Information Services - August 2009 Press Releases
Gov. Rounds Announces Nearly $11 Million for Environmental Projects
DENR Board Approves Air Permit for Hyperion Energy Center
Gov. Rounds Announces Nearly $11 Million for Environmental Projects
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Thursday, August 27, 2009
FOR MORE INFORMATION: James Feeney or Mike Perkovich, (605) 773-4216
FOR PROJECT DETAILS: Visit http://denr.sd.gov/bwnrapps0809.pdf
PIERRE, S.D. - Gov. Mike Rounds announced Thursday that the state Board of Water and Natural Resources has approved nearly $11 million in grants and low-interest loans for drinking water, waste water, storm water, landfill, and recycling projects.
The approvals included five grants and 15 low-interest loans, with principal forgiveness on 12 of those loans under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The projects involve a combination of dedicated state funding and federal stimulus funding. The state board has adopted administrative rules to allow use of ARRA funds to award principal forgiveness of at least 10 percent on qualified loans.
“We are pleased to make these funds available to help stimulate our economy and upgrade our infrastructure,” Gov. Rounds said. “This funding will also help protect the environment.”
The $10.9 million total includes two loans totaling $823,900 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program, with $218,283 of that in principal forgiveness; 12 loans from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program totaling more than $9 million, with nearly $2.8 million of that in principal forgiveness; four grants and one loan totaling more than $1 million from the Solid Waste Management Program; and a $65,000 State Water Resources Management System grant.
ARRA authorizes the board to award $38.7 million in EPA State Revolving Funds for waste water, drinking water, and storm water projects. The federal act required at least 50% of the funds to be awarded as principal forgiveness. Principal forgiveness awards this month obligate the remaining balance of the federal stimulus funds.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program provides low-interest loans for waste water and storm sewer projects. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program loan projects and those with principal forgiveness include:
Project |
Description |
Principal |
Loans |
Gregory |
Wastewater Improvements |
$0 |
$307,000 |
Sturgis (CW-05) |
Sanitary Sewer Improvements |
$218,283 |
$298,617 |
Total |
$218,283 |
$605,617 |
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program provides low-interest loans for public drinking water system projects. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program loan projects and those with principal forgiveness include:
Project |
Description |
Principal |
Loans |
Chamberlain (DW-02) |
Water Main Upgrades |
$280,000 |
$720,000 |
De Smet (DW-01) |
Replace Water Main |
$25,800 |
$232,200 |
Hanson Rural Water System (DW-01) |
Construct Water Tower |
$462,000 |
$378,000 |
Hill City (DW-01) |
Distribution System Improvements |
$225,000 |
$177,200 |
Huron (DW-02) |
Waterline Replacement |
$92,953 |
$526,731 |
Lead (DW-03) |
Waterline Replacement |
$340,000 |
$680,000 |
Letcher (DW-01) |
Replace Water Distribution System |
$0 |
$200,000 |
Mellette (DW-01) |
Water Distribution System Upgrades |
$244,602 |
$27,178 |
Mitchell (DW-02) |
Construct Water Tower |
$300,000 |
$2,000,000 |
Newell (DW-01) |
Water System Upgrades |
$322,750 |
$322,750 |
Sturgis (DW-02) |
Water System Improvements |
$86,300 |
$776,700 |
Woonsocket (DW-01) |
Water Main Replacement |
$386,750 |
$208,250 |
Total |
$2,766,155 |
$6,249,009 |
The Solid Waste Management Program provides grants and loans for solid waste disposal, recycling, and waste-tire projects. The Legislature appropriates Water and Environment Funds annually to the program through the Governor’s Omnibus Water Funding Bill. Solid Waste Management Program awards include:
Project Sponsor |
Description |
Grants & Loans |
Millennium Recycling, Inc. (Sioux Falls) |
Purchase of Recycling Equipment |
$300,000 Grant $300,000 Loan |
Pierre |
Purchase of Landfill and Baler Equipment |
$260,000 Grant |
Goodwill Industries (Rapid City) |
Purchase of Industrial Baler |
$9,050 Grant |
Walworth County |
Regional Landfill Equipment Upgrade |
$150,000 Grant |
Total |
$1,019,050 |
The State Water Resources Management System provides grants and loans for large water projects that have been authorized by the Legislature. The grant and loan funds come from dedicated water funding that is deposited in the state Water and Environment Fund. The Legislature appropriates Water and Environment Funds annually to individual State Water Resources Management System projects through the annual Governor’s Omnibus Water Funding Bill. The State Water Resource Management System award includes:
Project Sponsor |
Description |
Grant |
West Dakota Water Development District |
Black Hills Hydrology and Water Management Study |
$65,000 |
Total |
$65,000 |
The Board of Water and Natural Resources began awarding principal forgiveness in March for EPA State Revolving Fund loan applications that met program eligibility requirements. Projects eligible for stimulus funds can be provided at least 10 percent principal forgiveness on State Revolving Fund loans for waste water, drinking water, and storm water projects. Principal forgiveness awards to date can be found at http://denr.sd.gov/stimulussrffunding.aspx.
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Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Community Water Corporation Receive National Awards for Environmental Protection
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, August 25, 2009
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Kim Smith, (605) 773-3152
PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced today that the city of Sioux Falls and Minnehaha Community Water Corporation received national awards during a ceremony today in Sioux Falls.
The city of Sioux Falls was presented the Performance and Innovation in the State Revolving Fund Creating Environmental Success award. Minnehaha Community Water Corporation was presented the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Award for Sustainable Health Protection. Both recipients were nominated by the DENR. The awards were presented locally on behalf of the federal Environmental Protection Agency by Brad Johnson, Watertown, chairman of the South Dakota Board of Water and Natural Resources. The board administers the state’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan programs.
The Performance and Innovation in the State Revolving Fund Creating Environmental Success award recognizes projects that best represent the Clean Water State Revolving Fund’s commitment to innovative and sustainable water quality financing. The Award for Sustainable Health Protection recognizes projects that represent the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund’s commitment to innovation in financing, creative use of partnerships, and promotion of sustainable infrastructure.
Sioux Falls was the first city to receive funding through the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund nonpoint source incentive program. The incentive program rewards wastewater and storm water projects with a lower interest rate for including a nonpoint source component within the applicant’s project proposal. Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans totaling approximately $57 million funded storm sewer improvements and construction of a new sanitary sewer in Sioux Falls, while simultaneously contributing more than $4 million to cost share best management practices for the Central Big Sioux Watershed Restoration project.
Minnehaha Community Water Corporation utilized Drinking Water State Revolving Fund financing to address regional water supply needs. Minnehaha expanded its water supply, water treatment, and delivery system to provide bulk water that is compliant with Safe Drinking Water Act regulations to the towns of Garretson and Colton. Garretson’s water violated the Safe Drinking Water Act limit for radionuclides. Colton’s water supply had high levels of hardness, iron, and manganese, and experienced high nitrate levels in the past.
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DENR Board Approves Air Permit for Hyperion Energy Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, August 21, 2009
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Kim Smith at (605) 773-3152
PIERRE, S.D. - The state Board of Minerals and Environment unanimously approved a Prevention of Significant Deterioration preconstruction air quality permit on Thursday for a proposed oil refinery to be built in Union County in southeastern South Dakota.
The board decision came after listening to closing arguments from attorneys representing all parties in the contested case hearing. The board had previously conducted a site tour, listened to two days of public comment April 15-16, four days of expert witness testimony May 19-22, four days of expert witness testimony June 23-26, and one day of rebuttal witness testimony July 15.
The opposition now has 30 days after the final permit is signed by the board chair to appeal the permit to circuit court.
The proposed Hyperion Energy Center will include a 400,000 barrel per day refinery and an integrated gasification combined cycle power plant. The purpose of a Prevention of Significant Deterioration Air Quality preconstruction air quality permit is to ensure that emissions from the proposed facility will not degrade the air quality beyond increments allowed by state and federal air quality regulations. The permit also ensures the air quality will continue to fully comply with all National Ambient Air Quality Standards that have been established to protect public health and the environment.
For more information on the proposed oil refinery, visit http://denr.sd.gov/hyperion.aspx.
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More Than $1 Million in Stimulus EPA Clean Diesel Grant Funds Awarded to South Dakota School Districts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Wednesday, August 5, 2009
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Kim Smith, (605) 773-3152
PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced today that 14 school districts have qualified for more than $1 million in grant funds under the Stimulus EPA Clean Diesel Grant Program.
The federal economic stimulus grants will be used by the school districts to replace old diesel buses without air pollution controls in favor of newer models equipped with improved emission controls. The grants are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
“The main goal of the EPA Clean Diesel Grant Program is to reduce school children’s exposure to emissions that come from diesel engines in older school buses,” said DENR Secretary Steve Pirner. “EPA has determined that exhausts from older diesel engines with no pollution controls can aggravate respiratory problems and possibly increase the risk of lung damage in children.”
Grants will be awarded on a reimbursement basis. Before receiving federal stimulus Clean Diesel grant funds, school districts that applied and were approved must demonstrate all of the following:
- an existing diesel school bus with no emission controls has been replaced with a new bus that has air pollution controls
- the old bus has been scrapped or disabled within 60 days of receiving the new bus
- the new bus has been received and put into operation by July 31, 2010
- the new school bus meets or exceeds EPA’s 2007 diesel engine emission standards.
The list of school districts receiving funding assistance under the Stimulus EPA Clean Diesel Grant Program includes:
School District |
Maximum Federal Funding Amount |
Jones County School |
$52,441 |
Madison Central School |
$74,106 |
Hamlin County |
$78,202 |
Lyman School |
$70,776 |
Menno School |
$81,263 |
Herreid School |
$72,000 |
Langford School |
$71,402 |
Mobridge/Pollock School |
$79,974 |
Canistota School |
$71,869 |
Rapid City Schools |
$86,347 |
Watertown School |
$78,202 |
Groton School |
$73,758 |
Wessington Springs School |
$64,000 |
Stickney School |
$71,869 |
Total |
$1,026,209 |
DENR will hold a second round of funding for school districts under the program later this fall. School districts will be able to apply for the federal grants to either replace old, existing school buses or retrofit exhaust emission controls on mid-age buses. Application deadlines will be announced later.
For more information about the program, contact the DENR Air Quality Program at (605) 773-3151 or visit http://denr.sd.gov/des/aq/aadera.aspx.
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