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EPA Administrator Jackson Marks One-Year Anniversary of Recovery Act in Columbus, Ohio: Administrator, senior EPA officials visiting communities across America this week to highlight Recovery Act’s impact

Release Date: 02/18/2010
Contact Information: EPA Press Office, press@epa.gov

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson joined Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland and Ohio officials today at a press conference marking the one-year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). EPA’s regional and assistant administrators visited communities across the nation this week to highlight how the Recovery Act has created jobs and made a difference in the lives of Americans. A full list of those visits is included below.

“The Recovery Act has pulled our nation back from the worst economic crisis in generations and provided real relief for families and small businesses. EPA’s investments in green jobs and clean communities are growing our economy and building a new foundation for prosperity,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re putting people to work and creating cleaner, healthier environments that are better places to buy a home or set up a business.”

EPA has obligated $7.1 billion – nearly 99 percent - of its Recovery Act funding to states across the nation for a wide variety of projects that will put Americans to work improving air quality, protecting drinking water, cleaning up land and training workers. To date, the agency’s Recovery Act funding has saved or created 6,750 jobs in communities across the country.

In Columbus, Administrator Jackson announced that the Recovery Act had saved or created 79,000 jobs in Ohio and would provide 4.5 million Ohio working families with a tax cut. Ohio is also among the leaders nationally in the number of Recovery Act funded water pollution control and safe drinking water projects. EPA provided the state with $220.6 million in Recovery Act funds for water pollution control projects and $58.46 million in Recovery Act funds for drinking water projects. Those projects alone will improve water quality across the state, impacting 5.6 million Ohioans in 187 communities and creating or saving more than 700 jobs. Those projects range from new or upgraded sewers in communities and improvements to drinking water facilities across the state.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, 2009, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.

REGION 1:

Providence, R.I. (Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund)

On Feb. 17, EPA Region 1 Administrator Curt Spalding joined Senator Jack Reed at a press event at the Narragansett Bay Commission Fields Point facility to celebrate $26.3 million in clean water ARRA funds and $19.5 million in safe drinking water ARRA funds.

REGION 2:

Newark, N.J. (Brownfields)

On Feb. 17, EPA’s Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck joined Newark Mayor Cory Booker to visit contaminated sites, known as brownfields, whose cleanup is funded by the Recovery Act. The City of Newark has been awarded three brownfields clean-up grants, each for $200,000.

Syracuse, N.Y. (Drinking Water State Revolving Fund)

On Feb. 17, Peter Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water, joined New York State Officials, Syracuse Deputy Mayor John Corwin and New York State Environmental Facilities President Matt Driscoll to highlight green projects in the Syracuse area and talk more broadly about Recovery Act projects in New York State. The event will be held at Westcott reservoir, Syracuse’s drinking water reservoir, and will highlight three local Recovery Act projects.

REGION 3:

Wilmington, Del. (Water Projects)

On Feb. 17, Region 3 Regional Administrator Shawn Garvin visited the Wilmington Porter Filter Plant in Wilmington, Del. Recovery act funding has allowed this facility to install numerous solar panels, creating twenty jobs and helping to provide residents with a safe and reliable water supply free of microbial contamination.

REGION 4:

Lula, Ga. (Clean Water State Revolving Fund)

On Feb. 17, Acting Region 4 Regional Administrator Stan Meiburg joined Mayor Milton Turner for a Recovery Act event in the City of Lula, where the Hagan Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is being built using ARRA funding, creating 200 construction jobs. The plant will mean 200 jobs for construction and potentially more since the area will now be in a position to grow commercially.

REGION 5:

Waukegan, Ill. (Superfund)

EPA’s Region 5 Acting Regional Administrator Bharat Mathur will join state and local at a Recovery Act event in Waukegan, Ill., where Recovery Act funds are helping clean up a Superfund site, reducing the environmental threat the land poses and preparing the land for reuse.

REGION 6:

Austin, Texas (Clean Water State Revolving Fund)

On Feb. 17, Region 6 officials participated in an event in Austin, Texas to highlight Recovery Act funding to the Austin Water Utility, which will save customers $30.7 million in debt service payments.

REGION 7:

Springfield, Mo. (Clean Water State Revolving Fund)

On Feb. 17, EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks joined federal, state and local officials to announce green and energy-efficiency improvements at the Southwest Wastewater Treatment Plant in Springfield, Mo. This project is expected to create 30 jobs and will help the plant become more energy efficient.

REGION 8:

Brighton, Colo. (Clean Water State Revolving Fund)

On Feb. 17, EPA Region 8 officials joined state and local officials at an event highlighting the showcases economic and environmental benefits of the clean water and drinking water Recovery Act funding received by Colorado. The state of Colorado has received Recovery Act funding for 34 projects to improve water quality, creating or saving 300 jobs to date.

REGION 9:

El Cerrito, Calif. (Clean Water)

On Feb. 16, EPA Region 9 officials joined local officials in El Cerrito to highlight Recovery Act funding to help the city build a “Green Street,” which keeps harmful pollutants in stormwater from running from sidewalks and streets into the San Francisco Bay.

REGION 10:

Woodburn, Ore. (Drinking Water State Revolving Fund)

On Feb. 18, EPA Region 10 officials joined local officials to highlight a Recovery Act-funded project at the Woodburn, Ore., Water System Consolidation Project. The project will ensure that three surrounding communities, which previously had water quality challenges, will receive clean, safe drinking water.

Tacoma, Wash. (Brownfields Job Training)

On Feb. 17, EPA officials joined local officials to highlight a Recovery Act job training grant that will train 200 participants, with a goal to place 150 graduates in environmental jobs, and track graduates for a year. The city will work local employers to place graduates in environmental jobs.

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