FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Heather B. Habelka, Office of the Mayor, 203.385.4001

Mayor James R. Miron and State Rep. Terry Backer Announce $55 Million for Stratford’s Sewage Treatment Plant

Stratford, Conn. (February 28, 2006) – Mayor Miron and State Rep. Terry Backer announced today that the state DEP will provide $55 million to Stratford’s sewage treatment plant for upgrades. These upgrades will expand the facility’s capability to remove harmful nitrogen from wastewater and will bring Stratford in compliance with the Clean Water Act.

Stratford’s sewage treatment plant upgrade is one of 26 projects approved and prioritized by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that will govern the award of state grants and low interest loans from the state’s Clean Water Fund (CWF).

“It was critical that Rep. Backer and I went to Hartford to fight for this project at the DEP public hearing in January,” said Mayor Miron, “I look forward to a continued working relationship with Rep. Backer and the entire state delegation to ensure Stratford receives its fair share of state funding.”
The upgrade to Stratford’s sewage treatment plant is one of the projects that comprises DEP’s final CWF priority list for 2006 and 2007.

"I'm happy to have played an aggressive part for Stratford's taxpayers to reduce their economic burden and to improve our quality of life with a goal of a cleaner Long Island Sound," said Rep. Backer, "This funding will prevent the taxpayers of Stratford from facing the unwarranted inflationary impact of as much as one million dollars annually, which would have been the case in absence of this funding."

DEP develops its priority list based on a detailed rating system. To be considered for a ranking on the list, all projects must be reviewed and approved by DEP and have any required local funding in place. The release of the final priority list follows a review of testimony and comments on a draft list that was the subject of a DEP public hearing January 5.

Projects for this fiscal year, which ends June 30, will be funded with CWF reserves and an $87 million bond authorization approved by the State Bond Commission January 27. The Bond Commission will be asked to approve funds for projects slated for the 2007 fiscal year. The amount proposed for 2007 by DEP – just under $100 million – is consistent with the state’s bonding plans for that year.

Connecticut’s CWF provides financial support for the construction and improvement of municipal sewer system and sewage treatment plants. Under state law, various categories of projects qualify for a different mix of grants and loans – offered at 2 percent interest for a term of 20 years. These include:

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO), to remove storm water from sewage systems, 50 percent grant/50 percent loan;

Denitrification, to improve the capacity of treatment plants to remove nitrogen from wastewater, 30 percent grant/70 percent loan. The presence of nitrogen in wastewater encourages the growth of plant life that damages the water quality and harms aquatic life in Long Island Sound.

Treatment Plant Upgrades, for improvements to treatment plants, 20 percent grants/80 percent loans;

Small community projects, to assist communities with smaller populations and sewage systems, 25 percent grant./75 percent loan;

Collection System Improvements, for sewer pipes, pumping stations and other infrastructure, 100 percent loans, no grants.

Connecticut’s CWF was created in 1987. Since that time – and without including today’s announcement – more than 114 municipalities have received grants and loans to assist in financing 374 sewer system and sewage treatment plant projects. Under the program, approximately $379 million in grants and more than $1 billion in loans have been provided to local water pollution control authorities.

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