[StBernard] EPA Announces $43 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Wastewater Infrastructure Projects

Westley Annis Westley at da-parish.com
Wed Jul 15 08:41:04 EDT 2009


EPA Announces $43 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Wastewater
Infrastructure Projects

in Louisiana to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect the Environment



(Dallas, Texas - July 14, 2009) In a move that stands to create jobs, boost
local economies, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health
and the environment for the people in the State of Louisiana, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded over $43 million to the
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. This new infusion of money
provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the
state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to
wastewater projects that are essential to protecting public health and the
environment across the state.



"These Recovery Act dollars will help provide long-term economic and
environmental benefits for Louisiana," said EPA Acting Regional
Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield. "By making an investment in these
cost-effective and green projects, we are creating jobs today and assuring
good water quality for this generation and the next."



The Recovery Act funds will go to the state's Clean Water State Revolving
Fund program. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program provides low
interest loans for water quality protection projects for wastewater
treatment, non-point source pollution control, and watershed and estuary
management. An unprecedented

$4 billion dollars will be awarded to fund wastewater infrastructure
projects across the country under the Recovery Act in the form of low
interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants. At least 20% of the funds
provided under the Recovery Act are to be used for green infrastructure,
water and energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally
innovative projects.



Since the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program began in 1987, EPA has
awarded more than $26 billion in grants, which states have turned into $69
billion of financial assistance for water quality projects. The revolving
nature of the program ensures water quality projects will be funded for
generations to come.



President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(ARRA) on

February 17, 2009 and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with
unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American
people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.



Information on EPA's implementation of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Louisiana, visit http://www.epa.gov/region6/



Information on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, visit
http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/



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