want to finish the rest of the landfill with a different cap and get solar on the top," Driver said, noting land-use, utility and permitting hurdles remain.

Speakers emphasized public involvement in the BDA application process: Driver said early visioning and steering-committee work, with roughly 180 residents in a prior visioning project, helped shape redevelopment choices and speed approvals. Mayor Brian Gallagher thanked DEP staff for sustained partnership and credited community visioning for guiding redevelopment.

DEP presenters showed an online "story map" that compares before-and-after photos and tracks remediation steps; officials said several other municipalities (including Camden and Palmyra) have used similar funding and approaches.

Council members asked about wetlands classification, trail and boardwalk costs and opportunities for additional funding. Officials said county funding was not available for some boardwalk work and that alternative sources are being pursued. The presentation closed with a note that final approvals are needed before installing a planned solar farm on capped landfill areas.

The borough said more information will be shared as approvals and procurement milestones are reached.