CHICAGO, IL, Sept. 9, 2009 -- In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment for people in the State of Wisconsin, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $105,948,300 million to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the 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.
"EPA is pleased to provide almost $106 million in Recovery Act funds for much needed improvements to Wisconsin's aging wastewater infrastructure, including sewer systems," said Bharat Mathur, acting regional administrator. "This money will protect human health and improve water quality while helping to create good jobs in the 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 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 twenty percent 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, 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.
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, 2009, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at http://recovery.gov.
For information on EPA's implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 visit http://www.epa.gov/recovery/
For information on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program visit http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/
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