All News Releases By Date

Hawaii's Green Projects During the First 200 Days of the Recovery Act

Release Date: 09/03/2009
Contact Information: Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, higuchi.dean@epa.gov

(09/03/09) SAN FRANCISCO – On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The U.S. EPA manages more than $7 billion in projects and programs that will invest in environmental protection and provide long-term economic benefits to aide recovery efforts across the nation. More than $53 million in Recovery Act Funds have already been obligated to Hawaii, including:

* The Hawaii Department of Health’s Environmental Health Administration will receive $1.73 million in Recovery funds for the state's clean diesel programs. Hawaii plans to implement a clean school bus project under this program, replacing many of the oldest diesel buses in operation and retrofitting up to 400 school buses.

* The Hawaii Department of Health will use Recovery Funding in the amount of $19,500,000 for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program. It provides low-interest loans for drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements and ensures safe drinking water.

* Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) will be undertaken by the Hawaii Department of Health using $306,600 of Recovery Act Funding. Planning is an important step in EPA’s goal to improve water quality in America’s lakes, rivers and streams.

* The Hawaii Department of Health has been awarded Recovery Funding in the amount of $30,352,300 for the state's Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. The program provides low interest loans for water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, non-point source pollution control, and watershed and estuary management.

* The Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will receive $200,000 in Recovery Act Funds for the East Kapolei pesticide mixing and loading area cleanup using Recovery funding for Brownfields. The project will help cleanup contamination and revitalize the property for productive reuse.

For more info, please visit: www.epa.gov/recovery

###