In conjunction with the fiftieth anniversary of the historic federal Clean Water Act, Governor Kathy Hochul as we speak introduced the beginning of building on a $55 million wastewater enchancment challenge on the Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Facility in the City of Buffalo. New York State is investing $55 million to fund the challenge, which is a component of the Buffalo Sewer Authority’s long-term plan to modernize the Bird Island facility and considerably scale back the quantity of air pollution that enters the Niagara River. The challenge will assist guarantee cleaner, more healthy water for all residents and guests to Buffalo and the better Western New York space.
“Together in strong partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New York State is putting an end to decades of disinvestment in critical water infrastructure that has been left to fall into disrepair,” Governor Hochul stated. “This $55 million project will be crucial to safeguarding our public and environmental health, and is the latest investment in our nation-leading efforts to modernize New York’s water infrastructure. My administration is committed to maximizing New York State’s unprecedented clean water investments and the historic funding in the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help protect our precious water resources, and provide a healthy environment for our families, businesses and communities to thrive.”
The challenge broke floor at a ceremony in Buffalo as we speak in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The occasion demonstrated New York’s nation-leading dedication to wash water infrastructure investments and to the basic goal of the Clean Water Act, adopted in October 1972, “to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.”
The begin of building on this challenge is a key milestone in the Buffalo Sewer Authority’s course to resolve longstanding violations of the Clean Water Act beneath an administrative order from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that was developed in coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Facility was initially constructed in the Thirties and upgraded in the Nineteen Seventies. The challenge introduced as we speak is a component of the Buffalo Sewer Authority’s long-term plan to convey getting older infrastructure into compliance with present requirements. This challenge will improve the power’s capability to deal with intense rain occasions that may overwhelm Buffalo’s mixed sewer/stormwater system. These enhancements will scale back untreated sewage effluent discharges to the Niagara River. Future initiatives in the plan embrace extra strong sewage therapy processes and assortment system enhancements.
New York State has dedicated $55 million in grants and low-cost financing to fund this challenge, the Environmental Facilities Corporation supplied a $9 million grant from the Water Infrastructure Improvement grant program and a $9 million grant from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Department of Environmental Conservation supplied $10 million in state funding from the Water Quality Improvement Project grant program. The Environmental Facilities Corporation is funding the remaining price of the challenge with low-cost financing by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
Under Governor Hochul’s management, the Environmental Facilities Corporation and the Department of Environmental Conservation have awarded greater than $900 million in state-funded grants to enhance municipal clear water infrastructure in this previous 12 months alone. The Environmental Facilities Corporation operates the biggest Clean Water State Revolving Fund in the nation, having supplied over $33.4 billion in monetary help to New York municipalities for clear water initiatives since 1990.
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman stated, “The significant resources included in today’s announcement underscore Governor Hochul’s commitment to help ensure all of New York’s communities have the financial assistance necessary to undertake their critical sewer and drinking water projects. The Environmental Facilities Corporation anticipates more success stories as we couple the State’s nation-leading water quality investment with the historic funding in the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Chair of the Environmental Facilities Corporation Basil Seggos stated, “The Department of Environmental Conservation applauds the City of Buffalo for moving this critically important project forward and working closely with the State to protect the region’s water quality. With State resources in the form of significant grants and low-cost loans, Governor Hochul is once again demonstrating New York’s ongoing support for municipal clean water infrastructure upgrades that will make noteworthy progress in improving the environment, habitat, and quality of life for Western New Yorkers, while creating good paying ‘green’ construction jobs.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer stated, “I championed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – with places like Buffalo in mind – to finally make the critical upgrades to our aging wastewater infrastructure, ensure Western NY families are provided safe drinking water, and keep natural gems like the Niagara River and the Great Lakes free of sewer overflows. I am proud to deliver the federal funding to modernize Buffalo’s wastewater infrastructure, and I applaud Governor Hochul for putting these federal dollars to good use keeping New Yorkers safe, healthy, and getting good-paying jobs flowing.”
Representative Brian Higgins stated, “In 1968, after years of industrial pollution the Buffalo River caught fire, also sparking the very first Earth Day where the public demanded change to provide protections for clean air, land, and water. Great progress has been made since the Clean Water Act was signed into law 50 years ago. This project builds on the progress we’ve made to clean up local waterways and provide the residents of Buffalo and Western New York with a healthier environment.”
State Senator Sean Ryan stated, “The upgrades to the Bird Island Wastewater Treatment Facility represent a significant investment into the health of our local environment and the safety of Western New Yorkers. By reducing sewer overflow pollution, this project will make the Niagara River safer for recreational activities and protect the fish and wildlife that inhabit the river.”
State Senator Tim Kennedy stated, “This historic project will improve our environment and ensure the long-term stability of Buffalo’s wastewater treatment infrastructure. This partnership between all levels of government is a shining example of what we can accomplish when we work together and invest in our infrastructure and our environment. Congratulations to everyone whose hard work has led to this day.”
Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown stated, “Ensuring our city’s infrastructure is keeping pace with development and is important to the success of our community’s continued growth – the $55 million Secondary Treatment System Rehabilitation Project at the Buffalo Sewer Authority’s Bird Island Treatment Facility is a major piece of that. I thank Governor Hochul and our other local, state, and federal leaders who were instrumental in getting this project off the ground. Upgrading this facility is another example of my Administration’s longstanding commitment to rebuild for an even stronger, healthier, and more sustainable Buffalo.”
New York’s Commitment to Water Quality
New York continues to extend investments in clear water infrastructure initiatives. Governor Hochul’s 2022-23 Enacted Budget authorizes a further $1.2 billion, for a complete of $4.2 billion, for the proposed Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. This historic initiative, to be taken up by voters in November, consists of funding to replace getting older water infrastructure and defend water high quality; scale back air air pollution and decrease climate-altering emissions; restore habitats; strengthen communities’ capability to resist extreme storms and flooding; protect out of doors areas and native farms; and guarantee fairness by investing at the least 35 %, with a aim of 40 %, of sources in deprived communities.
In addition, the Governor’s enacted funds included one other $500 million in clear water infrastructure funding, bringing the State’s complete clear water funding to $4.5 billion since 2017. It additionally features a file $400 million Environmental Protection Fund to help local weather change mitigation and adaptation efforts, enhance agricultural sources to advertise sustainable agriculture, defend our water sources, advance conservation efforts and supply leisure alternatives for New Yorkers.
Local Governments Encouraged to Participate in Clean Watersheds Needs Survey
The Environmental Facilities Corporation is urging municipalities to take part in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, which the Environmental Facilities Corporation kicked off in New York on March 1. Participation is essential as it could affect how a lot federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund {dollars} will probably be allotted to New York State to fund future clear water infrastructure initiatives. Municipalities are requested to doc their group’s wastewater infrastructure wants for submission to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Go to https://efc.ny.gov/needs to submit documentation and for sources to help with submissions.
