Pennsylvania Municipalities Denied Storm Water Funding to Clean Up Chesapeake Bay

Jan. 7, 2020

Pennsylvania's Greencastle and Antrim Townships efforts to fund mandated stormwater pollution-control measures were unsuccessful, according to the Herald-Mail.

Franklin County municipalities received word that their requests for federal grant money to help pay for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System requirements aimed at cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay were denied.

“Unfortunately, we cannot offer support for your project at this time,” wrote the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to township officials in a Dec. 27 email. “We have received approximately 30 completed applications, requesting a total of over $4.9 million in funds, far outpacing available funding for this program. As a result, many excellent proposals like yours have been turned down.”

Antrim Township sought a share of the $2.4 million U.S EPA grant program to pay for stream restoration, reported the Herald-Mail.

Greencastle Borough Manager Lorraine Hohl revealed that the borough’s request for funding from the same program also was denied. Greencastle wanted funding for the bioretention rain garden for the Lilian S. Besore Memorial Library, according to the Herald-Mail.

“We will continue to search for grants to assist with the project costs,” said Antrim stormwater technician Amber King-Reasner

State Sen. Judy Ward, R-Franklin, who has been working on the issue with the municipalities, advised them to seek Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development funds, which could provide each with $50,000 through the Keystone Communities program, reported the Herald-Mail.

“We made them aware of that grant and I’m hoping they apply,” said Ward. “I know there are dollars available in this grant program, I’ve reached out to our leadership and some folks over at DCED and made them aware of the issue that these two communities are struggling with the MS4 issue and I think it’s incumbent upon us to help them in any way we can.”

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Cristina Tuser