ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 12, 2006) – Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. today announced Board of Public Works approval of a $500,000 grant for Prince George’s county to continue upgrading and expanding its Bowie Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Board is comprised of Governor Ehrlich, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller William D. Schaefer.

“Nutrient removal at the Bowie wastewater treatment plant is one step closer to achieving critical nutrient reductions discharged into the Chesapeake Bay,” said Kendl P. Philbrick, secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). “We serve Marylanders to protect and restore the state’s natural resources - it has been Governor Ehrlich’s top priority.”

The grant will be used to plan, design and construct an Enhanced Nutrient Removal upgrade system at the existing 3.30 million gallon per day plant, improving its ability to remove nitrogen from treated water. Once complete, the plant will be able to remove nitrogen to achieve an effluent goal of 3 milligrams per liter of total nitrogen and total phosphorus down to .3 milligrams per liter before discharging to the Patuxent River.

Excess nutrients lead to degraded water quality, which negatively impact the ecology of the Bay and its tributaries.

The total cost of the Bowie project is nearly $8.2 million, of which more than $1.4 million is the local share.

“Bowie has been engaged in efforts to reduce pollutants to the Patuxant and into the Bay for a long time and this grant will enhance those efforts,” said G. Frederick Robinson, Mayer, City of Bowie “This significant grant will move us forward faster in reducing nutrient flow to the Chesapeake Bay.” Planning has begun on this project and construction of the upgrade is slated for completion by September 2009.

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