EPA Doling Out Nearly $300M for Northwest Water Quality Projects

March 13, 2009

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Three Northwest States, Alaska, and Tribal governments will receive more than $297 million from the Environmental Protection Agency for clean water projects to create jobs and protect the environment.

The funding is the first installment of EPA funding available to support states and tribes under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. These funds will supplement existing annual EPA grants to the states.

The individual amounts directed to Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and tribal governments will be delivered via existing programs: the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Tribal Clean Water & Drinking Water Set-Aside programs. Alaska will receive $43 million, Idaho will receive $39 million, Oregon will receive $73 million, and Washington will receive $110 million.

In addition, Alaska Tribal water infrastructure will receive $27 million. The EPA will provide $4.4 million for Tribal water infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest.

These funds may go toward issuance of loans for enhancing, upgrading and rebuilding public drinking water systems and public wastewater systems. Additionally, non-point source projects are eligible.

Though not specific to the Northwest, two areas of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also yield some green computing dollars: $4.5 billion for renovation and repairs to General Services Administration federal buildings and $6.3 billion to help state and local governments make energy efficient and carbon reduction investments.

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