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For Immediate Release
July 14, 2009
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White Announces $18.5 Million Water and Sewer System Grants
H20 PA grants for projects in Clarion, Butler, Erie
counties funded by state gaming revenues.
Harrisburg State Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21) today announced the approval of
$18.5 million in grants for water and sewer system improvement projects in
Clarion, Butler and Erie counties.
The funds are made available through Act 63 of 2008 -- H2O PA legislation
co-sponsored by Senator White to fund water and sewer projects, as well as storm
water projects, flood control projects, and high-hazard dam repairs. H20 PA is
funded through an $800 million bond financed by five percent of gaming revenue
deposited in the Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund.
"Adequate water and sewer systems are vital for healthy communities, but they
are extremely expensive to maintain and upgrade," said White. "These projects
cant wait and the competition for funding was strong. Im pleased that these
worthy projects in the 21st District will be receiving the assistance that H20
PA was designed to provide."
The Commonwealth Financing Authority received 728 applications totaling $2.6
billion in funding requests, and the board approved $500 million in projects.
Among the projects included were the following from the 21st District:
CLARION COUNTY ($5 million) Redbank Valley Municipal Authority is awarded a
grant for the sewer system in Porter Township. The project consists of the
construction of 30,000 feet of sanitary sewer lines, one pump station, 9,940
feet of force main, 1,730 feet of low pressure sewers with 15 grinder pumps and
a wastewater equalization storage tank. The existing system is not able to meet
the current state regulations because of unpermitted discharge of raw sewage to
the groundwater and nearby streams.
CLARION COUNTY -- ($4.5 million) Knox Borough is awarded a grant to assist
with the sewer line replacement in the borough. The project will involve the
replacement and rehabilitation of the existing sewer system.
CLARION COUNTY ($2 million) Foxburg Area Water and Sewer Authority is
awarded a grant to assist with water and sewer improvements in Foxburg Borough
to install a new 100,000 gallon finished water storage tank and refurbish the
existing 100,000 gallon painted steel finished tank. This will eliminate ongoing
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System violations and improve water
quality of the Allegheny River.
CLARION COUNTY ($302,661) East Brady Borough is awarded a grant for sewer
system upgrades in the borough. The project consists of the replacement of storm
sewers in an effort to reduce an inflow and infiltration problem.
CLARION COUNTY ($128,000) The Paint-Elk Joint Sewer Authority is awarded a
grant to assist with the Riverhill Sewer Extension Project in Paint Township.
The project will extend sanitary sewer service to existing populations of the
Riverhill portion of Paint Township to eliminate malfunctioning on-lot sewer
systems.
BUTLER COUNTY ($500,000) Butler Area Sewer Authority is awarded a grant to
assist a sewer rehabilitation project in Butler Township to construct flow
equalization facilities and related conveyance system upgrades to reduce the
number and severity of sanitary sewer overflow events. The proposed project will
eliminate raw sewage discharge into local streams during wet weather events.
ERIE COUNTY ($5 million) North East Borough Sewer Authority is awarded a
grant for Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements in North East Borough. The
project will involve upgrades to two existing wastewater treatment plants and
facilitate a necessary increase in capacity. The project will allow for service
to be expanded to areas that have malfunctioning on-lot sewer systems.
ERIE COUNTY ($943,532) Union City Municipal Authority is awarded a grant
for its Raw and Finished Water Conveyance Project. The authority will construct
a new raw water intake system which will include flexible piping that will allow
variation of intake depth such that raw water can be drawn from a level in the
reservoir that minimizes the organic matter content, thereby minimizing the
formation of disinfection byproducts to over 3,000 residents in Union City.
H20 PA funding is awarded based on a competitive scoring system with priority
given to projects subject to a court order, agency order, or consent decree
necessitating improved environmental protections. Priority is also given to
projects involving consolidation and other regional projects.
To be eligible for funding, a project must be owned by a municipality or
authority, and must include local matching funds. The Commonwealth Financing
Authority will evaluate applications, with the Department of Environmental
Protection and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority providing
technical review and assistance.
CONTACT:
Pat Henderson
(717) 787-9684
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