A total of $200 million in grant funding has provided to help communities address federally unregulated contaminants in their drinking water supplies, a national issue that is still lacking federal guidance. The funding will provide advanced support and assistance for communities to combat emerging contaminants, as the State prepares to take the important step of setting enforceable drinking water standards for the emerging contaminants PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-dioxane.
Of the grant funding, $185 million will be available to communities across the state to upgrade drinking water treatment systems to combat emerging contaminants, prioritizing PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-dioxane. The remaining $15 million has been awarded to communities already pursuing system upgrades and innovative pilot technologies to treat emerging contaminants. Additionally, the Governor directed the Department of Health, Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Environmental Facilities Corporation to provide technical assistance to communities to help assess system needs and apply for grant funding.
"Safe drinking water is critical for public health and economic prosperity and communities should not be left to fend for themselves when it comes to removing dangerous contaminants," Governor Cuomo said. "While the federal government fails to set national standards and guidelines for safe drinking water, New York is prepared to take action in the absence of federal leadership. This funding will ensure communities have the technology and support they need to provide their residents with quality drinking water, creating a safer, healthier New York for all."
Click here for the full announcement.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Of the grant funding, $185 million will be available to communities across the state to upgrade drinking water treatment systems to combat emerging contaminants, prioritizing PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-dioxane. The remaining $15 million has been awarded to communities already pursuing system upgrades and innovative pilot technologies to treat emerging contaminants. Additionally, the Governor directed the Department of Health, Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Environmental Facilities Corporation to provide technical assistance to communities to help assess system needs and apply for grant funding.
"Safe drinking water is critical for public health and economic prosperity and communities should not be left to fend for themselves when it comes to removing dangerous contaminants," Governor Cuomo said. "While the federal government fails to set national standards and guidelines for safe drinking water, New York is prepared to take action in the absence of federal leadership. This funding will ensure communities have the technology and support they need to provide their residents with quality drinking water, creating a safer, healthier New York for all."
Click here for the full announcement.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Update - 3:53 PM (EST)
New York Environmental Group Responds to Cuomo Announcement
New York Environmental Group Responds to Cuomo Announcement
The following statement was provided to From The G-Man by Liz Moran, water and natural resources director for Environmental Advocates of New York.
Albany – “Today’s announcement from the Governor, made on the day his Drinking Water Quality Council failed to meet a statutory deadline to have recommended MCLs in place, is just another in a long line of delays. To be clear, the Governor and the Department of Health could have acted on these chemicals as soon as the pollution crises came to light in Hoosick Falls, Newburgh, and Long Island years ago, but they didn’t. We know PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-dioxane are dangerous. We know these chemicals have polluted thousands of New Yorkers' water. The question that needs answering is: why has New York failed to act?”
No comments:
Post a Comment