NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

March 11, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 86

For more information contact Terry Deputy, Financial Assistance Branch, Division of Water Resources, 302-739-9941; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

                                     Hearing Set for March 18 on 2010 Project Priority List and 
           2009 Supplemental Federal Stimulus Funding for Water Pollution Control Projects             
                                                    
The Delaware Clean Water Advisory Council will hold a public hearing 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 18 on the Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund 2010 Project Priority List and the 2009  Intended Use Plan – Supplemental.  Both documents will be submitted as part of Delaware’s Federal Assistance Capitalization Grant Application that is being funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (federal stimulus program to states). The hearing will be held at Delaware Technical and Community College, Terry Campus, Room 400A, in Dover.

Delaware expects to receive $19.2 million in federal stimulus funds in 2009 – primarily to be used for water pollution control project loans for municipal wastewater systems and related projects through the Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund.  Unique to the federal stimulus project assistance, at least 50 percent of the funds must be provided in the form of principal loan forgiveness, negative interest rates, and/or grants; and at least 20 percent must be used for a Green Project Reserve (projects related to green infrastructure, energy efficiency and/or innovative uses).

The 2010 Project Priority List and 2009 Intended Use Plan – Supplemental will be available at the public hearing. Written comments must be submitted by 4:30 p.m., April 20 to Terry.Deputy@state.de.us or by mail to DNREC, Financial Assistance Branch, 5 East Reed Street, Suite 200, Dover, DE 19901, Attn. Terry Deputy.

Delaware’s Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund provides financing for construction and improvements of municipal wastewater systems and related projects. Three public workshops were held in Dec. 2008 to inform municipal governments, engineers and other interested parties about the program and the Notice-of-Intent wastewater project solicitation for the 2010 Project Priority List process.

The Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund is a multi-million dollar program created by the Delaware General Assembly in 1990. Since its inception, 15 federal capitalization grants and state matching funds have been awarded. The program has provided 41 loans for municipal wastewater projects that totaled $186 million and 1,143 loans for non-point source pollution control projects that totaled $11 million.

For more information, call 302-739-9941.