For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 25, 2015

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Mike Perkovich, (605) 773-4216

FOR PROJECT DETAILS: Visit http://denr.sd.gov/bwnrapps.aspx

Gov. Daugaard Announces $23.7 Million for Environmental Projects

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard says the state Board of Water and Natural Resources has approved $23.7 million for water and waste projects. The board met Thursday in Pierre.

The $23,745,600 total includes $7.276 million in grants and $16.47 million in low-interest loans, with $2.984 million of the loan total in principal forgiveness.

“I am pleased to announce that this money is available to assist local communities,” said Gov. Daugaard. “Grant and loan awards will result in better drinking water, improved wastewater treatment and enhanced protection of the environment.”

The grants and loans awarded by the board are administered through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Grants were awarded to:

• Bear Butte Valley Water, $500,000 grant amendment for rural water system construction
• Brown County, $231,000 grant for scraper replacement
• DENR, $47,000 grant for study of isotopes in selected eastern South Dakota waters
• Haakon County School District, $517,600 grant for geothermal wastewater treatment system

A loan was awarded to:

• Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, $7.7 million loan for regional water system construction

A loan with principal forgiveness was awarded to:

• Montrose, $545,000 loan for storm water management improvements, with $100,000 in principal forgiveness

Grant and loan packages were awarded to:

• Cavour, $795,000 for wastewater system improvements that includes a $645,000 grant and $150,000 loan
• Edgemont, $3.89 million for water system improvements that includes a $2 million grant and $1.89 million loan, with $1.207 million in principal forgiveness
• Emery, $5.09 million total that includes a $2.89 million loan for wastewater collection system upgrade and replacement, with $1.677 million in principal forgiveness; and $2.2 million for water distribution system upgrade and replacement that includes an $615,000 grant and $1.585 million loan
• Florence, $2.255 million for water system improvements that includes a $1 million grant and $1.255 million loan
• Pierre, $575,000 for solid waste baler replacement that includes a $330,000 grant and $245,000 loan
• TC&G Water Association, Inc., $1.6 million for water system improvements that includes a $1.39 million grant and $210,000 loan

The grants, loans and principal forgiveness were awarded from DENR’s Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program, Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program, Solid Waste Management Program and State Water Resources Management System.

The Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program, funded in part by revenues from the sale of lotto tickets, provides grants and loans for water, wastewater and watershed projects. The State Water Resources Management System, also funded in part by revenues from the sale of lotto tickets, provides grants and loans for large water projects that have been authorized by the Legislature. The Solid Waste Management Program provides grants and loans for solid waste disposal, recycling and waste tire projects. The Legislature annually appropriates dedicated water and waste funding for the Consolidated, State Water Resources Management System and Solid Waste programs through the Governor’s Omnibus Water Funding Bill.

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program provides low-interest loans for public drinking water system projects. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program provides low-interest loans for wastewater, storm water and nonpoint source projects. Principal forgiveness is a subsidy option that results in a reduced loan repayment amount for the borrower.

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