EPA Helps New Jersey’s Water More than Christie

For Immediate Release
October 17, 2012 Contact Jeff Tittel, 609-558-9100

EPA Helps New Jersey’s Water More than Christie

Statement By Jeff Tittel Today the Environmental Protection Agency announced they will be awarding New Jersey $78 million for water projects. This money will be used towards upgrading wasterwater treatment and drinking water systems and working to control runoff pollution. This shows EPA is more concerned about our water quality than the Christie Administration. Governor Christie would rather weaken our Water Quality Management Plan to appease developers and special interest than protect the water supply of the residents of New Jersey. The Governor has been pulling back on stormwater, flood hazards, and C1 rules. In addition has been weakening protections in Highland and Pinelands both critical water supply areas. The Governor also vetoed legislation preventing fracking waste from coming into our state putting our drinking water at risk even further. The Governor has vetoed legislation to protect Barnegat Bay including legislation on storm water and establishing TMDL for the Bay. The Administration has failed to put together a plan that will adequately protect the Bay. In most of our cities and towns 20% of our water leaks out of old pipes that have not been fixed. New Jersey is ranked one of the worst in the nation by the EPA in trying dealing with Combined Sewer Overflow from polluting our waterways and threatening public heath. Just this summer a brown tide was spotted off our coast, which was due in large due part to the failed policies of the Christie Administration including cleaning up storm water, pollution, sprawl, overdevelopment, and combined sewer overflow. New Jersey needs this funding from the EPA to undo all the damage that is being done by the Christie Administration. New Jersey has a backlog of $25 billion in needed repairs to fix water and sewer infrastructure and needs to develop a funding mechanism to meet this backlog. Even though NJ needs this funding from the EPA rewards the federal money rewards the Christie Administrations for its failures to adequately clean up and protect or water ways.EPA should with hold funding from New Jersey until the Governor stops his roll backs and weakening of NJ water regulations . *Statement by Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.*

EPA Provides New Jersey $78 Million for

Clean Water Projects

Contact: John Martin, (212) 637-3662, martin.johnj_at_epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. October 17, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $78 million to New Jersey to help finance improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment. The funds will primarily be used to upgrade sewage plants and drinking water systems throughout the island.

"The EPA is committed to improving water quality throughout New Jersey," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "This funding will help New Jersey communities upgrade their drinking water and sewage treatment systems, both of which are imperative for healthy communities."

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program received $57,755,000. The program provides low-interest loans for water quality protection projects to make improvements to wastewater treatment systems, control pollution from rain water runoff, and protect sensitive water bodies and estuaries.

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program received $20,174,000. The program provides low-interest loans to finance improvements to drinking water systems, with a particular focus on providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water.

Since 1989, the EPA has awarded $2 billion to New Jersey through these programs.

For more information on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, visit http:water.epa.gov/grants_funding/cwsrf/cwsrf_index.cfma>.

For information on the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program visit http:www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/a>.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http:twitter.com/eparegion2a> and Facebook athttp:www.facebook.com/eparegion2a>.

 --  Nicole Dallara, Outreach Coordinator New Jersey Sierra Club 145 W. Hanover Street Trenton, NJ 08618 609-656-7612