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Governor's Task Force Begins Work to Address Pennsylvania's Water Infrastructure Needs

Posted on: Monday, 14 April 2008, 12:00 CDT

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of Governor Edward G. Rendell's Sustainable Water Infrastructure Task Force convened for the first time today and began the work of addressing the estimated $20 billion funding shortfall needed to upgrade Pennsylvania's aging and deteriorated water-related infrastructure.

After the 30 members were sworn in, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty, who serves as chair of the task force, laid out the scope of the problem and the high-level group's responsibility.

"Pennsylvania's water-related infrastructure is old," said McGinty. "Many of our systems--some of which date back to before World War II--suffer from overflows, chronic leaks, and a shortage of treatment capacity. Many of these issues stem from under funded operations, repair, rehabilitation and replacement work.

"We need to act now and address this matter because, without a reliable infrastructure, our economy and way of life will suffer. Over the next six months, we will look at how we can ensure reliable funding for our water and wastewater systems, and consider how we can utilize alternatives to costly capital upgrades that will yield a safe and dependable water supply."

According to a federal Clean Water Needs Survey, Pennsylvania is facing nearly $11 billion in unmet drinking water infrastructure needs and at least $7.2 billion in unmet wastewater infrastructure needs.

McGinty added that Pennsylvania's ability to address the unmet funding needs is made more difficult because of declining support from the federal government.

"Pennsylvania's share of the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund has been cut in half during the last three years -- down $30 million to $27 million," said McGinty. "And, the president's fiscal year 2009 budget proposal requested only $555 million for this program, which would be the lowest level of funding in its history, if enacted.

"Governor Rendell has repeatedly called on Congress to restore funding while increasing the state's investment in these critical systems so we don't fall further behind."

Governor Rendell created the task force, with Executive Order 2008-02, to consider new funding options, as well as non-structural alternatives to expensive capital upgrades, such as nutrient credit trading, water re-use and conservation.

It is responsible for developing a report by Oct. 1 that provides recommendations and financing options to support water-related services in the Governor's fiscal year 2009-10 budget proposal.

As part of its inaugural meeting, task force members formed the following work groups:

-- Needs Assessment -- Examine the current and projected costs for the construction, upgrade, repair and operation and maintenance of Pennsylvania's drinking water and sewage infrastructure.

-- Innovative Measures -- Examine the projected cost savings realized by the consideration and implementation of all available non-structural alternatives such as trading programs.

-- Financial Resources -- Examine the current and projected financial resources to address water and sewer services and infrastructure needs including potential sustainable funding from federal, state and local source and public/private partnerships, and determine if operation and maintenance can be funded.

-- Financial Sustainability -- Establish requirements for available funding including consideration for asset management, board and local official training, full-cost pricing, and prioritization and targeting of resources.

-- Legislative and Regulatory Needs -- Review existing statute and regulation and identify any provisions that prevent the effective implementation of an Infrastructure Sustainability Initiative to include the elements of sustainability defined in the Executive Order.

The task force will hold a series of public meeting around the state during the next two months to gather public input on water infrastructure needs. The meeting dates and locations, as well as other task force information, are available at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/ , keyword: Water Management, then click on the task force link at left.

As part of his fiscal year 2008-09 proposed budget, Governor Rendell launched the Rebuild Pennsylvania initiative. The plan calls for accelerating $200 million for bridge repairs, $13 million for flood control projects, $12 million for repairs to state-owned dams, $10 million for new rail freight projects and $5 million for aviation projects in FY 08-09. It also includes $22 million in new General Fund investments for local dam repairs, flood plain mapping and infrastructure for business development.

For more information on Rebuild Pennsylvania, visit http://www.pa.gov/, and click on the "08-09 Budget."

EDITORS NOTE: Following is the list of task force members: SUSTAINABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE Kathleen McGinty, secretary, Department of Environmental Protection Donna Cooper, secretary, Governor's Office of Policy and Planning

Dennis Yablonsky, secretary, Department of Community and Economic Development

Steven Kaplan, secretary, Department of Banking

Paul Marchetti, executive director, Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority

Sonny Popowsky, Pennsylvania's Consumer Advocate

Rep. Bud George, majority chair, House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee

Rep. Scott Hutchinson, minority chair, House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee

Rep. Robert Freeman, majority chair, Local Government Committee Rep. Stanley Saylor, minority chair, Local Government Committee

Sen. Mary Jo White, majority chair, Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee

Sen. Raphael Musto, minority chair, Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee

Sen. Robert Regola, majority chair, Local Government Committee Sen. Jim Ferlo, minority chair, Local Government Committee Karl Brown, executive director, State Conservation Commission Judy Jengo, executive director, Green Space Alliance Dr. Jared Cohen, president, Carnegie Mellon University Terry Kauffman, manager, Borough of Mount Joy William Inks, director of finance and administration, ALCOSAN George Crum, director, Southwest Delaware County Municipal Authority Douglas Bowen, general manager, Whitehall Township Authority

Ginnie Anderson Kane, commissioner, Upper Allen Township, and first vice president for the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors' Sustainable Water Infrastructure Task Force

Sally B. Holbert, registered landscape architect, founding principal, Land Logics Group

Kathy Pape, President and CEO, Pennsylvania American Water

Edward Troxell, director of government affairs, Pennsylvania Association of Boroughs

Richard Marcinkevage, manager, City of Lock Haven Tom Ceraso, county commissioner, Westmoreland County

Lester Houck, secretary-treasurer, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors

Donald Bluedorn, chair, Statewide Water Resources Committee Nicholas DeBenedictis, chairman, president and CEO, AquaAmerica Inc. CONTACT: Susan Rickens (717) 783-1116

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

CONTACT: Susan Rickens Pennsylvania Department of EnvironmentalProtection, +1-717-783-1116

Web Site: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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