Department of Ecology News Release July 26, 2001 01-128
OLYMPIA - Communities across Washington state will share $107 million in loans and grants this year to help improve and protect the health of lakes, rivers, marine waters and underground water, but first the public must comment on the distribution plan.
The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking public comments on its proposal to provide 106 low-interest loans and grants to local governments, tribes and irrigation districts.
Under the proposal, nearly 82 percent of the applicants that applied for financial assistance will get funding this year. Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons said that's the highest percentage in recent years.
"There is widespread demand for projects to keep pollution out of our streams and lakes," he said. "This money will do a lot of good."
The funding comes from several accounts, including the Centennial Clean Water Fund, Washington State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund and federal Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint-Source Fund. Communities use the money to upgrade and improve municipal wastewater-treatment plants; reduce and manage pollution from storm water, urban development and agricultural practices; and do other projects to improve habitat for salmon, steelhead and bull trout.
Fitzsimmons said that nearly 66 percent of the funding this year came from repayments of previous water-quality loans to cities, counties and public utilities. "When one town repays its loans that frees up money for another community that needs the money," he said.
Ecology and other natural resource agencies reviewed 116 applications and decided which applications should be approved based on criteria such as existing or potential water-quality problems, the effectiveness of the proposed project to solve the problem, and local community coordination.
Ecology will host two meetings to discuss the proposed projects and get comments from citizens.
*TACOMA - 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 31, Pierce Co. Library, Administrative Service Center, 3005 112th St. E., Rooms A, B and C.
*SPOKANE - 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 1, Spokane Public Library, 906 W. Main Ave.
Through Aug. 22, people may send written comments on the proposed projects to Kim McKee, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, Wash., 98504-7600.
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