Communication between State Agencies and Communities Communities would like to receive information about the environmental conditions and remedial plans for brownfield sites in their neighborhoods so they can be informed participants in the decision making process. If local organizations are not involved in remedial and reuse decisions, they would at least like the DEP to notify the public before remedial work begins on sites, which often causes public panic. Public Facilities on Brownfield Sites Many urban communities and municipalities need to build public facilities, such as schools and playgrounds. These communities have abundant brownfield sites, but no way to finance cleanup for public reuse. The suggestion has been made that a percentage of the HDSR funds be designated for remediation for public facilities.
Many urban communities are desperate for green open space.
Green Acres funds are for land acquisition, but cannot be used for remediation. A community's least expensive and least attractive option is to pave open space. A fund should be created to remediate sites acquired for urban open space. In addition to the above, certain communities have a general concern regarding the use of capping for site remediation, in particular on future residential sites. A number of misconceptions were articulated including the idea that capped sites become liabilities for the community, and the DEP may be issuing NFAs without overseeing the remediation.