Announces $1.1 Million in Grants to Communities in 21 Counties

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Communities in 21 counties will benefit from new state investments announced today by Governor Edward G. Rendell that will help to ensure vital flood protection measures are in peak working order and protecting local residents.

The Governor said the state was directing $1.1 million in flood protection grants to assist with maintenance and improve operations at 28 locally-operated flood protection projects.

"When a flood protection project is built, local governments make a long-term commitment to maintain and repair the levees, floodwalls and channels that protect homes and businesses in their community," Governor Rendell said. "Pennsylvania's annual flood protection grants help local communities to meet the maintenance and equipment costs that go above and beyond routine upkeep so that these structures are kept in good working order to protect lives and property."

Flood protection grants are awarded annually to municipalities and counties that sponsor existing flood protection projects. The grants provide up to 65 percent of the costs for project improvements and non-routine maintenance, as well as a maximum of 50 percent of the cost for specialized equipment to maintain these projects in a state of readiness.

The maximum dollar value for project improvements and non-routine maintenance grants is $65,000, and the maximum dollar value for specialized equipment grants is $50,000.

Local municipal and county sponsors become responsible for the long-term operation and routine maintenance of flood protection projects once construction of a federal or state-funded project is completed.

Grants are awarded based upon anticipated benefits to the project, such as extending the infrastructure's life, improving function, or improving emergency response.

"Many older communities are especially vulnerable to flooding because they were developed in floodplains along waterways that provided a natural avenue for commerce and travel," Governor Rendell said. "Well-maintained flood control projects give businesses and homeowners the peace of mind they need to invest in their communities knowing that their homes and livelihoods are protected."

Pennsylvania has one of the most extensive flood protection programs in the nation. Since 1946, the commonwealth has constructed more than 200 flood protection projects throughout the state at a cost of more than $800 million when translated into today's dollars.

DEP oversees Pennsylvania's flood protection program and investigates flooding problems to determine the feasibility of various solutions ranging from upstream stormwater control to construction of significant flood control structures. Flood control projects can include stormwater detention facilities, concrete channels and floodwalls, earthen levees, stream channel improvements or a combination of these projects.

The department conducts yearly inspections and provides technical assistance to local municipal sponsors. The commonwealth assists local municipalities with design work, cost sharing on federally built projects, and builds new projects and assists with rehabilitating and updating existing projects.

In addition to the Flood Protection Grants Program, DEP prepares and publishes technical manuals to operate flood control projects and conducts annual flood protection workshops for municipal flood control project sponsors. These workshops give local municipal officials the opportunity to learn about new maintenance methods, share experiences, and keep abreast of new regulations and technological advances.

The next flood protection workshop is scheduled for March 17 through 19 in Wilkes-Barre.

For more information on Pennsylvania's Flood Protection Program, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Flood Protection."

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a list by county of the $1.1 million in flood protection grants awarded:

Allegheny County

Etna Borough - $1,259.50 to purchase vegetation control equipment.

Shaler Township - $65,000 for installation of debris control facilities.

Bedford County

Everett Borough - $26,389.96 to purchase a mower for levee maintenance.

Bradford County

Sayre Borough - $65,000 to construct an emergency operations center that will serve the Borough and three neighboring municipalities.

Sayre Borough - $19,000 to purchase emergency generator, satellite system, telemetry unit and multi-line phone system for the emergency operations center.

Butler County

Butler County, Butler City Connoquenessing Creek Flood Control Authority - $40,451.45 to re-grade and reinforce the north bank of the Connoquenessing Creek.

Cambria County

Johnstown Redevelopment Authority - $12,740 to purchase and install safety fencing at the Cheney Run flood protection project.

Johnstown Redevelopment Authority - $10,000 to purchase specialized flood monitoring and telecommunication equipment for the Elk Run and St. Clair Run flood control projects.

Nanty Glo Borough - $35,133 to purchase boom mower and install permanent access ramp for maintenance at the Blacklick Creek flood protection project.

Cameron County

Emporium Borough - $32,378 to purchase compact excavator and flatbed trailer for sediment removal.

Emporium Borough - $25,128 to purchase skid steer loader, commercial grade lawn mower and trimmers.

Elk County

Johnsonburg Borough - $31,500 to purchase a replacement pump for flood control pumping station.

Jefferson County

Borough of Sykesville - $37,300 to purchase boom arm mower for the Stump Creek Run flood control project.

Lackawanna COUNTY

Moosic Borough - $5,250 for replacement of flap gates, equipment and supplies.

Moosic Borough - $2,600 for weed spraying along Spring Brook levee system.

City of Scranton - $46,383 to purchase 2 emergency flood pumps.

City of Scranton - $3,750 to purchase a skid mounted sprayer for vegetation control.

Luzerne county

Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority - $50,071.26 to design, construct and inspect a resurfacing project on the Forty Fort/Swoyersville Reach pedestrian walkway.

Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority - $18,900 for new mowing decks for levee slope mower.

Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority - $14,537.22 for modifications to an existing retired fire truck to create a maintenance vehicle for the Wyoming Valley levee system.

Swoyersville Borough - $45,000 to purchase tractor and boom mower.

Lycoming County

City of Williamsport - $31,250 to purchase and install gate operators for the Hepburn Street Pump Station.

McKean County

Bradford District Flood Control Authority - $26,000 for removal of sediment deposits and restoration of channel slopes.

Mercer County

West Middlesex Borough - $23,750 to purchase skid loader for the Hogback Run project.

Monroe County

East Stroudsburg Borough - $7,122 to purchase vegetation control sprayer.

Northumberland county

Sunbury Municipal Authority - $42,249 for replacement of deteriorated levee drainage flap gates.

Sunbury Municipal Authority - $3,250 for debris removal.

Sunbury Municipal Authority - $2,340 for design and development of an emergency communications website.

Sunbury Municipal Authority - $1,820 to purchase portable emergency generator.

Potter County

Coudersport Borough - $65,000 to clean out debris from the Mill Creek sedimentation basin.

Somerset County

Somerset Borough - $15,600 to remove sediment from Coxes Creek.

Venango County

City of Oil City - $38,385 to purchase boom mower.

Warren County

City of Warren - $6,392.75 to repair existing catch basins on Glade Run.

Washington County

Canonsburg Borough - $36,731.50 to install stream barbs for improved stabilization and remove a gravel bar on the banks of Chartiers Creek.

Washington County - $27,300 to repair an earthen slide in the emergency spillway; remove accumulated sediment from stilling basin area; fill, seed and mulch ruts; and install culvert pipe at the Harmon Creek dams.

Washington County - $21,000 to purchase a remote control slope mower for safer mowing at the Harmon Creek and Cross Creek Dams.

West Bethlehem Township - $65,000 for excavation, hauling and disposal of sediment deposits.

Westmoreland COUNTY

City of Jeannette - $36,420 to improve the inlet works at Bull Run Dam.

City of Jeannette - $13,079 to purchase confined space entry and rescue equipment.

South Greensburg Borough - $31,617 to purchase tractor loader/backhoe with side boom mower and other attachments for the Jacks Run Flood Protection Project.

    CONTACT:
    Tom Rathbun (DEP)
    717-787-1323

    Chuck Ardo
    717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor