| Alabama
August 09
EPA announces $63 million in recovery act funding for Alabama waterway infrastructure projects.
by Laura Niles
|
EPA Announces More Than $63 Million in
Recovery Act Funds for Water Infrastructure Projects in Alabama
to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health
(Atlanta,
Ga. – August 20, 2009) In a move
that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water and
wastewater infrastructure and protect human health and the environment for the
people in the State of Alabama,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $63,321,600 to the
Alabama Department of Environmental Management. 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 water
projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment
across the state.
“This
award marks a significant investment of EPA funds from the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act in Alabama,” said Stan
Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator in Atlanta.
“With this investment, we are embarking on an unprecedented effort to create
green jobs and protect human health and the environment.”
The
Recovery Act funds will go to the state's Clean Water and Drinking Water State
Revolving Funds programs.
The
Clean Water State Revolving Fund program will receive $43,821,600. It provides low-interest loans for water
quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, non-point source
pollution control, and watershed and estuary management. The Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund program will receive $19,500,000. It provides low-interest loans for drinking
water systems to finance infrastructure improvements. The program also
emphasizes providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to
programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe
drinking water.
An
unprecedented $6 billion dollars will be awarded to fund water and 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.
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009 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
visit http://www.epa.gov/recovery
Contact: Laura Niles,
404-562-8353, niles.laura@epa.gov