FEDERALSBURG, MD (August 9, 2009) - Today, Governor Martin O'Malley, Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Shari T. Wilson, State Senator Richard Colburn, Federalsburg Mayor Michael Fluharty and others gathered on the banks of Marshyhope Creek to dedicate the town's newly upgraded wastewater treatment plant. Funding for the upgrade included a $3.3 million Bay Restoration Fund grant, $2.8 million in State grants, as well as a $3.1 million low-interest loan. A key component of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay cleanup work, the upgrade will result in significantly less nitrogen and phosphorous pollution in Marshyhope Creek and the Chesapeake Bay. Federalsburg will also receive $1.6 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act clean water funding, along with a $900,000 State grant, for a new project to control stormwater runoff pollution, prevent sewer overflows, and reduce flooding.

"After decades of setting restoration goals and benchmarks decades in the future, Maryland - along with our Bay State partners and the Federal EPA - has committed to ambitious new 2-year Bay milestones that more than double our work to reduce nutrient pollution," said Governor O'Malley. "Key to achieving this goal is upgrading our State's wastewater treatment plants. Today's announcement is a credit to the citizens of Caroline County, who contribute to these improvements through the Bay Restoration Fund each month. These improvements are urgently needed, and will make a dramatic difference to Federalsburg and to the Chesapeake Bay."

In 2004, the Maryland General Assembly created the Bay Restoration Fund to provide a dedicated source of funding to upgrade wastewater treatment plants. As a result, all of Maryland's 66 major wastewater treatment plants will have enhanced nutrient removal technology to significantly reduce nitrogen and phosphorous pollution in local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.

Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Shari T. Wilson said: "These improvements will significantly decrease the amount of nutrients discharged into Marshyhope Creek and the Bay - nitrogen loads will be reduced 83 percent and phosphorus by 85 percent. The resulting water quality will help protect our environment and the health of Marylanders."

The Federalsburg wastewater treatment plant project involved planning, design, and construction for the Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) and Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) facilities at the existing 0.75 million gallons per day (mgd) Federalsburg Wastewater Treatment Plant. Upon completion of the BNR and ENR upgrades, the Federalsburg Wastewater Treatment Plant will be capable of achieving effluent quality with annual average nutrient goals of 3 mg/l for Total Nitrogen and 0.3 mg/l for Total Phosphorous. Construction began in January 2008 and was completed in August 2009. Upon completion of the upgrade, the facility will reduce their total nitrogen load by 34,250 lbs/year and their phosphorus load by 3,885 lbs/year.

Federalsburg Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade - Total Cost and Funding Sources

Total Project Cost $9,819,000
Bay Restoration Fund $3,360,000
State BNR Grant $2,360,000
Local Share/State Revolving Loan Fund $3,170,300
State Supplemental Grant $495,000
EPA Grant $433,700

In addition, Federalsburg will receive $1.6 million from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act clean water funding to design and construct new separate sewer lines and storm drains to functionally replace existing deteriorated combined sewer lines. The new storm drain system will eliminate the potential for combined sewer overflows and significantly reduce stormwater from entering the sewer system and adversely impacting Federalsburg's pumping station and its newly upgraded wastewater treatment plant. Replacing the combined sewer system will protect public health and water quality.

Federalsburg Sewer Separation & Stormwater Facility

Total Project Cost $2,535,936
MDE State Grant $900,000
ARRA Clean Water Grant $1,635,936

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