Chesapeake Bay Foundation Urges PA Municipalities To Invest Federal American Rescue Plan Funds To Improve Water Quality

On July 14, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued the following statement from Pennsylvania Executive Director Shannon Gority, encouraging municipalities within the Commonwealth’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed that will receive a portion of a total of $170 million of American Rescue Plan funding, to invest some of it in projects that will clean up and protect water quality in their local communities.

Cities and town in South Central Pennsylvania receiving American Rescue Plan funding are Harrisburg, Lancaster, York,  Lebanon, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Hanover, Waynesboro, and Gettysburg.

Ms. Gority said:

“Putting these federal dollars for coronavirus pandemic recovery toward local pollution reduction projects means recovery for businesses that provide related services, and for citizens who would otherwise pay for them.

“For example, investing in stormwater runoff improvements as mandated by the federal government will reduce flooding and polluted runoff, and equally important, lessen the amount of any fee that ratepayers might otherwise be asked to contribute. We applaud communities already considering investing in stormwater management.

“A local municipality might also consider using some of the funds to address its portion of the countywide action plan for reducing pollution.

“While recovering from the pandemic, we must continue to rescue our local waters. Our health, wellbeing, and quality of life depend on it.”

For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA webpage.  Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column).  Click Here to support their work.

Also visit the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership to learn how you can help clean water grow on trees.

CBF has over 275,000 members in Bay Watershed.

Related Articles:

-- WeConservePA Urges Groups To Work With County, Local Govts. To Invest Federal Rescue Funds For Watershed Restoration, Land Conservation, Park & Trail Improvement Projects

-- PA Recreation & Park Society: Guidance On How Local Governments Can Spend Federal American Rescue Funds On Recreation, Parks, Open Space

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: PA Budget Missed The Opportunity To Make Greater Investments In Clean Water

-- Growing Greener Coalition: Missed Budget Opportunity, But Your Voice Can Still Be Heard On Using American Rescue Plan Dollars To Build, Rebuild Green Infrastructure 

[Posted: July 14, 2021]  PA Environment Digest