
By The Star Staff
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over the weekend $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to upgrade water infrastructure and keep communities safe.
Puerto Rico is slated to receive over $67 million for drinking water and wastewater improvements – including the nearly $25 million that was announced as part of the EPA’s announcement of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements earlier this month.
The BIL funding will help communities across the island upgrade water infrastructure that is essential to safely managing wastewater, protecting local freshwater resources, and delivering safe drinking water to homes, schools and businesses, according to an EPA statement.
The funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), a longstanding federal-state water investment partnership. The announced multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs that address key challenges in financing water infrastructure.
The announcement includes allotments for Puerto Rico’s BIL Clean Water General Supplemental funds totaling $32.5 million, Emerging Contaminant funds totaling $2.8 million, and $7.6 million in funds under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Fund, the statement said.
To ensure investments reach communities that need them the most, the BIL mandates that a majority of the announced funding must be provided to disadvantaged communities in the form of grants or loans that do not have to be repaid. The EPA is changing the odds for communities that have faced barriers to planning and accessing federal funding through its Water Technical Assistance program, which helps disadvantaged communities identify water challenges, develop infrastructure upgrade plans, and apply for funding, the agency said. Communities seeking Water Technical Assistance can request support by completing the WaterTA request form.The efforts also advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
“Water keeps us healthy, sustains vibrant communities and dynamic ecosystems, and supports economic opportunity. When our water infrastructure fails, it threatens people’s health, peace of mind, and the environment,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment in water, EPA is working with states and local partners to upgrade infrastructure and address local challenges -- from lead in drinking water, to PFAS [polyfluoroalkyl substances], to water main breaks, to sewer overflows and climate resilience. Together, we are creating good-paying jobs while ensuring that all people can rely on clean and safe water.”
EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. García added that the “Biden-Harris Administration is committed to providing safe drinking water, resources needed to upgrade aging infrastructure, and address harmful contaminants.”
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides critical funds to our governmental partners in Puerto Rico to ensure water quality and reduce pollution in our waterways,” she said.
Appearances can be tricky to deal with, in particular, if your actions' goal is to persuade others that you can do better than them when you can't. It's certainly surprising when piles of money show up like that; don't get me wrong, these funds can do wonderful things for PR, the questions the situation begs is, why making the disclosure eight days prior to the general elections.
Are we compelling someone to accept these acts as the result of someone intervention? This might not be the case; however, for some reason, it doesn't look wright. Perhaps if the pronouncement had been postponed following the elections, it might not look like someone is exerting influence on someone else voting decision.
Unable…
The goal of each level in drive mad is to provide a tool that can finish the track in the allotted time, get enough stars, or stay clear of hazards.