ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 15, 2006) – Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. announced Board of Public Works approval today of a $500,000 grant for the City of Frostburg in Allegany County to construct new sewer and storm water lines to eliminate the city’s Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) problem. The Board is comprised of Governor Ehrlich, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller William D. Schaefer.

“The funding approved today will enable the City of Frostburg to begin separating its sanitary sewer lines from its storm water system, ending combined sewer overflows that continually plague the Potomac River with harmful bacteria and excessive nutrients,” Governor Ehrlich said.

Construction of the new lines, the fourth phase of a multi-year project, will correct overflow problems along Water and Broadway Streets.

CSOs contain untreated domestic, commercial and industrial wastes as well as surface runoff from stormwater. Many contaminants can be present and may include pathogens, oxygen-depleting pollutants, solids, nutrients, toxins and floating matter. Because of these contaminants, CSOs can cause a variety of adverse impacts on the physical characteristics of surface water, impair the viability of aquatic habitats and pose a potential threat to drinking water supplies.

Frostburg’s leadership adopted a Long-Term Control Plan to eliminate the overflows two years ago. “Mayor James Cotton expresses the city’s appreciation for the substantial commitment to this project and gratitude to Governor Robert Ehrlich for his administration’s commitment to helping local governments deal with CSO challenges,” said Frostburg City Administrator John Kirby, Jr. “The mayor and city council have continued to make strategic investments in an effort to eliminate combined sewer overflows and remain committed to the two decade, $24 million effort required to fix the problem.”

The total cost of the project is $1.5 million, of which $200,000 is the local share being paid by Frostburg. A future anticipated contribution from the Bay Restoration Fund, the Appalachian Regional Commission and a Community Development Block Grant will complete funding of the entire job.

This phase of the work is expected to begin in June and is projected to be complete by January 2007.

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