July 2009 Vol. 236 No. 7
Web Exclusive
EPA Announces $179 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Wastewater Infrastructure Projects in Texas
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded over $179 million to the Texas Water Development Board in a bid to provide jobs, improve the local environment and update aging infrastructure.
The new infusion of money is provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to help state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to wastewater projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state.
“Texans know the importance of having clean, safe water,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield. “Under the Recovery Act, EPA is helping protect both the environmental and economic future of communities throughout the Lone Star State.”
The Recovery Act funds will go to the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. 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. An unprecedented $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.
Since the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program began in 1987, the EPA has awarded more than $26 billion in grants, which states have turned into $69 billion of financial assistance for water quality projects. The revolving nature of the program ensures water quality projects will be funded for generations to come.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Information on how Recovery Act funds are being spent is available at www.recovery.gov.
For information on the EPA’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Texas, visit http://www.epa.gov/region6/.
Information on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program is available at http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/.
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