BEACON HILL BEAT
MARCH 2007
GOVERNOR PATRICK ANNOUNCES $26.7 BILLION STATE BUDGET - UNDERFUNDING THE COMMONWEALTH SEWER RATE RELIEF FUND AT $15 MILLION
On the last day of February, Governor Deval Patrick released his first state budget totaling $26.7 Billion for FY 2008, a 4% increase over the previous year. The budget seeks to address an estimated $1 Billion budget deficit by closing tax loopholes for large businesses and utilizing reserves. The Administration found $976 Million in inefficiencies and savings, including $295 Million in unintended corporate tax benefits and $179 million in Medicaid funding. Additionally, the Governor condensed the budget by decreasing the number of line items, including combining the Water Pollution Abatement Trust (WPAT) Contract Assistance line items for the Clean Water and Drinking Water programs, funding it at $64 Million. These line items address payment for existing State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) bonds which the WPAT administers.
Unlike the previous Administration, which failed to include the program in their budget proposals, Patrick included $15 Million for the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund, which helps reduce water bills for ratepayers throughout Massachusetts, not just the MWRA district. The Rate Relief program is a perfect example of local aid and how the state budget can have a direct and significant influence in helping citizens throughout the state address annual rate increases. Only a few years ago this vital program was funded at over $60 million, but it has been drastically reduced because of budget cuts. In FY 2007, with the support of the House and Senate, the program was funded at $25 Million. UCANE is working with environmental and municipal groups to have the House and Senate match a minimum of last year’s allocation.
UCANE MEETS WITH CONGRESSMAN CAPUANO AS HOUSE PASSES LEGISLATION ON INCREASED FUNDING FOR SRF (HR 720) AND CSO (HR 569)
UCANE members met with Congressman Michael Capuano (D-MA) at his Cambridge district office to discuss two important pieces of federal legislation that address funding for water infrastructure projects: the Water Quality Financing Act of 2007 (HR 720), which seeks $14 Billion over four-years for the Clean Water SRF Program, and the Water Quality Investment Act of 2007 (HR 569) which seeks increased funding for Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO). On March 9th, the full House voted 303 to 108, to pass HR 720. UCANE and the Clean Water Construction Coalition (CWCC) have worked closely with the sponsor of this legislation, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee James Oberstar (D-MN), along with MA Congressmen Michael Capuano and Marty Meehan, to secure approval by the full House.
Congress also passed HR 569, on a 367-58 vote. This bill, co-sponsored by Congressman Capuano (D-MA), provides increased funding for Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) projects. Both bills will now be referred to the Senate. UCANE and CWCC will continue to follow these two bills, and CWCC lobbyists have contacted Senate staffers to create a Senate companion bill for increased SRF funding.
The new funding formula that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is implementing to dispense drinking water grants to states was also discussed with the Congressman. Due to statistics which identify that Massachusetts’ population is decreasing, our funding for drinking water is expected to be cut. It is estimated that the state will lose roughly a third of the funding, the third largest decrease in percentage share behind New York and California. Under the existing formula, Massachusetts was slated to receive $29.4 Million from the EPA in Drinking Water SRF grants, but will receive $22 Million because of the formula change.
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DEP AWARDS GRANTS TO PREVENT LOSS OF DRINKING WATER & NON-POINT SOURCE MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT
DEP AWARDS $446,000 IN GRANTS TO PREVENT LOSS OF DRINKING WATER
The DEP awarded $446,000 to communities and the Boston Water & Sewer Commission to reduce drinking water losses as part of this year's Water Loss Prevention Competitive Grant Program. The projects will help to protect Massachusetts’ water resources by supporting water conservation education and outreach programs, water audits, and leak detection surveys of drinking water systems. Recipients include public water suppliers and municipalities. Funding for these projects will be available in the spring. Qualified proposals were selected on a competitive basis with priority given to those public water systems with withdrawal points located within medium, or high stressed basins, a significant environmental concern that would benefit from a reduction in demand, or having an identified issue where the public water system cannot meet demand. The Water Resources Commission has identified a "stressed basin" as one having the volume of stream-flow that is significantly reduced. A 25% match is required for all projects.
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Water Loss Prevention Grants Program List of Projects
Town of Millis in the Charles River Watershed
Grant Funding: $30,000 Project Total: $37,500
Town of Groton in the Merrimack and Nashua Rivers Watershed
Grant Funding: $35,000 Project Total: $45,446
Boston Water and Sewer Commission in the Chicopee River Watershed
Grant Funding: $40,000 Project Total: $400,000
Dedham-Westwood Water District in the Charles and Neponset Rivers Watershed
Grant Funding: $21,500 Project Total: $46,500
Town of Plymouth in the Buzzards Bay and South Coastal Watershed
Grant Funding: $39,000 Project Total: $49,500
Town of Bridgewater in the Taunton River Watershed
Grant Funding: $36,500 Project Total: $46,500
Town of Medfield in the Charles and Neponset Rivers Watershed
Grant Funding: $40,000 Project Total: $69,000
Town of Fairhaven in the Buzzards Bay Watershed
Grant Funding: $26,500 Project Total: $34,500
Town of Marion in the Buzzards Bay Watershed
Grant Funding: $35,000 Project Total: $45,000
Town of Ayer in the Merrimack and Nashua Rivers Watershed
Grant Funding: $31,000 Project Total: $40,000
Town of Lancaster in the Nashua River Watershed
Grant Funding: $23,000 Project Total: $28,750
Town of Plainville in the Taunton, Ten-Mile Rivers Watershed
Grant Funding: $25,000 Project Total: $35,100
Town of Holliston in the Charles River Watershed
Grant Funding: $31,000 Project Total: $38,750
Town of Paxton in the Blackstone and Nashua Rivers Watershed
Grant Funding: $5,200 Project Total: $6,500
Town of Hatfield in the Connecticut River Watershed
Grant Funding: $27,300 Project Total: $34,300
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DEP AWARDS $147,655 IN GRANTS TO CONDUCT NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION ASSESSMENTS
The DEP also awarded Clean Water Act grants totaling $147,655 to conduct watershed non-point source pollution assessment and planning projects as part of this year's Water Quality Management Planning Competitive Grant Program. These projects will help to protect MA’s water resources by supporting the Massachusetts Estuaries Project and activities identified in Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) Watershed Action Plans. Qualified proposals were selected on a competitive basis and grant recipients include regional planning commissions and municipalities. Funding for the projects will be available this spring. The Massachusetts Estuaries Project is a six year, $12.5 Million effort to develop nitrogen-loading limits for estuaries and modeling tools to help communities develop plans to restore habitat and water quality commensurate with the state's surface water quality standards. The EOEA Watershed Action Plans are developed in partnership with state, federal and local governments to identify environmental issues, prevent pollution, and protect or restore environmental quality, while targeting limited resources to where the most environmental benefit can be achieved with available funding.
Water Quality Management Planning Grants Program List of Projects
Martha's Vineyard Commission
Grant Funding: $20,119 to collect water quality data in Katama Bay, and James, Oyster and Tisbury Great Pond in support of the Massachusetts Estuaries Project.
Town of Sandwich
Grant Funding: $21,100 to collect water quality data in Old Harbor and Scorton Creek in support of the Massachusetts Estuaries Project.
Town of Provincetown
Grant Funding: $47,730 to collect water quality data in Provincetown Harbor, Pilgrim Lake, Hatches Harbor and Pamet River in support of the Massachusetts Estuaries Project.
Town of Leominster
Grant Funding: $33,300 to assess non-point source pollution in Barrett Pond to help develop solutions to improve water quality and restore recreational uses.
City of Boston
Grant Funding: $25,406 to assess potential storm water management and low-impact development technologies for non-point source control.
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