Archive: April 2, 2022

 EPA Invites New Jersey to Apply for Water Infrastructure Loans to Improve Water Quality

New Jersey Infrastructure Bank Pool selected to apply for $149 million in funding for statewide water system projects

Contact: Tayler Covington, [email protected], (212) 637-3662

NEW YORK (October 22, 2019) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting a total of 38 projects in 18 states to apply for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans. Together, the selected borrowers will apply for WIFIA loans totaling approximately $6 billion to help finance over $12 billion in water infrastructure investments and create almost 200,000 jobs.

“Through WIFIA, EPA is playing an integral role in President Trump’s efforts to improve and upgrade our nation’s water infrastructure and ensure all Americans have access to clean and safe water,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “This announcement highlights billions of dollars in needed water infrastructure investments to upgrade aging infrastructure, reduce exposure to lead and emerging contaminants and improve the lives of millions of Americans across the country – all while creating almost 200,000 jobs.”

“Investments in water infrastructure help protect New Jersey’s environment and boost the economy,” said EPA Region 2 Administrator Pete Lopez. “EPA’s WIFIA program is an important finance tool the federal government is affording states and organizations to improve water infrastructure.”

EPA’s WIFIA loans will allow communities across the country to implement projects to address national water priorities – including providing for clean and safe drinking water by reducing exposure to lead and emerging contaminants, addressing aging water infrastructure and developing water recycling and reuse projects. Specifically, eight of the selected projects are water reuse or recycling projects, 11 projects will reduce lead or emerging drinking water contaminants, and 33 will address aging infrastructure. EPA received 51 letters of interest from both public and private entities in response to the 2019 WIFIA Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

After a robust, statutorily required review process, the WIFIA Selection Committee chose the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank Pool to apply for a $149 million loan. The project will expand the reach of the New Jersey State Revolving Fund Program and allow it to support additional projects across the state. The purpose of the project is to enable New Jersey Infrastructure Financing Authority to provide additional financing for the construction and improvement of clean water and drinking water facilities and systems that protect the state’s natural resources and public health.

To learn more about the 38 projects that are invited to apply, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia/wifia-selected-projects.  

Background

Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program administered by EPA. WIFIA’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term and low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. EPA’s WIFIA program plays an important part in President Trump’s infrastructure plan, which calls for expanding project eligibility. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.

For more information about the WIFIA program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page.

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EPA Finalizes Cleanup Plan for Pesticides Storage Facility in Manati, Puerto Rico

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C Contact: Brenda Reyes, [email protected], 787-977-5869

MANATI, Puerto Rico (October 22, 2019) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a cleanup plan to address contaminated groundwater in Manati, Puerto Rico at the Pesticide Warehouse III Superfund Site. Historical pesticide operations at the site contaminated the soil and groundwater with pesticides. Under the interim Record of Decision, EPA will require, among other steps, the continued maintenance and monitoring of existing treatment systems that currently provide water to several industries near the site to ensure that the concentrations of contamination do not exceed protective levels.

“EPA previously issued a plan to address contaminated soil at this site. Now we are moving ahead with a Record of Decision to address the groundwater contamination to protect people’s health,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “This plan reflects EPA’s commitment to the Manati community as we work with our partners to ensure that our comprehensive cleanup of this site is implemented and is effective.”

Because of the nature and complexity of the contamination at the site, EPA divided the cleanup into two phases. The decision announced today is the second of the two phases of the cleanup.

The first phase focused on addressing the most heavily contaminated soil by digging it up and treating it using a technology that heats the material so that contaminants can be pulled out and captured before being disposed of in a landfill. The soil that is removed will be replaced with clean soil. The first phase is being designed.

The second phase deals with contamination of groundwater throughout the site and is the subject of the present Record of Decision. The decision requires the periodic collection and analysis of groundwater samples to verify that the level and extent of contaminants are declining, along with continued monitoring and maintenance, as necessary, of existing well treatment systems. This action is an interim remedy until the soil cleanup is implemented, and its effectiveness can be determined. Data will also be collected to assess if natural processes are effectively reducing the levels of contaminants before issuing a final cleanup plan for the groundwater. The Record of Decision also requires restrictions on the use of groundwater in the area. EPA will conduct a review of the cleanup every 5 years to ensure its effectiveness. Under the Record of Decision, the estimated cost of the cleanup is $3 million.

The Pesticide Warehouse III site is a 2-acre former pesticides facility owned and operated by the Puerto Rico Land Authority from 1954 to 1996 to handle pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Residents of Manati are currently connected to safe sources of drinking water from other municipal water supplies in the region.

EPA held a public meeting in August 2019 to explain its cleanup proposal, discuss the other cleanup options that were considered, and to solicit public comments. To read the EPA’s selected cleanup plan, outlined in the Record of Decision, and to view EPA’s responses to public comments in the Responsiveness Summary, please visit: The interim Record of Decision is available at www.epa.gov/superfund/pesticide-warehouse-3

For information about Superfund and the NPL: https://www.epa.gov/superfund

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://facebook.com/eparegion2.

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Contact: Lisa McClain-Vanderpool, 303-312-6077, [email protected]

Fargo, N.D. invited to apply for EPA water infrastructure financing for project that will help manage stormwater flooding

EPA Invites 38 New Projects to apply for loans that will provide water infrastructure upgrades for 24 million Americans and create up to 190,000 jobs

Fargo, N.D. (October 22, 2019) – At an event held today in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced that 38 new projects in 18 states are being invited to apply for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans. Together, the selected borrowers will apply for WIFIA loans totaling approximately $6 billion to help finance over $12 billion in water infrastructure investments and create up to 190,000 jobs.

“Through WIFIA, EPA is playing an integral role in President Trump’s efforts to improve and upgrade our nation’s water infrastructure and ensure all Americans have access to clean and safe water,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “This announcement highlights billions of dollars in needed water infrastructure investments to upgrade aging infrastructure, reduce exposure to lead and emerging contaminants and improve the lives of millions of Americans across the country – all while creating almost 200,000 jobs.”

“Managing stormwater, particularly when flooding occurs, is a significant challenge faced by municipalities such as Fargo,” said Gregory Sopkin, EPA Regional Administrator. “This project invests in critical water infrastructure that addresses that challenge for the long term.”

The Metro Flood Diversion Authority project will manage stormwater that threatens the Fargo-Moorhead metro area and causes high water in the Red River, by temporarily storing it on vacant land. If the loan application is approved, it is expected to be $561 million loan with a total project cost of $1.13 billion.

EPA’s WIFIA loans will allow communities across the country to implement projects to address national water priorities – including providing for clean and safe drinking water by reducing exposure to lead and emerging contaminants, addressing aging water infrastructure and developing water recycling and reuse projects. Specifically, eight of the selected projects are water reuse or recycling projects, 11 projects will reduce lead or emerging drinking water contaminants, and 33 will address aging infrastructure. EPA received 51 letters of interest from both public and private entities in response to the 2019 WIFIA Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

Six prospective borrowers that submitted letters of interest in response to a previous WIFIA Notice of Funding Availability resubmitted them for 2019 and have been invited to proceed in the 2019 funding round. Eight borrowers who have already received a WIFIA loan or are in the process of closing a loan have been invited to apply for additional financing this round. WIFIA is also expanding its geographic scope by inviting entities from seven states that had not previously received WIFIA funding: Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, North Dakota, Utah, and Virginia. To learn more about the 38 projects that are invited to apply, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia/wifia-selected-projects.  

To learn more about the 38 projects that are invited to apply, visit https://www.epa.gov/wifia/wifia-selected-projects.  

Background

Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program administered by EPA. WIFIA’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term and low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. EPA’s WIFIA program plays an important part in President Trump’s infrastructure plan, which calls for expanding project eligibility. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.

For more information about the WIFIA program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia.

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EPA Invites Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans to Apply for $112M Water Infrastructure Loan to Improve Water Quality Reduce Pollution to Lake Pontchartrain

Media contacts: Jennah Durant or Joe Hubbard, [email protected] or 214 665-2200

DALLAS – (Oct. 22, 2019) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Sewerage and Water Board (SWRB) of New Orleans is among those invited to apply for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans. Together, 38 projects in 18 states will apply for WIFIA loans totaling approximately $6 billion to help finance over $12 billion in water infrastructure investments and create almost 200,000 jobs.

“Through WIFIA, EPA is playing an integral role in President Trump’s efforts to improve and upgrade our nation’s water infrastructure and ensure all Americans have access to clean and safe water,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “This announcement highlights over $12 billion in needed water infrastructure investments to upgrade aging infrastructure, reduce exposure to lead and emerging contaminants and improve the lives of millions of Americans across the country – all while creating up to 190,000 jobs.”

“As one of our nation’s oldest cities, New Orleans understands that maintaining and improving infrastructure helps to prevent problems,” said Regional Administrator Ken McQueen. “This loan will help the city deliver clean water to residents and keep pollution out of Lake Pontchartrain.”

“This is a major milestone for our Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans team, our customers and our city,” Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Executive Director Ghassan Korban said. “I want to thank EPA for their confidence in our ability to make good on our promises to New Orleans residents. This loan will help ensure the success of the rehabilitation of our sewer system and is a welcomed sign that our utility is heading in the right direction.”

SWRB is invited to apply for $112 million to fund the Sewer System Evaluation and Rehabilitation program. This program aims to minimize sanitary system overflows, reducing polluted discharges into Lake Pontchartrain and improving public health. Repair to the sewer system will also help the city of New Orleans comply with an existing consent decree regarding sanitary sewer overflow violations.

EPA’s WIFIA loans will allow communities across the country to implement projects to address national water priorities – including providing for clean and safe drinking water by reducing exposure to lead and emerging contaminants, addressing aging water infrastructure and developing water recycling and reuse projects. Specifically, eight of the selected projects are water reuse or recycling projects, 11 projects will reduce lead or emerging drinking water contaminants, and 33 will address aging infrastructure. EPA received 51 letters of interest from both public and private entities in response to the 2019 WIFIA Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

Six prospective borrowers that submitted letters of interest in response to a WIFIA Notice of Funding Availability resubmitted them for 2019 and are now invited to proceed in the 2019 funding round. Eight borrowers who have already received a WIFIA loan or are in the process of closing a loan will apply for additional financing again this round. WIFIA is also expanding its geographic scope by inviting entities from seven additional states to submit applications: Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, North Dakota, Utah, and Virginia. To learn more about the 38 projects that are invited to apply, visit https://www.epa.gov/wifia/wifia-selected-projects.  

Background

Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program administered by EPA. WIFIA’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term and low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. EPA’s WIFIA program plays an important part in President Trump’s infrastructure plan, which calls for expanding project eligibility. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.

For more information about the WIFIA program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia.

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6

About EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central  

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