Board of Public Works approves funding for clean water, Chesapeake Bay
Media contact: Jay Apperson
Board of Public Works approves funding for clean water and the Chesapeake Bay
Grants and loans will reduce pollution, improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure; Bay Restoration Funding to help pay for Baltimore City sewage repairs required by consent decree
BALTIMORE (August 17, 2016) – The Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $22 million in grants and loans today to reduce pollution, improve water quality and provide safe drinking water. The Board is composed of Governor Larry Hogan, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford represented Governor Hogan at today’s meeting.
“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 and Lieutenant Governor Rutherford for their leadership on this environmental priority,” said Maryland Secretary of the Environment Ben Grumbles. “We said we would support Baltimore City’s work to stop sewage overflows to meet the requirements of our consent decree, and for the first time since a change in the law in 2015 we are providing state Bay Restoration Fund grants to help pay for these critical improvements. We will continue to push aggressively for environmental progress and public accountability while looking for ways to help provide financial assistance.”
The following projects were approved today:
Baltimore City multiple sewershed projects — Baltimore City
Bay Restoration Fund grants totaling $20,582,734 to Baltimore City will help fund a continuation of Baltimore City’s efforts to prevent sanitary sewer overflows as required by a consent decree initiated by the Maryland Department of the Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The projects entail the planning, design and construction of improvements to the existing Baltimore City sanitary sewer infrastructure in the Patapsco, Herring Run, and Lower Level sewersheds. Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County share the cost of some of the projects because they share the sewer infrastructure. This is the first time that Bay Restoration Fund money has been used for this purpose since a change in the law in 2015 allowed this use. The Department of the Environment and its federal partners have reached an agreement with Baltimore City – a proposed modification of a 2002 consent decree – to greatly reduce the amount of sewage that overflows in the city within less than five years.
Lonaconing Water Station Run and Potomac Hollow Waterline Extension – Allegany County
Funding of $1,399,360 – a $699,680 Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund loan and a $699,680 grant in the form of loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund – to the Town of Lonaconing will help fund the Lonaconing Water Station Run and Potomac Hollow Waterline Ext. project. The project will extend water service along Water Station Run Road and Bluebaugh Road to provide drinking water to about 32 customers. A pump station is required due to the installation of additional waterlines.
Creek Road Water Distribution project — Allegany County
A $300,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Loan grant to Allegany County will help fund the Creek Road Water Distribution Project. The project entails the connection to the City of Cumberland’s water supply system and the construction of water distribution lines to provide reliable water service and fire protection to about 50 homes now served by small and antiquated distribution lines with several major leaks. The new system will be operated and maintained by Allegany County.
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