PROJECTS

 Nagatuck Valley, Connecticut (Pilot)

 New Bedford , Massachusetts (Pilot)-Tufts/ NJIT

 Trenton (Showcase)-NJIT

Bridgeport has been designated as a pilot for implementation of the ASTM ~ Standard Guide to the Process of Sustainable Brownfields Redevelopment . TAB has been assisting Bridgeport in their efforts to build capacity through education. Topics being covered include:

1. Understanding risk and the risk assessment process,
2. Remedy decision making and 
3. The role citizens play.

Focus of the education will be on the city/community plan to expand and upgrade an existing park through remediation of two (2) contiguous properties. A visual model of the park upgrade and environmental issues was developed to aid the community in better understanding the overall outcome. This model will be used throughout the training program. TAB also plans to work closely with the local high school-major user of the improved park-to develop educational scenarios related to the cleaning process, development and overall quality of life.

This TAB project in its very early stage of development will include a cooperation effort to assist the municipalities in development of their waterfront along the Delaware River. Conceptual scope of the overall process, which will be carried out through other funding sources, includes: inventory and mapping of Brownfields sites; planning for development that addresses an overall vision, and facilitating a regional approach to meeting the goals and objectives for the effort. TAB will provide education and technical assistance that will be defined later.

With this pilot, TAB aims to help pilot stakeholders develop greater understanding of the Brownfields revitalization process; develop the momentum to sustain the process and integrate redevelopment into other related efforts such as environmental cleanup. TAB and Hudson County Economic Development Corporation conducted on November 12, 1999 "Brownfields Challenge 99: A New Perspective on Brownfields Redevelopment." This engaging training session, attended by about 35 people, was developed to increase understanding of the many issues that surround Brownfields Redevelopment. It included a role-playing experience that challenged participants to negotiate an acceptable plan of action to put a Brownfields site back into productive use, thus developing the understanding and sensitivity among the participants of the issues and perspectives of the various stakeholders. In planning is a workshop for private owners and developers. The objective is to provide a forum for information exchange and interaction between private owners, developers, government and developmental experts to encourage and facilitate private owner and developer active participation in the redevelopment opportunities in Hudson County. TAB is also participating in the Pilot Steering Committee.

This pilot involves eight towns in Connecticut which are forming a new Regional Environmental Redevelopment Agency. The Agency will tackle financial, technical and strategic planning aspects of Brownfields redevelopment. TAB is continuing to discuss the technical assistance needs of the pilot with a community representative. This pilot has been involved in the multi-pilot phytoremediation technology transfer project discussed later.