From the Office of Senator Kerry

Thursday, October 19, 2000

Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry and Congressmen Barney Frank and Jim McGovern announced today that the Congress approved $2 million for Bristol County Water and Sewer Projects. The funds are contained in the Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill for the fiscal year that began October 1. The bill now will be sent to President Clinton for his signature.

"This federal funding will go a long way towards protecting the environment along the South Coast," said Senator Kennedy. "I am pleased that we were once again able to assist in the substantial commitment that Fall River and New Bedford are making."

"These federal dollars will help improve Fall River and New Bedford's wastewater and runoff sewage and treatment systems, helping Bristol County meet the critical and expensive challenge of protecting our local environment," said Senator Kerry. "Ensuring adequate sewer overflow and wastewater management programs is a vital part of adhering to the letter and spirit of the Clean Water Act -- and I'm pleased that we were once again able to leverage federal assistance to help local communities get the job done."

"I'm glad that we have for the seventh straight year been successful in our efforts to include direct financial aid for the Bristol County sewer projects in the appropriations bill," Frank said. "With these funds, the Congressional delegation that represents Fall River and New Bedford has secured nearly $27 million in direct assistance for the two cities since 1995. While I continue to believe we should enact revisions to the Clean Water Act that will provide additional help for communities bearing the burden of compliance with the Act, these appropriations funds, as an interim measure, have helped avoid significant water and sewer rate increases."

"Fall River and New Bedford should be commended for their efforts to upgrade their sewer overflow facilities," Rep. McGovern said. "Today's funding continues the federal assistance that ratepayers in Bristol County deserve to help them comply with federal standards."

The cities of Fall River and New Bedford are attempting to update their combined sewer overflow systems. Both Fall River and New Bedford, two major cities within Bristol County, are implementing court-ordered construction under the Clean Water Act that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

This federal funding will help enable Fall River and New Bedford to remove storm water runoff from the wastewater sewer systems and install new drain and sewer pipes. These improvements will significantly reduce the frequency and severity of combined sewer overflow discharges into the harbor.