NJ officials: Brownfields funds to clean up polluted waters were not tracked

New Jersey officials say the state brownfields fund established to help clean polluted properties is nearly broke, and it’s unclear just how well the money was spent, according to a report from NJ.com.

According to the story, since 1994, $281 was taken from the fund to investigate and clean up contaminated land, but state officials say they never kept track of whether or not the thousands of sites were developed.

NJ.com reports the state’s Department of Environmental Protection did not check to see if those parties responsible for the pollution at these sites were billed.

The Economic Development Authority also did not check up to see if its investment turned the polluted lands into taxable townhomes, restaurants and shopping stories, according to NJ.com.