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News Release
Gov. Rendell Announces $1.7 Million Investment to Ensure Safe Drinking Water Supplies, Protect Public Health
HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 23, 2008/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Marking Pennsylvania's continued commitment to maintaining the state's water and wastewater infrastructure, Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced an investment of $1.7 million that will support communities' economy and quality of life.
"Safe water for drinking, clean water for recreation, and reliable water service to power industry are essential to attracting new development, protecting the public's health, and creating a high quality of life for our citizens," said Governor Rendell. "These investments help ensure the proper operation and maintenance of our water and sewer infrastructure and services, which is essential for Pennsylvania to accommodate future growth and development.
"As federal support continues to decline, these investments become even more critical in addressing the $8 billion gap in Pennsylvania's water and sewer infrastructure needs."
The Governor said the Clean Water State Revolving Fund is an example of declining federal dollars for the commonwealth.
The fund, which combines state and federal funds to upgrade aging infrastructure, has been a significant part of the commonwealth's water quality improvement efforts for two decades. In the last three years, though, the federal government has cut it by nearly half.
In 2004, $1.34 billion was available, compared to $886 million last year. Pennsylvania's share of the fund was cut by $30 million to $27 million.
"Steep cuts to federal programs, that have been a significant part of the commonwealth's water quality improvement efforts for two decades, jeopardize our ability to tackle the serious environmental and economic infrastructure challenges facing our communities," said Governor Rendell.
The $568,230 in sewage facilities enforcement grants announced today will help 188 municipalities enforce on-lot sewage system requirements. The grants reimburse local governments for costs associated with permitting these systems.
Another $1 million in sewage facilities planning grants was awarded to municipalities, counties and authorities to reimburse the costs associated with preparing and revising official plans that ensure the adequate operation and maintenance of sewage facilities.
The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, known as Act 537, requires municipalities--either individually or as members of multi-municipal sewage agencies--to enforce on-lot sewage system requirements. Requirements include evaluating and permitting new systems, properly repairing malfunctioning systems, and investigating complaints in a timely manner.
Act 537 authorizes DEP to reimburse local governments for up to 85 percent of the annual costs associated with enforcement and up to 50 percent of the cost associated with preparing a sewage facilities official plan.
These duties are carried out by sewage enforcement officers, who must pass a state-administered test in order to be certified by a state board, are responsible for making sure that new and repaired on-lot systems are properly sited, designed, permitted and inspected.
For more information on sewage facilities enforcement and planning grants, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Act 537.
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a list, by county, of the $653,199.76 in Act 537 sewage facilities enforcement grants.
ADAMS COUNTY
Cumberland Township - $1,245.42
Freedom Township - $2,400.63
Latimore Township - $705
Mount Pleasant Township - $6,271.67
Oxford Township - $695
Union Township - $4,094.08
BEAVER COUNTY
Greene Township - $4,284.81
Rochester Township - $2,493.56
BEDFORD COUNTY
Broad Top Township - $384.33
BERKS COUNTY
Bethel Township - $3,550.13
Caernarvon Township - $60.79
District Township - $2,851.23
Earl Township - $10,469.78
Hereford Township - $10,005.91
Jefferson Township - $1,030.63
Longswamp Township - $13,499.03
Maidencreek Township - $2,795.55
Marion Township - $791.50
North Heidelberg Township - $3,239.70
Pike Township - $7,181.38
South Heidelberg Township - $6,092.30
Upper Tulpehocken Township - $940.50
Washington Township - $3,622
BUTLER COUNTY
Adams Township - $2,925
Brady Township - $1,178.62
Buffalo Township - $246.25
Connoquenessing Township - $11,321.57
Franklin Township - $15,707.74
Jefferson Township - $8,063.71
Parker Township - $295
Winfield Township - $4,083.92
Worth Township - $1,192.13
CARBON COUNTY
East Penn Township - $2,453.16
Summit Hill Borough - $238.04
CENTRE COUNTY
Benner Township - $1,435
Burnside Township - $1,842.50
Gregg Township - $4,184.35
Howard Township - $970.03
Huston Township - $2,580.03
Liberty Township $1,200
Penn Township - $4,654.59
Marion Township - $5,321.24
Rush Township - $3,413.59
Snow Shoe Township - $2,050
Spring Township - $1,575
State College Borough - $300
Union Township - $2,372.41
Walker Township - $5,558.58
CLEARFIELD COUNTY
Covington Township - $89
Morris Township - $983.50
CLINTON COUNTY
Bald Eagle Township - $620
Beech Creek Township - $570
Chapman Township - $1,120
Dunnstable Township - $1,960
Grugan Township - $400
Lamar Township - $895
Logan Township - $675
Porter Township - $705
Woodward Township - $1,242.50
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Greenwood Township - $1,977.50
Madison Township - $1,528.63
Stillwater Borough - $300
CRAWFORD COUNTY
Athens Township - $217.50
Conneaut Township - $752.13
East Fallowfield Township - $135.52
East Mead Township - $160
Hayfield Township - $2,322.89
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
South Middleton Township - $3,899.26
South Newton Township - $2,305
West Pennsboro Township - $14,469.05
DAUPHIN COUNTY
Jackson Township - $80.00
Middle Paxton Township - $6,890
South Hanover Township - $3,197
West Hanover Township - $6,221.50
DELAWARE COUNTY
Edgmont Township - $15,568.81
ELK COUNTY
Horton Township - $655.85
Ridgeway Township - $1,528.58
FAYETTE COUNTY
Bullskin Township - $4,813.28
Dunbar Township - $6,809.53
Henry Clay Township - $1,221.74
North Union Township - $5,274.85
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Fannett Township - $1,378.50
Greene Township - $9,367.77
Metal Township - $8,347.16
Peters Township - $703
Quincy Township - $1,657.50
Southampton Township - $1,840.31
FULTON COUNTY
Ayr Township - $2,540.50
Belfast Township - $4,350
Dublin Township - $1,697.50
Taylor Township - $1,185
Todd Township - $2,233.75
Wells Township - $402.50
GREENE COUNTY
Dunkard Township - $1,173.39
Franklin Township - $550
HUNTINGDON COUNTY
Clay Township - $525
Marklesburg Borough - $945
Penn Township - $4,176.60
INDIANA COUNTY
White Township - $598
JUNIATA COUNTY
Delaware Township - $1,410
LACKAWANNA COUNTY
Abington Township - $3,523.79
Archbald Borough - $927.54
Blakely Borough - $844.94
Clarks Summit Borough - $335.21
Clifton Township - $682.19
Dalton Borough - $2,195.96
Dickson City Borough - $582.82
Glenburn Township - $12,292.51
Jefferson Township - $2,373.69
Laplume Township - $624.70
West Abington Township - $924.98
LANCASTER COUNTY
Brecknock Township - $7,741.60
Conoy Township - $1,925
East Cocalico Township - $12,280.45
East Earl Township - $7,382.95
Ephrata Township - $112.50
Leacock Township - $2,694.55
Manor Township - $3,166.56
Mount Joy Township - $5,342.61
Paradise Township - $5,383.40
Rapho Township - $4,307.09
Salisbury Township - $10,645.95
LAWRENCE COUNTY
Mahoning Township - $179.71
Wilmington Township - $380
LEBANON COUNTY
Union Township - $552.63
LEHIGH COUNTY
Heidelberg Township - $2,597.04
South Whitehall Township - $4,577.40
LUZERNE COUNTY
Butler Township - $5,241.50
Conyngham Borough - $862.50
Dorrance Township - $1,355.26
Foster Township - $2,600
LYCOMING COUNTY
Muncy Township - $600
MCKEAN COUNTY
Bradford Township - $945
Ceres Township - $601.05
Hamilton Township - $610
Keating Township - $3,846.38
MIFFLIN COUNTY
Union Township - $1,545
MONROE COUNTY
Chestnuthill Township - $34,410.51
Coolbaugh Township - $52,077.33
Polk Township - $22,130.33
MONTOUR COUNTY
Cooper Township - $1,251.30
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
Hanover Township - $272.49
Plainfield Township - $88.00
Williams Township - $5,855
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY
Lower Augusta Township - $245
Point Township - $5,645.93
Shamokin Township - $2,799.50
Upper Mahanoy Township - $390
POTTER COUNTY
Hebron Township - $239
Homer Township - $287.16
Wharton Township - $686.67
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
Eldred Township - $520
Frailey Township - $91.37
Landingville Borough - $122.50
North Manheim Township - $9,988.22
South Manheim Township - $13,657.82
Tremont Township - $809.50
West Brunswick Township - $2,347
West Mahanoy Township - $280
SOMERSET COUNTY
Fairhope Township - $156.25
Indian Lake Borough - $3,411.16
Jennerstown Borough - $200
Lincoln Township - $530.39
Southampton Township - $520.76
Upper Turkeyfoot Township - $2,216.86
UNION COUNTY
Kelly Township - $1,161.86
WARREN COUNTY
Farmington Township - $870
Glade Township - $1,303.90
Pine Grove Township - $1,820
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Donegal Township - $2,064.43
Loyalhanna Township - $916.24
Rostraver Township - $2,042.60
Upper Burrell Township - $4,475.39
WYOMING COUNTY
Lemon Township - $1,061.50
Monroe Township - $824.39
Nicholson Township - $1,104.66
Overfield Township - $1,219.21
YORK COUNTY
Dover Township - $24,681.36
Fawn Grove Borough - $665.02
Fawn Township - $7,535.50
Felton Borough - $112.50
Loganville Borough - $520
Lower Chanceford Township - $1,582.11
North Hopewell Township - $2,540
New Salem Borough - $385
Springettsbury Township - $6,564.53
Springfield Township - $3,676
Warrington Township - $3,521.56
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a list, by county, of $1,016,813.45 in Act 537 Sewage Facilities Planning Grants.
ADAMS COUNTY
East Berlin Borough - $75,000
BEDFORD COUNTY
Bedford Township - $49,371.42
Bedford Township Municipal Authority - $9,597.78
BERKS COUNTY
Antietam Valley Municipal Authority - $4,719.84
Richmond Township - $13,971.28
Ruscombmanor Township - $54,104.10
BLAIR COUNTY
Allegheny Township Sewer and Water Authority - $15,840.88
BUCKS COUNTY
Newtown, Bucks County, Joint Municipal Authority - $29,210.28
Plumstead Township - $19,510.04
BUTLER COUNTY
Butler Township - $8,136.50
City of Butler - $9,464.27
Summit Township - $5,500.95
CENTRE COUNTY
Centre Regional Council of Governments - $61,977.41
CHESTER COUNTY
West Whiteland Township - $119,456.22
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Conyngham Township - $17,089.82
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Metal Township Municipal Authority - $8,010
LANCASTER COUNTY
Lititz Borough - $46,244.13
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
East Norriton-Plymouth-Whitpain Joint Sewer Authority - $24,643.26
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY
City of Shamokin - $247,676.75
Coal Township - $108,279.75
PIKE COUNTY
Westfall Township - $38,713.47
POTTER COUNTY
Galeton Borough Authority - $4,662
TIOGA COUNTY
Chatham Township - $9,259.30
WARREN COUNTY
City of Warren - $36,374
Source: Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
Web Site: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/
