< Archived News:

UCANE E-News

April 20, 2009
Submitted by Michael Galli
Legislative Liaison

Federal Stimulus Funding: Massachusetts

Since the passage of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, totaling $787B, state and local officials have been anxious to find out the exact amount of Stimulus Funds that will be distributed to the Commonwealth and how it will be broken down. According to www.mass.gov/recovery, Massachusetts’ share will be approximately $8.7B of which $1B- $2B is expected for infrastructure projects. That sum is expected to include $134M for Clean Water projects and $52M for Drinking Water projects through the State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF).

Massachusetts stands to receive funding in many sectors including:

Jeffrey Simon, the State’s Director of Infrastructure Investment, said at a March 25, 2009 Mass. Municipal Association (MMA) Dinner Meeting in Taunton, MA, that more detailed federal guidelines are expected within thirty to forty five days indicating how much money, channeled through these categories, can be deployed. He reminded local officials that the federal funding stream will cease at the end of June 2011. If a project is not completed by the time the federal funding is cut off, the municipality may not be in a position to complete it on its own.

The information and guidance pages on www.mass.gov/recovery are designed to help Massachusetts companies, residents and municipalities make the most of the unique window of opportunity made possible by funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. These investments are a key component of Governor Patrick's Massachusetts Recovery Plan, which combines state, federal, and where possible, private efforts to provide immediate relief, and position the Commonwealth for recovery.

NOTE: Legislative activity continues on the Federal level as the Water Quality Investment Act
of 2009 has been approved by the House and is headed to the Senate. The Bill includes
$13.8B over five years for the Clean Water SRF, which would allocate $467M to
Massachusetts…an additional $70M when compared to FY 2009. UCANE will continue to
update members as information becomes available.

Δ back to top

Patrick Administration: Four New Transportation Projects Advertised

The Patrick Administration announced their four latest "Shovel-Ready" projects advertised for bid using Federal Stimulus funds. The projects, with a total value of $6.4M include:

Massachusetts has been authorized to spend a total of $437.9M on highway projects under the Stimulus Bill. At least $153.2M will be committed to "Shovel-Ready" projects that will be advertised by June 27, 2009. "Advertised Projects – Bid Opening Schedule" can be viewed under the "Business Resources" section at www.mhd.state.ma.us

Δ back to top

Census To Determine Share Of Mass. Federal Aid

Massachusetts residents will find U.S. Census Bureau officials canvassing neighborhoods and knocking on doors for the next three months in an effort to collect data for the 2010 U.S. Census. According to Secretary of State William F. Galvin, turning officials away or ignoring their instructions could result in your community losing thousands of dollars in Federal Aid. Mr. Galvin estimated that every person counted in the census represents $2,200 to the State over 10 years. Mr. Galvin visited Mechanics Hall in Worcester MA and commented "If people don’t answer the door when the census workers knock, or if they decide to throw away the forms, the State’s going to end up short. Not only will we lose representation, we’ll lose money. The assistance we get from the federal government is extremely important", Mr. Galvin said. "Much of that assistance is on a per-capita base. This isn’t simply a bureaucratic exercise."

Officials will be collecting data about where people are living as of April 1, 2009. The census employees will go door-to-door, identifying addresses that will be mailed to the U.S. Census Bureau next February, 2010.

Δ back to top

Stormwater Collection Costs To Increase

The Federal five-year Permit, expected to take effect by late spring, is needed by Cities and Towns to collect stormwater and discharge runoff into brooks, rivers and other bodies of water. According to several town engineers interviewed in an on-line news article, the stricter schedules for cleaning catch basins, sweeping roads and monitoring water discharge, will take more money and time to comply with the new requirements. Thelma Murphy, a regional EPA Administrator, noted the main complaint she has received from municipalities has been about the cost associated with preparing more complete maps of discharge systems.

The previous permit required communities to map only discharge points and where runoff goes. The new map would need to detail the catch basins and pipes that carry the runoff to the discharge point. The final permit, known as the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit, or the MS4, has yet to be released. Revisions to the Ground Water Discharge Permit Program can be found at www.mass.gov/dep/service/regulations/314cmr05.pdf.

Δ back to top

"Jackie’s Law" DPS Files Emergency Amendments

Last week, the Department of Public Safety and the Division of Occupational Safety filed emergency amendments to the Excavation and Trench Safety Regulations (520 CMR 14.00). It was noted by DPS and DOS that these amendments are effective immediately. A summary of the amendments can be viewed at www.mass.gov/dps. A public hearing is scheduled for May 26, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. in the Ashburton Café Conference room located at One Ashburton place, Boston, MA 02108. A copy of the all amendments made to the regulations can be found at http://www.mass.gov/Eeops/docs/dps/inf/520_cmr_14_trench.doc.

back to top

- Archived News -

Tel: (617) 471-9955 • Fax: (617) 471-8939 • 300 Congress Street, Suite 101 • Quincy, MA 02169