New York Funds Wastewater Upgrades With $432M Recovery Grant

This grant is part of the unprecedented $4 billion dollars that will be awarded to fund wastewater infrastructure projects across the country under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Obama administration says the funds will create thousands of jobs, jumpstart local economies and protect human health and the environment across the state.

"EPA is committed to being part of the solution in this economic downturn. By keeping the waterways clean and healthy, we're bringing new jobs and new opportunities to local communities," said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson in a news conference with New York Governor David Paterson at the Albany Institute of History and Art.

"Protecting human health and the environment is a great way to put people to work and stimulate our economy," she said.

"New York State is committed to innovative approaches to building environmentally sustainable and energy efficient wastewater treatment technologies. This funding will help protect our environment and will support thousands of jobs across the State at a time when we need it most," said Governor Paterson.

The state will use the grant to fund municipal and county governments and wastewater utilities for projects to protect lakes, ponds and streams in communities across New York.

Governor Paterson announced the first round of projects eligible to receive this funding. Upon Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approval, 10 projects will be awarded a total of $170 million for water treatment plant and sewer upgrades, rehabilitations and improvements.

One of the largest awards will go to Westchester County, which will receive $55 million to support the design and construction of biological nitrogen removal and other upgrades at the Mamaroneck Wastewater Treatment Facility. This project is to ensure the county's compliance with the Long Island Sound Estuary Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan.

Rockland County will receive a combined total of $35.2 million for two projects to support the planning, design and construction of sewer system rehabilitation and extensions. The wastewater collection system will feed into the county's new advanced wastewater treatment facility which discharges into the Ramapo River.

Buffalo City wastewater moves into the final settling tank. (Photo courtesy Buffalo Sewer Authority)

New York State also will provide at least 20 percent, or at least $86 million, of its Recovery Act funds to projects, those that involve green infrastructure, improve energy or water efficiency, or that have other environmentally innovative aspects, as required by the Act.

Commissioner Pete Grannis, who heads the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said, "Today is a truly extraordinary day for New York, for our environment, for our economy and for our communities across the State. DEC and Environmental Facilities Corporation are eager to use this funding to support local economies by creating jobs, and at the same time keep our invaluable rivers, streams, and lakes clean."

Dereth Glance, executive program director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said, "New Yorkers know clean water is a necessity, not a luxury. We applaud the leadership provided by President Obama, the New York Congressional Delegation, Governor Paterson, and Commissioner Grannis for investing in sustainable clean water infrastructure to improve water quality that keeps our beaches open, allows our fisheries to thrive, and promotes New York's shoreline as a top tourist destination."

The funding will create thousands of jobs across New York for carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and heavy equipment operators, and engineers. It will fund manufacturing jobs to create steel, pumps, pipes, concrete, and asphalt; and other positions for legal and high-tech specialists and operators of the plants.

President of the Construction Industry Council Ross Pepe said this investment will pay off in growth for generations. "For every $1 billion spent on construction, as many as 35,000 jobs are created," he said. "Clean water, safe drinking water, efficient transportation systems, modern ports and airports, renewable energy and other public facilities all contribute to a healthy environment and business climate."

President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, 2009, and has directed that the law be implemented with the highest levels of transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at http://www.recovery.gov.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2009. All rights reserved.