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Speakers flag Navy land turnover, contamination and phytoremediation as both barrier and opportunity
Summary
Committee members discussed large Navy-owned parcels on Middletown’s West Side, ongoing Restoration Advisory Board reviews for contamination, the Navy’s preference for comprehensive remediation, and local interest in phytoremediation as a potential lower-cost option.
Committee members highlighted that large swaths of West-Side land remain in Navy ownership and are subject to long-running Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) processes; speakers said the Navy prefers comprehensive remediation plans rather than piecemeal transfers, which complicates small public-access projects or incremental bike/ped connections. They noted contaminants (lead, petroleum, tank farms) remain a concern and that remediation timelines can be lengthy.
Karen Barbera and other panelists proposed exploring phytoremediation where suitable, explaining the technique and potential for lower-cost, nature-based remediation. "It is using plant material to remediate, soil contents," Karen Barbera said while urging targeted education and expert consultations; participants suggested the resilience plan could inventory remediation needs and identify pilot sites for nature-based techniques.
