Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico
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| Wilson Strongly Supports Efforts to Ensure that the Town of Bernalillo is a Safe, Healthy Place to Live |
September 29, 1999 |
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| It is my pleasure to inform you of efforts I am taking to ensure that the Town of Bernalillo is a safe, healthy place to live and work.
For over 400 years, inhabitants have used the Rio Grande Valley as a source of food and water, and for disposal of their wastewater. As the population of the valley has grown and changed from rural to urban in character, the water supply has been stressed and the capability of the soil to absorb the wastes has been severely tested. Today, we are faced with significant environmental threats, especially groundwater pollution in Bernalillo.
As you know, water treatment is the most basic of services citizens expect of their government. Currently, six percent of Bernalillo's residents do not have sewer service. In order to accommodate those residents and expected new development, improvements to the 20 year old waste water treatment plant is critical. Although the Town of Bernalillo has tried to meet its funding needs through a bond and Rural Utility Service loans, Bernalillo will still have a shortfall of several million dollars.
The Town of Bernalillo is expected to experience significant growth of nearly 67 percent in the next three years. In order to provide the proper wastewater service for current and new residents and meet future environmental standards, the town must make improvements to its wastewater treatment plant immediately. To address this serious situation and help prepare Bernalillo for expanding economic opportunities, I have requested $4.5 million through the Environmental Protection Agency's Special Needs Grant program to assist the Town in this endeavor.
While this is one important project that I am working on for the valley, your help identifying other issues important to you would be greatly appreciated. I want to know what you think I should be doing to help you and your family. Write, call, e-mail, or come to one of my public meetings, where we can talk about issues important to our community. I look forward to hearing from you. It is a pleasure to represent you in Congress.
Sincerely,
Heather Wilson
Member of Congress |
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