Long Island Wastewater Project Gets $4 Million in Economic Recovery Funding

The Lower Long Island Sound Drainage Basin. This map was created by the Westchester County Department of Planning.

NEW YORK- The Village of Greenport has been designated to receive $4 million to install “state-of-the-art” modifications to its local water treatment facility, with the goal of reducing the introduction of pollutants into the Long Island Sound, as well as creating and retaining an estimated 186 jobs, according to a coordinated announcement by Gov. David A. Paterson, Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), and the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation.

The New York Clean Water State Revolving Fund will disperse the $4 million grant designated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

In addition to the stimulus funding, the Greenport project has also received grants from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, including a $1.1 million Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act grant, and a $400,000 Long Island Sound Restoration Program grant.

The project has also been awarded a $400,000 State Community Development Grant, and a $200,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

“In Congress, I have been working to increase funding for sewage and wastewater management because these are major concerns for residents throughout Suffolk County. Therefore, the injection of federal recovery funding in the Village of Greenport is valuable and timely,” said Bishop.

Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, exclaimed, “This is great news! This funding will allow for critical upgrades to eliminate harmful chlorine discharge and reduce nitrogen discharge into the Long Island Sound.

“Using stimulus dollars to clean up the Long Island Sound will leave a legacy the public can embrace.”

Greenport will solicit bids this June with project construction expected to begin in July, and completed in June 2010, according to Paterson’s office. Further, upon completion of the project, the village will be expected to convert its interest-free short-term CWSRF loan into a 30-year interest-free loan.

In addition, according to the specifications of the loan, the village will be provided with 80 percent principal forgiveness, and 20 percent interest-free financing. The governor’s office states that, “Over a 30-year financing term, the village will save an estimated $3.9 million.”