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Maryland Department of the Environment

Board of Public Works approves funding for clean water and the Chesapeake Bay

Media Contacts:

Jay Apperson
410-545-3003
jay.apperson@maryland.gov

Board of Public Works approves funding for clean water and the Chesapeake Bay

Grants and loans will reduce pollution, provide reliable drinking water

BALTIMORE, MD (July 16, 2015) – The Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $3.9 million in grants and loans today to reduce pollution and improve water quality and drinking water infrastructure. The Board is composed of Governor Larry Hogan, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

“These are smart investments to protect public health and prevent water pollution in Maryland communities and the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland Department of the Environment thanks Governor Hogan for his leadership on this environmental priority,” said MDE Secretary Ben Grumbles. “Operating and maintaining upgraded wastewater treatment plants throughout the state and improving drinking water infrastructure in the Town of Oakland will boost environmental protection and economic development locally and regionally.”

The following projects were approved today:

 

Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Treatment Plants with Enhanced Nutrient Removal Upgrades – Statewide

Grants from the Bay Restoration Fund totaling $3,182,750 will provide funding for the operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants with Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) upgrades. Grants from the Bay Restoration Fund equaling up to 10 percent of the annual fee revenue from wastewater treatment plant users can be provided to fund a portion of an ENR facility’s operation and maintenance. Based on availability of funds, MDE recommended an operation and maintenance grant at a rate of up to $30,000 per million gallons per day of a facility’s design capacity, with a minimum grant amount of $30,000 and a maximum amount of $300,000 per year for any plant. The board approved grants for 28 facilities across the state. Through ENR upgrades and proper operation, these plants have reduced nitrogen discharged to the Chesapeake Bay by over 2.3 million pounds per year and have reduced phosphorus discharged to the Bay by over 393,000 pounds per year. Excessive amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus lead to lowered levels of oxygen needed to support aquatic life in waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay. Enhanced Nutrient Removal upgrades of the state’s major wastewater treatment plants are a critical component of Maryland’s Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan.

 

Oakland Bradley Run and Broadford Lake Water Treatment Plant Improvements– Garrett County

Grant and loan funding of $682,000 — a $341,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund grant in the form of loan forgiveness and a $341,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund loan — to the Town of Oakland will help fund improvements to the Town’s two water treatment plants.  The project entails repair or replacement of pumps and leaking tanks and changes for energy savings in the Bradley Run Water Treatment Plant. The Broadford Lake Water Treatment Plant needs replacement or repair of  valves and  rehabilitation of the pipe gallery, along with a possible overhaul of the HVAC system.

 

Upper Georges Creek Stream Sealing Project, Acid Mine Drainage Remediation: Hoffman Drainage Tunnel – Allegany County

A $52,300 Mining Remediation Program grant to the U.S. Geological Survey will help fund the Upper Georges Creek Stream Sealing Project, Acid Mine Drainage Remediation: Hoffman Drainage Tunnel. The project is designed to remediate the loss of stream flow and resulting water contamination that can be caused by abandoned deep mines. This phase of the project includes installing, monitoring and collecting the data of a stream flow gauging station at the outflow of the Hoffman Drainage Tunnel. Monitoring and establishing the baseline discharge prior to stream channel lining work will assist in assessing hydrologic changes that could result as several stream channel projects are planned and constructed.

 

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