For Immediate Release
April 17, 2009
Contact: Paul Mounds (860)278-8888
Left to Right (MDC CEO Chuck Sheehan, MDC Chairman William DiBella, CT DEP Deputy Commissioner Amey Marrella, Acting Deputy Regional Administrator Stephen Perkins of EPA Region 1, U.S. Congressman John Larson)
Larson, Federal and State Environmental Officials Announce Recovery Funding for Clean Water Projects
Hartford, CT- Today, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) Region 1 Acting Deputy Regional Administrator Stephen Perkins and Deputy Commissioner Amey Marrella of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to announce funding that will improve the state’s environment and the health of its residents.
The State of Connecticut will receive $48,010,300 of federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the Connecticut Clean Water Fund for improvements to the state’s water quality and help protect the state’s rivers and natural resources. Administered by the EPA, the federal funding was provided to Connecticut’s Clean Water Fund. The announcement was made at the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) Water Pollution Control Facility in Hartford.
The Connecticut Clean Water Fund, administrated by DEP and the Office of the Treasurer, is one of the nation’s most successful clean water programs. The fund provides grants and loans to finance clean water projects such as improvements to municipal sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants.
“I am proud to join the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection to announce the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection will receive $48 million dollars to protect our state’s water supply. As a Connecticut State Senator, I fought for the passage of the Connecticut Clean Water Fund, as a means to keep our residents and our environment safe. Now more than 20 years later, the Connecticut Clean Water Fund serves as a national model,” said Larson.
“President Obama and the United States Congress has set forth a path forward for our nation with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. During these difficult economic times, we can restore economic stability and ensure the safety of our citizens and our environment at the same time. With these funds, much needed jobs are created, while essential clean water improvements, in Hartford and throughout the state, are made to guarantee the water is safe and our environment is protected.”
Amey Marrella, Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut DEP said, “These federal dollars for our Clean Water Fund (CWF) are a perfect use of stimulus funds. This money will support local waste water treatment systems, create much-needed jobs, protect our environment and make lasting improvements to our state. We will also be building on the impressive investment the state of Connecticut has made, in partnership with our cities and towns, to protect the quality of our waters for ourselves and future generations.”
Also announced at the press conference, the Connecticut DEP will receive $1.73 million through the Recovery Act State Clean Diesel Grant program. The funding will be used to retrofit the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s fleet of diesel vehicles and construction equipment, replace a high-emitted diesel locomotive engine on the New Haven-Providence-Worcester line, and establish a truck stop electrification parking area in New Haven to alleviate emissions caused by idle trucks.
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