| Michaud Announces $30.6 Million in Funding for Clean Water Initiatives in Maine |
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| Wednesday, April 22 2009 | |
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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Michaud announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will release $30,336,800 to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for Maine’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. The EPA also announced that it will send the Maine Department of Environmental Protection $306,400 for water quality management planning (WQMP). These funds were provided by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. “Our nation faces a crisis when it comes to our ability to control and manage our wastewater,” said Michaud. “Whether it is storm water runoff, waste treatment, pollution cleanup, or drinking water safety, there are numerous challenges that we face. The funding announced today will be extremely beneficial to our state. These investments in our water will help safeguard public health, improve our environment and create jobs.” 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. According to the EPA, approximately $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. According to the EPA, the goal of water quality management planning is to determine the nature, extent, and causes of water pollution problems, and to develop plans to solve them. WQMP activities often include developing and revising water quality standards, monitoring, assessing waters for problems, and preparing and updating water quality management plans. WQMP funds support a broad range of water-related planning activities. Grants are awarded to state agencies and some of the funds can be awarded to regional and interstate planning organizations. States are also encouraged to use these funds for more innovative planning activities including developing plans to adapt to climate change, analyzing trends in water availability and use, and creating low-impact development programs.
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