2006 CPEO Brownfields List Archive

From: "Bruce-Sean Reshen" <reshen@mindspring.com>
Date: 5 Apr 2006 15:05:27 -0000
Reply: cpeo-brownfields
Subject: [CPEO-BIF] Editorial - Cancel the DEP Loan, -3/29/06
 

I am writing in response to your editorial, Cancel the DEP Loan, which appeared in the March 29th edition of the newspaper.  Your rigid, parochial, head in the sand viewpoint poorly serves the needs of a community greatly in need of major redevelopment.  Asbury Park has many so-called brownfield properties, sites that have fallen into disrepair and disuse and may involve environmental contamination.  Like most New Jersey cities, redevelopment has lagged in Asbury Park partially due to a failure of the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to work cooperatively with the responsible redevelopment community.  We now live in a world where the efforts of the DEP professionals must be coordinated with the redevelopment activities on contaminated sites in order to maximize the productivity of these sites for our communities. 

 

While the primary role of the DEP is to safeguard the environmental quality of these sites, reality requires us to recognize that sites will only be cleanup up if there is a viable redevelopment opportunity.  Environmental professionals at the DEP must become more familiar with the process of integrating cleanups into redevelopment plans.  This process can only be enhanced by leaders such as Sue Boyle working with a prestigious not-for-profit entity such as the National Brownfields Association that promotes responsible redevelopment while protecting the environment.  Ms. Boyle’s knowledge of DEP programs and practices makes her an ideal candidate to strengthen the ties of understanding between environmental experts and the redevelopment community.  Her temporary appointment will only serve to promote greater cooperation and a recognition by all of how redevelopment can assist in providing the funds to accelerate environmental cleanups and protection of New Jersey’s citizens.

 

At a time when the DEP has inadequate funding to cleanup New Jersey’s many contaminated sites, the Asbury Park Press should be applauding such efforts as the appointment of Sue Boyle and not disparaging the professional reputation of an outstanding environmental professional.  To quote Bob Dylan, “If you can’t lend a hand, get out of the road.”  Instead of wild, ill-conceived attacks, it’s time for the Asbury Park Press to join with the DEP and the redevelopment professionals who want to improve New Jersey’s future and not be mired in the shibboleths of the past.

 

The writer is CEO of the Guardian Trust, a not-for-profit trust that protects the environment through long term steward of contaminated sites.  In that capacity he has worked with Sue Boyle at the DEP.  He is not a member of the National Brownfields Association.

 

Bruce-Sean Reshen

breshen@mgppartners.com

 

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