http://www.environmentmaine.org/legislature/testimony/clean-water/clean-water http://www.environmentmaine.org/legislature/testimony/clean-water/clean-water/water-bonds-ld-1448-flood-ld-1513-raye-governor-baldaccis-bond-package-and-partial-support-of-ld-1395-nutting Good afternoon Senator Rotundo, Representative Fischer and members of the Committee. My name is Jennifer Andersen, and I am the Advocate for Environment Maine. I appreciate the opportunity to comment briefly today in support of bond funding for critical water infrastructure. We are pleased that the Governor and the Legislature are seriously considering funding this session for wastewater treatment, safe drinking water, and combined sewer overflow (CSO) upgrade projects and we thank you. In particular, we support LD 1513 by Senator Raye, LD 1448 by Representative Flood, the Governor’s newly revised water bond proposal and LD 1395 by Senator Nutting with the exception of the shortened compliance timeline included in Senator Nutting’s bill on CSO improvements. We are concerned that this timeline is unrealistic but we do support the higher amount of funding for CSO improvements included in his bill as we know that the actual need is much, much higher. Environment Maine strongly supports upgrading and repairing aging wastewater treatment facilities in order to ensure clean water for fishing, canoeing, swimming and recreating while protecting precious coastal resources such as our beaches, clam flats, and shellfish which are vital to Maine’s economy and tourism industry. Adequately funded state revolving fund (SRF) loan programs are critical to communities that require this much needed funding to do the types of projects and upgrades necessary to keep pollution from reaching our coastal waters and drinking water supplies. As you may know, every $1 dollar funded by the state is matched by the federal government with $5 dollars for both wastewater and drinking water SRF programs. This is a match that we cannot afford to pass up again. Even more important is that these matching funds will keep the SRF programs growing and self-sustaining into the future. In addition, these low-interest loans and grants save ratepayers and municipalities money. We also support adequate funding for CSO improvements at wastewater treatment facilities in order to keep partially treated sewage from reaching our rivers, streams, and coastal waters. We believe that all Mainers should have access to clean drinking water. We support adequate bond funding for the SRF Clean Drinking Water program to fund system upgrades to protect source water, provide technical assistance to small systems, fund new infrastructure such as storage tanks, meet public health needs, and provide for watershed protection. Municipalities must comply with clean water laws and affordable funding is vital in carrying out this responsibility, especially in small, rural communities with few financial resources. Putting bonds out for sale early is sound fiscal policy. The longer we wait the higher interest rates can rise, thus reducing the funds’ purchasing power. In closing, we strongly support adequate state bond funding for wastewater treatment, safe drinking water and combined sewer overflow programs to draw down scarce federal dollars, and pay for much-needed improvements while protecting our coastal waters and drinking water supplies. We urge the committee to approve a water bond package that adequately addresses these needs. http://www.environmentmaine.org/legislature/testimony/clean-water/clean-water/water-bonds-ld-1448-flood-ld-1513-raye-governor-baldaccis-bond-package-and-partial-support-of-ld-1395-nutting Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:30:08 -0500 http://www.environmentmaine.org/legislature/testimony/clean-water/clean-water/ld-1001-governors-environmental-bond-bill My name is Heidi Overbeck, and I represent Environment Maine, a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group working for clean air, clean water, and open spaces on behalf of 3,000 members statewide. We support the Governor’s environmental bond bill, LD 1001. I would like to focus my comments on the wastewater disposal portion; we find the proposed funding level inadequate for dealing with risks posed by polluted sewage discharge to our marine ecosystems, to public health and to our economy. For last year, the DEP determined that communities around the state needed $7 million in grants to improve their sewage treatment facilities. These needs went unmet. Needs do not recede just because they are not funded. Rather they persist and grow, and now we have this year’s needs to meet as well, which is why we suggest that grant funding be increased from $3 million to $15 million. Pollution of our coastal waters is a serious problem. Last year, more than 140,000 acres of shellfish beds were closed due to the presence of fecal coliform, or sewage, putting hundreds of clammers out of work. For example, in Machias alone nearly 100 clammers have been put out of work because improperly treated sewage discharge has contaminated the shellfish beds downstream. Shellfish are the third most commercially valuable fish stock in Maine, and every closed bed threatens the thriving economy that depends on that stock. Maine’s biggest economic sector, tourism, relies on a healthy coast as well. More than 75% of the $9 billion contributed to Maine’s economy by out-of-state visitors was spent at the coast. Maine’s beaches are a destination hot spot, but up to 15 beaches were temporarily closed in years when local communities monitored for fecal coliform and other sewage-related bacteria. A number of wastewater treatment facilities need major overhauls to function properly and to keep polluted sewage discharge from decimating our coastal waters. Between 2001-2003, 45 out of 63 major wastewater facilities violated their clean water permits. Much less cases of negligence, these violations occurred because many of our sewage treatment plants are too old or inadequate to handle all the wastewater directed through them. Twelve facilities in particular require major assistance in addressing their wastewater disposal needs. These include the facilities in Bingham, Calais, Ellsworth, Frenchville, Indian Township, Limestone, Machias, Northport, Presque Isle, Searsport, Washburn, and Windham. These communities lack the funds to upgrade these facilities and cannot afford the low-interest loan packages provided by the State Revolving Loan Fund. These communities need state grants to improve their facilities, and the proposed $3 million in grants will only provide enough funding for two projects. We urge the committee to commit no less than $15 million to the grants portion of the bond. On average, state grants leverage $1.50 in federal money for every dollar the state invests. This leveraged federal money is not included in LD 1001. State wastewater grants of $15 million would leverage $22.5 million in federal funds. We fully support the $2.6 million proposed for the State Revolving Loan Fund, as it is a worthwhile investment with a high return. Every dollar the state puts forward will be matched by $5 from the federal government, brining in $13 million in federal money. The loan program, when fully funded, is self-sustaining and provides affordable loan packages to facilities that are making progressive plans for wastewater disposal. Communities likely to benefit from this round of loans, but yet to be earmarked include: Bucksport, Bangor, Auburn, Kennebunk, Brunswick, Falmouth, Skowhegan, Lincoln, Randolph, Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority and Portland. A community’s growth depends on its ability to accept new wastewater. We cannot expect economic prosperity from our towns when some cannot handle their current infrastructure needs. This is a bricks and mortar bond. To maintain Maine’s wastewater infrastructure the level of funding for grants should be approved at $15 million. Thank you for your time and consideration. Heidi Overbeck Preservation Associate Environment Maine http://www.environmentmaine.org/legislature/testimony/clean-water/clean-water/ld-1001-governors-environmental-bond-bill Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:29:10 -0500 http://www.environmentmaine.org/legislature/testimony/clean-water/clean-water/ld-1001-wastewater-infrastructure-bond Proposal for LD 1001: Wastewater Infrastructure Bond Background If Maine bonds for the SRF loans now, the state is almost guaranteed a lower interest rate than in the upcoming year, and the federal money cannot be rescinded. So, the state could lock in a 5 percent interest rate on the $1 million, and get $5.3 million interest-free. If the state waits until next year, the interest rates will likely be higher and the federal budget for SRF may shrink even more – the budget this year cut $199 million from the SRF. And in the meantime, towns and cities in Maine could secure loans for important infrastructure projects at 2 percent interest, saving money for local ratepayers and safeguarding the environment. Grant projects have not been funded for 3 years, and the backlog of maintenance at smaller town treatment plants is growing. The DEP estimates the amount of repairs and upgrades to be over $350 million over the next ten years. Loan projects Many towns and cities statewide with enough system users to absorb any rate increase can apply to the get SRF loans. Many towns and cities are in desperate need for low-interest loans as it is difficult to beat the 2 percent interest on SRF loans, and the expansions and improvements of wastewater infrastructure have to be made. Grant projects Limestone/Loring Development Authority $2.5 million -Eliminate two discharges into small streams by piping to new facility. Machias $1.5 million -Make major improvements to plant, reopen 700 acres of shellfish beds. Passamaquody Indian Township $1 million -Pump a failing septic system to functioning spray irrigation and lagoon on Pleasant Point. Economic driver UMO Associate Professor Jonathan Rubin’s analysis of the economic impact associated with bond funds showed that last year’s environmental bond was as nearly effective as the economic development bond in job creation. The economic development bond would spend $19,473 for every job it created, where the environment bond would spend just slightly more at $20,808 per job created. Similarly the environment bond creates as much income as the economic development bond, where each economic development bond dollar generates $1.55 in total income and the environment bond $1.51. . This analysis indicates investment in infrastructure is a valuable tool in job and income creation along with moderating cost of wastewater services. Plus, commercial and real estate development cannot take place in most towns and cities unless there is adequate wastewater infrastructure. http://www.environmentmaine.org/legislature/testimony/clean-water/clean-water/ld-1001-wastewater-infrastructure-bond Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:32:09 -0500