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EPA Announces More Than $63 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Water Infrastructure Projects in Alabama to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health

Release Date: 08/20/2009
Contact Information: Laura Niles, (404) 562-8353, [email protected]

(Atlanta, Ga. – August 20, 2009) In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water and wastewater infrastructure and protect human health and the environment for the people in the State of Alabama, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $63,321,600 to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state.

“This award marks a significant investment of EPA funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in Alabama,” said Stan Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator in Atlanta. “With this investment, we are embarking on an unprecedented effort to create green jobs and protect human health and the environment.”

The Recovery Act funds will go to the state's Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds programs.

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program will receive $43,821,600. It provides low-interest loans for water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, non-point source pollution control, and watershed and estuary management. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program will receive $19,500,000. It provides low-interest loans for drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements. The program also emphasizes providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water.

An unprecedented $6 billion dollars will be awarded to fund water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the country under the Recovery Act in the form of low-interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants. At least 20% of the funds provided under the Recovery Act are to be used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative projects.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, 2009, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.

Information on EPA’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 visit https://www.epa.gov/recovery