For Immediate Release:

Thursday, July 25, 2002

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray announced today that she has secured $2.4 million in the fiscal year 2003 Veterans Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development (VA-HUD) Appropriations bill for community and environmental initiatives in Southwestern Washington.

"I am proud to have secured this important funding to help improve communities in Southwestern Washington," said Murray. "I am particularly pleased to provide support for the Columbia Gorge Air Quality Study. This project has been a true community effort and I know it will go a long way to improving the quality of life and increasing economic prosperity for the region. I'm also pleased to help out with the Klickitat Treatment Plant. Without this federal funding, local taxpayers would have to bear the burden themselves."

SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON

Columbia Gorge Air Quality Study $750,000

This grant will provide funding for a $1.8 million study on air quality in the Columbia Gorge, which is being degraded by regional haze, acid rain and ground-level ozone. In August of 2001, the Columbia River Gorge Commission unanimously approved the plan for the study, which includes conducting air quality monitoring, developing an emissions inventory, conducting air quality modeling, and performing final analysis.

Klickitat County PUD New Sewage Treatment Plant $1,650,000

The requested funds will allow the PUD to replace a 46 year old treatment plant while maintaining affordable sewer rates for town residents, protecting the Klickitat Wild and Scenic River, and providing a vital part of the infrastructure needed for economic development. Without this funding, residents' sewer rates will triple to approximately $95 per month.

STATEWIDE

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission $700,000

The Washington State Tribes and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Coordinated Water Quality Program, an EPA/Tribal partnership, has provided a forum for continuous and meaningful communication between tribes, state and federal agencies. It has generated successful state/federal partnerships to improve water quality and has helped fulfill the federal government's trust obligation to tribes.

Rural Development Council, Rural Community Assessment Program $100,000

The Washington State Rural Development Council will use the funding to help rural communities assess strengths and weaknesses, develop strategies to meet their economic, community, and human service goals, and link them to resources to build on and implement local plans.