USDA INVESTS $130 MILLION IN CLEAN WATER IMPROVEMENTS TO MARK EARTH DAY Release No. 0183.98 Roger Salazar (202) 720-4623 roger.salazar@usda.gov Dan Campbell (202) 720-6483 dcampbell@rurdev.usda.gov USDA INVESTS $130 MILLION IN CLEAN WATER IMPROVEMENTS TO MARK EARTH DAY WASHINGTON, April 22, 1998--U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today observed Earth Day by announcing investments of nearly $130 million in wastewater and safe drinking water projects in 59 rural communities in 37 states. Speaking to reporters on Earth Day, Glickman said, "These projects will improve the health conditions, living environment and economic opportunities of more than 84,000 people in economically distressed areas of rural America. Inadequate wastewater disposal is still a major source of water pollution in rural areas. Corroded pipes, outdated waste treatment facilities and sub-standard septic systems all take a heavy toll on the quality of our nation's drinking water, aquatic habitat and recreational waters." "The clean water projects we are announcing today and the hundreds we fund every year are essential to the continued environmental improvement and economic growth of our small rural communities in every region of the nation," Glickman said. "Most of our partners in these ventures are economically distressed local governments, which need federal investments as they work hard to help themselves prosper." The majority of the projects involve wastewater system improvements. However, five projects will deliver safe drinking water to rural residents who struggle with poor water quality, availability or dependability. These local efforts will extend the Clinton Administration's Water 2000 initiative, which is helping to deliver safe drinking water to rural people in greatest need. The USDA funding includes $75.3 million in loans and $54.3 million in grants. The USDA funds are complemented by an additional $52 million from other public and private sources, raising total funding for the projects to more than $181 million. Since 1993 USDA has assisted more than 5,400 communities with $6.5 billion in loans and grants for wastewater and safe drinking water system improvements. For more information on USDA and Rural Development Programs, check out our web site at: www.rurdev.usda.gov Editor's Note: To receive Secretary Glickman's comments on USDA's Radio Newsline, dial after 5 p.m. today, (202) 488-8358. For television stations, USDA's satellite feed is available Thursday, April 23, from 4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET at this satellite address: Galaxy 9 (C-Band), Transponder 1-Vertical, Downlink frequency 3720 MHZ, Audio 6.2/6.8. Trouble number: 703-642-8585. Following is a list of the projects being funded: EARTH DAY PROJECTS -- 1998 Name of USDA FUNDS OTHER PROJECT State Project *Type LOAN GRANT FUNDS TOTALS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AK Nome S $ $2,109,150 $2,019,000 $4,128,150 AR Gillett S 297,700 227,300 - 525,000 DE Sussex County S 6,910,700 - 1,727,675 8,638,375 FL Immokalee S 4,725,200 1,520,000 - 6,245,200 GA Walthourville S 1,751,500 2,647,000 545,800 4,944,300 ID Priest River S 1,140,400 780,000 500,000 2,420,400 Fernwood W/S Dist W 550,000 188,000 500,000 1,238,000 IA Gravity S 176,200 504,000 218,000 898,200 Halbur S 388,000 179,500 215,000 782,500 Craig S 95,000 273,000 123,000 491,000 Appanoose Co. S 110,000 140,000 400,000 650,000 IL Blandinsville S 1,500,000 1,400,000 1,131,000 4,031,000 EJ Water #12 S 1,878,740 500,000 105,600 2,484,340 Hidalgo S 63,000 189,000 400,000 652,000 IN Tri Lakes S 4,804,000 2,489,000 450,000 7,743,000 KY Mountain Water S 426,000 600,000 5,503,000 6,529,000 Powell S 300,000 500,000 750,000 1,550,000 KS Oswego S 1,100,000 900,000 - 2,000,000 Fort Scott S 2,290,000 - 304,260 2,594,260 LA Logansport (LA&TX) W 2,500,000 - - 2,500,000 Town of Glenmora S 1,074,000 1,162,000 - 2,236,000 Town of Oberlin S 1,687,000 2,215,800 - 3,902,800 ME Mars Hill Utility S 200,000 200,000 1,043,000 1,443,000 Calais W 1,993,000 - - 1,993,000 New Sharon S 107,400 88,700 - 196,100 MI Minden City S 560,000 1,400,000 - 1,960,000 Wakefield S 4,525,000 3,674,900 - 8,199,900 MN Sargeant S - 480,000 720,000 1,200,000 Frost S 681,000 1,424,000 530,000 2,635,000 MO Oak Grove S 500,000 149,000 606,000 1,255,000 Parnell S 140,000 283,000 69,000 492,000 MS Rome Water S 195,800 509,300 450,000 1,155,100 NC Holly Ridge S 1,080,000 1,335,000 - 2,415,000 NE Big Springs S 543,000 182,000 250,000 975,000 NH Ashland W/S 971,100 927,200 951,000 2,849,300 NJ Union Beach S 2,014,910 500,000 - 2,514,910 NM Santa Rosa S 256,300 768,700 - 1,025,000 NV Silver Springs S 4,000,000 700,000 5,300,000 10,000,000 NY Champion S 75,000 1,900,000 887,500 2,862,500 OH Senecaville S 864,000 576,000 1,466,000 2,906,000 Burbank W 850,000 850,000 1,500,000 3,200,000 OK Whitefield Auth S 140,000 785,000 150,000 1,075,000 OR Umatilla S 5,000,000 1,000,000 5,400,000 11,400,000 PA City of Kinzua S 4,250,000 2,267,000 1,020,000 7,537,000 Mid Cameron S 1,300,000 - 801,000 2,101,000 SC Branchville S 354,400 679,000 46,800 1,080,200 Fairfax S 340,800 1,022,200 - 1,363,000 TN City of Spencer S 1,700,000 1,680,000 3,072,118 6,452,118 Wartburg S 70,000 208,500 382,500 661,000 Webb Creek S 994,000 400,000 - 1,394,000 Oneida S 2,135,000 3,965,000 - 6,100,000 TX E. Tawakoni S 650,000 504,500 - 1,154,500 Logansport (w/LA) W 500,000 - - 500,000 UT Hildale City S 1,903,000 600,000 1,900,250 4,403,250 VA Bland Co. S 832,650 2,800,000 3,352,250 6,984,900 VT Cabot S 588,500 773,400 1,192,952 2,554,852 WA Addy S 412,250 981,000 - 1,393,250 WV City of War S 500,000 1,850,000 5,350,000 7,700,000 WY Hulett W/S 343,500 296,700 714,000 1,354,200 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals $75,338,050 $54,283,850 $52,046,705 $181,668,605 Projects 59 States 37 * Note: W = Safe Drinking Water Project S = Sanitary Sewer Project