Water

Legislation seeks to expose true causes for declines of fish, return flow of water to Valley

November 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Dennis Cardoza introduced bipartisan legislation today that calls for a review of the federal biological opinions that have significantly reduced the amount of water flowing to San Joaquin Valley farmers. Congressmen Costa (D-Fresno) and Radanovich (R-Mariposa) joined as original cosponsors.    » read more »

Recovery Act Funds Will Help Improve Infrastructure in Rural Areas of nine States

WASHINGTON, November 3, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of $16.4 million in water and environmental project loans and grants that are being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The projects will help provide safe drinking water and improved wastewater treatment systems for rural towns and communities in nine states. Altogether, USDA has announced nearly $1.8 billion for water and environmental project loans and grants, benefiting people throughout the country.    » read more »

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today issued a statement applauding President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress for their support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The initiative, which was signed into law by President Obama on October 30, allocates $475 million to respond to a plan of action prepared by the Great Lakes states in cooperation with 16 federal agencies.

Funding is available for the most significant problems facing the Great Lakes, including invasive aquatic species, wildlife habitat restoration, non-point source pollution, contaminated sediment clean up, water quality monitoring, and beach monitoring/clean up, all issues that Lake Erie and Ohio have experienced.

Governor’s statement:    » read more »

Company Utilizing New Manufacturing Practices and Technologies

November 2, 2009 -- Abbott Park, Illinois (NYSE: ABT) — Abbott announced today that it is saving 1 billion gallons of water annually since launching a comprehensive, global effort in 2004 to preserve natural resources through reducing use of water in the production of its nutrition and other health care products.

In 2004, the company set out to achieve a reduction in water use compared to its 2004 baseline by the end of 2011, when normalized to sales.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) announced that yesterday, the House and Senate Conference Committee for the FY2010 Interior Appropriations bill, “Approved an historic $475 million down payment for the restoration of the Great Lakes.” The legislation, which the House and Senate will soon vote on for final approval, would fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) which was requested by the President and shepherded through Congress by Obey who chairs the House Appropriations Committee.    » read more »

Federal Funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund to Increase by $178 million in Fiscal Year 2010

October 30, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – The Fiscal Year Interior Appropriations bill, which Congress passed last night and which the President is soon expected to sign into law, includes $453 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), an increase of $178 million from last year.    » read more »

10/29/09 -- Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Tim Bishop voted in favor of legislation that will bring significant federal aid for clean water infrastructure in New York and protect the Long Island Sound. The House of Representatives passed the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations conference report, which emphasizes reducing pollution in our air and water, cleaning up dangerous toxic waste sites, encouraging energy efficiency, and promoting the development of renewable clean energy sources.    » read more »

Real time water analysis helps ensure safety of beachgoers in Ireland

ARMONK, NY – - 02 Nov 2009: IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland are teaming up to enable smarter water management across more than 130 of Ireland’s beaches and lakes.

Working together with An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, the organizations are collecting and analyzing large amounts of complex environmental data from Ireland’s coastline and lakes on water quality, tides, weather forecasts and more. That information is then made easily available to the general public at an online portal, Splash. Currently live in Ireland with plans for global expansion, Splash has already benefited thousands of visitors from nearly 40 countries.    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), today announced that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Interior-Environment Appropriations Conference Report, will provide over $30 million in federal funding for conservation and clean water projects in Rhode Island. The bill passed the House 247-178 earlier today and the Senate 72-28 this evening. The Conference Report now goes to the President to be signed into law.

Reed, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, noted that the Interior spending bill provides money for land acquisition, drinking water and storm water infrastructure, and environmental preservation projects.    » read more »

Appropriations Bill Also Includes an Additional $50 million for the Bay

29-Oct-2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-MD) today praised final Congressional passage of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Conference Report, which will provide $72 million in new funding to improve Maryland’s drinking water systems and to help communities finance local sewer improvements.

The bill also includes $50 million, the largest funding level ever, for programs to control urban, suburban and agricultural runoff in the Chesapeake watershed. The Conference Report – which also includes a Continuing Resolution to fund much of the federal government through December 18 – now goes to the President who is expected to sign it.    » read more »

October 30, 2009 -- Washington – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representatives Marion Berry (AR-01), Vic Snyder (AR-02), and Mike Ross (AR-04) today announced that the Senate and House have passed the Conference Report for the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010, containing more than $4.36 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 and Berry are members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, respectively. Their presence on these committees allows them the opportunity to shape the legislation during the legislative process.    » read more »

Federal Dollars Will Clean Up Great Lakes, Reduce Beach Closures, Boost Economic Development & Tourism

October 29, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the 2010 Interior Appropriations will include $475 million for President Obama’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to clean up the Great Lakes and Rochester’s beaches and allow the area’s tourism and fishing industry to thrive.    » read more »

Funds to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health

10/20/2009 -- (PHILADELPHIA - October 20, 2009) In a move that stands to create jobs, boost the local economy, and protect human health and the environment for the people in the District of Columbia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today it has awarded more than $38.9 million to improve aging water infrastructure in the District.

This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the District Department of the Environment, and DC Water and Sewer Authority finance water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment.    » read more »

Erin Brockovich, public health and environmental advocates urge State EPA to set safe standard to protect Californians

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Oct 18, 2009 – Hexavalent chromium (hex chrome), the notorious cancer-causing chemical made famous in the film Erin Brockovich, contaminates drinking water in over 500 California communities, according to environmental and public health experts. The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) held a hearing today to take public comment on a proposed level for hex chrome in drinking water.    » read more »

ARRA Funds Support Plans To Improve Drinking Water Quality in Evanston, Aurora, and McLean, Kendall, and Sangamon Counties

October 19, 2009 -- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott announced grants and loans for environmental projects to improve wastewater quality in Illinois, using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The Recovery program was authorized earlier this year by the United States Congress and President Barack Obama.    » read more »