News from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

For more information contact: Maureen Wren, 518-402-8000

Governor Paterson Calls on Federal Government to Assist New York’s Municipalities

Maintaining the State’s Rivers, Lakes and Streams

ALBANY, NY (08/14/2008; 1048)(readMedia)-- Governor David A. Paterson today announced the formation of an environmental and government collaborative to help tackle a looming water infrastructure crisis facing New York State. The Clean Water Collaborative will focus on funding solutions for the state's mounting waste water and drinking water infrastructure needs. Due to decreasing federal aid, New York communities will have to spend in excess of $50 billion over the next 20 years to make required upgrades to meet federal requirements.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) estimates that repairs for municipal wastewater treatment systems statewide will be $36.2 billion over the next 20 years, while repairs for drinking water infrastructure could exceed $20 billion over the same period. Additionally, federal support for water infrastructure has plummeted roughly 70 percent over the last two decades, delaying critical maintenance and contributing to Clean Water Act violations. Hundreds of sewage and wastewater treatment facilities have deteriorated.

"Under any economic conditions, the fiscal burden of rebuilding our water infrastructure would be daunting. Rather than wait until they are handed the bill for these required repairs, we need to support New York's municipalities in getting federal funding for needed repairs and upgrades," said Governor Paterson. "This has been ignored for too long; water quality, public health and municipal finances are all at risk. Systems are failing and often municipalities do not have the resources to do repairs or upgrades."

The Clean Water Collaborative panel will be co-chaired by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. - known for his work on environmental issues, particularly those dealing with clean water - and Ross Pepe, the Executive Director of the Construction Industry Council and Building Contractors Association. Additionally, the panel includes a wide array of representatives from environmental, business, labor, and state and local government.

Aging wastewater infrastructure is tied directly to the quality of New York State's waters. A DEC study documented the correlation between wastewater infrastructure and water quality, finding that water quality declines when infrastructure is kept in place beyond its design life or is inadequately maintained. Many of New York's sewage and wastewater facilities are past their design lives; 30 percent of the sewer pipes across the state were installed just after World War II and a quarter of wastewater treatment plants are more than 30 years old. More than 200 state municipalities are facing Clean Water Act violations because of sewage overflows and other problems often related to aging infrastructure.

Meanwhile, federal assistance has plummeted. In 1987, the federal government provided $2.4 billion in loans to states for wastewater infrastructure projects. By 2008, that support plunged to $687 million. In New York, federal assistance fell from $227 million in 1991 to $75.1 million in 2007. A recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report stated that funding for the loan program is set to end in 2011. Earlier this year, Governor Paterson and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wrote to U.S. Senate and House leaders to urge them to continue support of the loan fund.

Senator Carl L. Marcellino, Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said: "Last year, I held a hearing to investigate the issue of Sewage Wastewater Management and Planning in our state. I came away from that day knowing, more than ever, that New York State needs a comprehensive water infrastructure plan. As development continues and sewer systems age and deteriorate, it is imperative that we craft a blue print that meets our wastewater needs, but more importantly, protects our precious ecosystems from Buffalo to Montauk. Governor Paterson deserves praise for his leadership on an issue that has been ignored for too long."

Assemblyman Bob Sweeney, Chair of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee, said: "The DEC study is a loud wake-up call. The effects of not funding these needs are already being felt - the environment is degraded, beaches are closed and economic development is being stifled. New York State cannot fund these improvements alone. The federal government recognized this when it first passed the Clean Water Act in 1972. Unfortunately, Washington has failed to keep its commitment or to provide the necessary leadership on water infrastructure needs."

DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis said: "We've come a long way from the days when the Hudson River was referred to as an open sewer. The last thing we want to do is turn the clock back to those days. That's why we have to take action. This is a statewide issue, impacting municipalities and water bodies in every corner of New York. And we need a statewide effort, spearheaded by this collaborative, to raise awareness about the need for action and the costs of inaction."

Clean Water Collaborative Team

Governor Paterson has established a statewide Clean Water Collaborative to further identify and work on funding for this critical infrastructure. The members of the Collaborative have diverse backgrounds in environmental, business, labor and state and local government, and include:

Commissioner Grannis also announced today the appointment of Sandra Allen as director of DEC's Clean and Safe Water Infrastructure Funding Initiative. Ms. Allen has been at DEC for 15 years working on water issues, the last six as Director of the Division of Water. She will head the initiative to develop a sustainable water infrastructure funding program. Ms. Allen and James Tierney, DEC Assistant Commissioner for Water Resources, will also serve as members of the Clean Water Collaborative.

Additional information can be found in the March 2008 DEC report entitled "Wastewater Infrastructure Needs of New York State." The report can be found at http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/42383.html .

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