The N.Y.C. Brownfield Cleanup Program

The Mayor's Office for Environmental Remediation (OER) recently announced some innovative new enrollment incentives for the N.Y.C. Brownfield Cleanup Program (NYC BCP). As background, NYC BCP provides opportunities for redevelopment and revitalization of contaminated vacant or underutilized properties across the five boroughs. As part of the larger, city-wide PlaNYC initiative, NYC BCP intends to protect public health and the environment, increase job creation in affected communities, and add local amenities and generate new revenue. OER has created a new group called the Green Team. Composed of a group of OER project managers, the Green Team will assist program enrollees in acquiring permits from city agencies that are required for activities conducted during the investigation and remedial phases of Brownfield Redevelopment. The Green Team is on call to assist enrollees in overcoming unforeseen impediments or delays that may arise during the remedial process. An OER Green Team member will serve as liaison between OER and multiple city agencies: the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Buildings, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Sanitation, the Business Integrity Commission, the Fire Department and the Department of Parks and Recreation. In collaboration with the NYC Brownfield Partnership, OER is working to standardize and simplify the process for making hardship claims regarding the costs of cleanup for Brownfield projects in N.Y.C. Successful claims can ease restrictions of certain city land use and development designations. Low-income communities suffer from the environmental injustice of a disproportionate number of Brownfield sites. These communities have been plagued by unregulated and infrequent Brownfield cleanups due to a lack of capital, uneven standards and no regulatory oversight. The city's new Brownfield cleanup program overcomes these challenges by providing transparency and opportunities for public participation in cleanups. Frank Fortino is the president & CEO of Metropolis Group, Inc., New York, N.Y.