(New York, N.Y.) The E.P.A. has awarded $229 million to the State of New Jersey for enhancements to wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The funds will be used on plans that reduce the risks of flood damage and that increase the resiliency of wastewater and drinking water facilities to withstand the effects of severe storms.
"This E.P.A. backing will help make New Jersey wastewater and drinking water plants more resilient," said E.P.A. Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "With climate change, the frequency of severe storms is likely to increase, and wastewater treatment and drinking water plant failures become a serious threat to people's health and the environment. These funds will help ensure that the basic infrastructure needed to protect people's health are operating even during severe storms."
These funds, which were authorized by Congress in the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, were granted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP will provide them to local communities as low or no interest loans that will be paid back to New Jersey. Up to 30 percent of the money being provided can be awarded as grants to communities rather than as loans.
The DEP has identified plans that are eligible for backing by using plan priority ranking systems that are based on requirements in the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act and state regulations. The highest rankings were given to plans that have the greatest impact on protecting water quality and protecting drinking water for the most people. The DEP selected the suggested plans and submitted Intended Use Projects that included its recommended plans to the E.P.A. for review. The state also accepted public comments on its Intended Use Plans. The E.P.A. has approved those Projects and awarded the $229 million to the DEP. New Jersey's Intended Use Projects include such plans as outfall repairs in Jersey City, the replacement of the Pequannock, Lincoln Park and Fairfield Sewerage Authority's generator, and the replacement of damaged pumps in Long Beach Township.
For a list of New Jersey clean water plans that are eligible to gain this funding, see:
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dwq/cwpl.htm
For a list of New Jersey drinking water plans that are eligible to gain this funding, see:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/dws_loans.html
For more information on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, visit
http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/cwsrf/cwsrf_index.cfm
For information on the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund plan visit
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/
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