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House Passes Bill Containing Important Funding for Maine Projects |
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Thursday, October 29 2009 |
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Michaud praised House passage of the conference report on H.R. 2996, the Fiscal Year 2010 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill contains important investments Michaud was able to secure for Maine, including water and sewer system upgrades for Limestone ($500,000) and Machias ($500,000).
“This bill not only helps protect our environment and promotes renewable energy, it also make’s much needed investments in our state,” said Michaud. “I am pleased the bill increases support for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Forest Legacy Program, which are both very important to Maine.”
Maine projects funded in the bill:
- $3,700,000 – Katahdin Forest Expansion – 19,647 acres – will build upon Maine’s largest contiguous block of conservation lands and maintains working forest landscapes and recreational access in the Millinocket/Baxter State Park region.
- $500,000 – Limestone Water & Sewer District – for design and construction of new wastewater pipes and pumping stations
- $500,000 – Machias – sewer system upgrades to extend existing sewer system to eastern part of Machias
- $500,000 – Maine lakes invasive species/habitat restoration – to address the threat of invasive species to Maine lakes and ponds. The impacts of the spreads of invasive aquatic plants are well known: habitat disruption, loss of native plant and animal communities, reduced property values, impaired fishing and degraded recreational experiences, and enormous control costs.
- $1,000,000 – Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge – to acquire nationally significant seabird nesting islands
“This bill provides support for community water infrastructure and environmental protection needs, such as the water projects in Limestone and Machias,” said Michaud. “With over 6,000 lakes and ponds, the task of preventing the spread of invasive aquatic species in Maine waters is one of the most difficult environmental challenges facing us today. I am pleased the bill included an initiative to address this issue in Maine.”
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