[ad_1]
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission on Friday approved $270 million under the American Rescue Plan Act for 157 water projects in 58 counties.
“It will probably take a few weeks before we get the award letters. We plan to hold a meeting early next year specifically to go through procedures for everyone on what to expect,” Arkansas Natural Resources Commission Deputy Director Ryan Benefield said.
“Our goal is to get award letters before the end of the year, but we’ll be calling meetings, one on Zoom and one in person after the first of the year, to meet with everyone on this list and tell them what to expect and what to expect from the process.” “.
Selected projects were favored if they were designed to benefit the state’s water supply or reduce reliance on groundwater, Benefield said.
Only public entities like county governments or municipal water utilities were eligible to apply because of state drinking water rules, so nonprofits and associations had to apply through public entities, Benefield said.
105 drinking water projects have been approved for a total of $135 million, which are expected to serve approximately 170,139 customers.
Almost half of the selected projects will result in reduced groundwater use, while more than half of the projects will directly impact vulnerable communities.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections in Jefferson County received $3.7 million to improve the water treatment plant at the Tucker Unit; Central Arkansas Water in Pulaski County received $5 million for a water main expansion and replacement project in Ferndale, West Pulaski, Ridgefield.
52 wastewater projects were approved for a total of $135 million, which will serve approximately 283,152 consumers; average award amounts for wastewater projects were higher than for drinking water projects; 25 projects were placed on the waiting list.
“Those 52 projects will improve the effluent of about 162 million gallons per day of wastewater,” Benefield said.
Some wastewater projects approved for funding include the Arkansas Department of Human Services in Logan County, which was awarded $568,150 with a 25% cost share.
Lake Conway Wastewater Utility in Faulkner County received $800,111.
Projects that receive funding through the plan are essentially ready for 25% of project costs. There was a $5 million cap on funding requests for water projects.
Projects will be funded at the start of construction, and construction must begin before the end of next year and be completed by December 31, 2026.
Governor Asa Hutchinson created the America’s Rescue Plan Steering Committee by executive order, and in June 2021, Hutchinson established the Water and Other Infrastructure Task Force to help the steering committee identify water infrastructure projects.
A needs survey was conducted and more than 1,400 responses were generated, identifying more than $5 billion in potable, wastewater and stormwater needs across the state.
The task force submitted its final report to the board in August 2021, which included a timeline, eligibility requirements and scoring criteria for potential water projects.
Last August, the committee approved $270 million to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture for water needs projects and $10 million for irrigation projects.
The Arkansas Legislature on Sept. 16 approved the full $270 million for water needs, with funding to be administered by the state Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Commission.
The application period for water projects that need financing was opened and lasted from September 16 to November 4, 2022; 882 applications from every county in Arkansas were submitted and evaluated by a review committee.
Some projects not selected for this round of funding will be placed on a waiting list and could be funded later from different sources.
[ad_2]
Source link
