WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor today announced that the Senate has approved the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010, containing more than $2.9 million in water infrastructure priorities for Arkansas. The annual spending bill funds the Department of Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other related agencies.
Pryor is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. His presence on this committee allows him the opportunity to shape the legislation both during the committee process and on the Senate floor.
“These federal dollars will help provide critical water infrastructure improvements that will support growth throughout Arkansas,” said Lincoln. “I’m pleased to see this significant investment in our state, and I’ll continue my fight to ensure that much-needed funds reach Arkansas’s communities.”
“In order for Arkansas communities to grow and thrive, we need to have strong water and sewer infrastructure to support homes and businesses. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I fought hard to ensure the legislation shared Arkansas’ priorities,” Pryor said. “I am pleased that we were able to allocate $3.6 billion dollars nationwide to water and sewer infrastructure projects, the largest single commitment of funds that has ever been provided in an annual Appropriations bill. These projects will foster economic development opportunities and improve the standard of living for Arkansans and Americans across the country.”
The following is a list of priorities contained in this year’s Interior appropriations bill:
$300,000 for Water and Wastewater System Improvements in Warren, AR
The City of Warren needs assistance in extending a water and sewer line along the Northeast Bypass to serve the industrial park and encourage future development.
$300,000 for Water Infrastructure Improvements in Forrest City, AR
This project will consist of the installation of approximately 32,000 linear feet of water mains, approximately 23,000 linear feet of gravity sewer mains, and a new sanitary sewer lift station.
$300,000 for Water System Improvements for the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority in Fort Smith, AR
The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) is in charge of redeveloping approximately 7,000 acres of property that was deemed excess property by the BRAC action of 1995. These funds will support a water line that will provide a much needed loop of the system in this area.
$300,000 for a Water Treatment Plant Expansion in Dardanelle, AR
The project would consist of expanding the existing water treatment plant from its current 3MGD (million gallons per day) output to 5MGD and to increase its source of water.
$1.79 million for the Maumelle Water Excellence Project
This land acquisition will help to protect forests vital to Central Arkansas’s drinking water quality. It is strategically located near already protected land and implements both the Lake Maumelle Water Management Plan and the State Wildlife Action Plan. This project was included in the President’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget request.
