Priyal Patel

Brownfields in New Jersey

By Priyal Patel

Brownfields are quite abundant in our daily lives. However, many people are unaware of their existence. The EPA defines a brownfield as “a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant” (US Environmental Protection Agency). Brownfields can be created by developing industrial and commercial sites like dry cleaners and gas stations. Funding to clean up and reuse these sites is costly and increases local taxes, so it is crucial for our administrations to map and locate these sites correctly.

Currently, New Jersey is developing better tools to help its economic and environmental conditions. The most recent tool is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping inventory layer created by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The NJEDA will use this layer to assess our economic growth and find the most efficient and economically feasible options to redevelop these contaminated sites. This mapping layer will help make “ valuable information about brownfields sites easily accessible” (Shinske and Hajna). Making this information readily accessible will allow more investors and developers to make the most environmentally sound decisions. It could help them better assess locations before deciding to build other brownfields. The mapping of these sites can help us prevent or help us track contamination outbreaks as well. Currently, the map includes information such as “acreage, cleanup status, and property owner contact information” (Shinske and Hajna). This information is crucial for smart planning, and the NJDEP is planning on adding brownfields from other municipalities throughout the coming years. In order to get other towns to investigate their brownfields and facilitate redevelopment

of these sites, the NJEDA has created a Brownfield Impact Fund. This Fund will help assist organizations in the cleanup of these contaminated sites and encourage towns to join in the state's efforts to reuse and rebuild these sites for future use. Through the watchful eye of Governor Murphy’s administration, New Jersey is taking charge and cleaning up after itself. New Jersey is becoming more conscious of its environmental decisions and can better track the sites and their possible impacts on surrounding communities with tools like this.

Works Cited

Shinske, Caryn, and Lawrence Hajna. “NJDEP - News Release 22/P005 - Murphy Administration Releases New Tool for Brownfield Cleanup and Redevelopment to Improve Economic and Environmental Outcomes for New Jersey Communities.” NJ.gov, State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection, 14 February 2022, https://www.nj.gov/dep/ newsrel/2022/22_0005.htm. Accessed 24 April 2022.

US Environmental Protection Agency. “Overview of EPA's Brownfields Program | US EPA.” US Environmental Protection Agency, US Environmental Protection Agency, 26 July 2021, https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/overview-epas-brownfields-program. Accessed 23 April 2022.

Combating the Sixth Mass Extinction

Taken by: Michelle Delemarre (03-14-20)

By: Michelle Delemarre

The sixth one is upon us. In the last issue, I discussed how anthropogenic climate change and human activities have resulted in the dawn of the sixth mass extinction. The previous five mass extinctions were caused by cataclysmic events brewing over millennia, but this one will be caused by humans over mere centuries. Witnessing the destruction of nature and the overall loss of biodiversity within our planet is heartbreaking to say the least. We must take it as a final warning and do something to combat the looming sixth mass extinction.

The combination of anthropogenic climate change and habitat fragmentation are large contributors to the loss of biodiversity, and so they must be reduced in order to protect wildlife. Many nations have committed to the Paris Agreement, which aims to keep emissions below 1.5ºC (WWF, 2022). This will not only benefit us, but also wildlife. Many species have difficulty adapting to such a rapidly changing environment, which has resulted in the death of many animals on land and sea. In reducing the rate of change, we can expect to see biodiversity begin to recover. Of course, it is idealistic to expect the nations largely responsible for carbon emissions, like the United States and China, to embrace a transition to clean energy. This is why conservation methods, such as protecting land, captive breeding, and re-introducing vulnerable species into natural habitats plays an important role in combating the sixth mass extinction.

The conservation of wildlife habitat is crucial; a stable ecosystem is necessary for the survival of marine, land, and avian animals alike. According to a report called Future threats to biodiversity and pathways to their prevention, “Designated protected areas now cover about 14% of Earth’s terrestrial surface and are often instrumental in reducing habitat conversion, hunting and extinction risks within their confines.” (Tilman et. al, 2017.) Creating conserved habitats with connecting corridors proves highly beneficial to the conservation of species, as it allows for migration from one area to another.

Both animals and humans need land, and so the habitat of animals is often cleared for agriculture, timber, or the development of roads or buildings. It is important to note that conserving the

habitats of wildlife can impact the livelihoods of people who live near the habitats. Rather than isolate people from conservation efforts, they can contribute to the conservation with their expertise and knowledge of the local environment. Areas of high biodiversity would be protected, while agrarian fields would be in areas only with high yield. This way, a compromise would be met.

As individuals, we must push for legislation to protect ecosystems in a way which will benefit both humans and animals. We can also proactively reduce the demand for land clearing by consuming less meat. We must never forget our dependence on nature; it is something that no longer can be dismissed. While it may not be possible to completely reverse climate change and the impact it has had on biodiversity, it is not too late to combat extinctions, and protect what remains of nature.

Barnosky, A. (2011, March 02). Has the Earth's sixth mass extinction already arrived? Retrieved February 12, 2022, from https://www.nature.com/articles/ nature09678

Tilman, D. (2017, May 31). Future threats to biodiversity and pathways to their prevention. Nature News. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.nature.com/articles/ nature

World Wildlife Fund. (2022, March 15). What is the sixth mass extinction and what can we do about it? WWF. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/ what-is-the-sixth-mass-extinction-and-what -can-we-do-about-it

Taken by: Michelle Delemarre (06-28-19)