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EPA AWARDS $11.6 MILLION IN CLEAN WATER FUNDS TO HAWAII

Release Date: 9/23/1999
Contact Information: Lois Grunwald, U.S. EPA, 415-744-1588

     Revolving loan funds will be used for wastewater treatment, to control polluted runoff

     SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has awarded $11.6 million under its State Revolving Loan Fund program to the Hawaii Department of Health for water quality projects.

     The state of Hawaii will use the EPA funds under its own loan program to award loans to Hawaii counties to construct and upgrade wastewater treatment facilities. In the near future, Hawaii plans to fund projects to control polluted runoff from roadways, agricultural areas, and other sources. Polluted runoff is the largest contributor to water pollution problems nationwide.

      "These funds will be invested in projects to reduce water pollution in Hawaii, both through conventional means and through innovative approaches to reducing polluted runoff," said Felicia Marcus, EPA's western regional director. "The result is cleaner streams and ocean water."

     To help address growing needs for funds to control water pollution, Congress created the State Revolving Loan Fund program as part of the 1987 Clean Water Act amendments. Under the program, the EPA provides grants to the states to capitalize their individual revolving fund programs. The state then makes low-interest loans that are repaid in 20 years. As the loans are repaid, the money is reused for future water quality projects.

     "These grants will go a long way toward improving water quality throughout the islands and eliminating potential threats to public health," says Hawai i Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson.

     Since 1988, $28.75 billion has been provided to states under the federal State Revolving Loan Fund program for the construction of publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants and polluted  runoff control projects. Hawaii now has an over $200 million loan fund program.  

     For more information on the EPA's Revolving Loan Fund program on the Internet, go to:
www.epa.gov/owm/finan.htm . For information on Hawaii's loan program, go to: www.hawaii.gov/health .