Politics & Government

DEC Awards Village $2M in Water-Quality Improvement Grants

Northport officials will continue to examine the conditions before making a decision to accept the grants.

 has been awarded almost $2 million from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Statewide Grant Program.

Trustee Tom Kehoe, also Commissioner of Sanitation, opened the letter with the news at the start of the Board of Trustees' meeting Tuesday and revealed it to his fellow trustees and the audience.

Deputy Mayor Henry Tobin was cautious. "We have to examine the details," he said.

Further perusal did reveal that the village will need to make up a significant difference between the costs of the planned projects and the awards.

Find out what's happening in Northportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He said that the costs for the water-quality improvement and stormwater runoff control projects have been estimated to be $587,000 and the grant award is $500,000.  The cost for upgrades to the sewer plant have been estimated to be $1,8015000 and the grant award is $1,389,000.

"So it looks like we would have to make up the difference," Tobin said.

Trustee Kehoe noted that the state does usually allow 'in kind' contributions. "In otherwords," he said, "part of our contribution can be that our men can do some of the work. So hopefully we will be able to afford to do it. "

Mayor Doll was semi-enthusiastic. "Okay, that's good. We think.  Never look a gift DEC in the mouth," he said.

The , despite an upgrade in 2006, needs upgrades to meet nitrogen standards for 2014.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) supports water quality improvements through the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Statewide Grant Program. The WQIP program is a competitive, reimbursement grant program that directs funds from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund to projects that reduce polluted runoff, improve water quality and restore habitat in New York's waterbodies.

Find out what's happening in Northportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If the board votes to accept the grants, a project work plan with more detailed information than the application included will need to be submitted.


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