House Republican Press Release

March 26, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

REP. CHAPIN: COMMITTEE APPROVES INCREASE FOR CLEAN WATER FUND

Initiative Would Help Ensure Needed Funding For Projects Such As The Expansion Of New Milford’s Sewage Treatment Facility

On Friday, March 16, the Legislature’s Environment Committee approved legislation that would increase funding for the state’s Clean Water Fund (CWF). Similar legislation was introduced by State Rep. Clark Chapin, R-New Milford, who serves as Ranking Member (House Republican Leader) of the committee. The clean water fund provides funding for municipal sewage treatment plant projects. House Bill 5010 now moves to the Appropriations Committee for consideration.

The legislation would appropriate $100 million for the fund for each of the next two fiscal years. Rep. Chapin noted that while state budgets have annually allocated $20 million in bonding for the expansion of sewer treatment plants in recent years, that amount has fallen at least $50 million short of what is needed for such projects throughout the state.  He added that New Milford’s own sewer expansion project, currently in the design stage, will require these funds in the future.

“People in New Milford understand that because it aids economic development, sewer expansion can help the lower taxes of homeowners,” said Rep. Chapin. “With our local treatment plant facing the need for expansion, increasing the clean water fund will help ensure that the much-needed state funding is available.”

CWF was established in 1986 to provide financial assistance to municipalities for planning, design and construction of wastewater collection and treatment projects. This program was developed to replace state and federal grant programs that had existed since the 1950s. It provides a combination of grants and loans to municipalities which undertake water pollution control projects at the direction of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Municipalities receive a grant of 20% of the total project costs and a low-interest loan for the remainder of the project costs, excluding projects which correct combined sewer overflows (CSO).