Schumer, Mangano Reveal: EPA Refusing to Pay $20 Million in Sewer Funds Owed to Nassau

Schumer: Nassau County Was Awarded Grants of $20 Million Dollars in Early 1980’s, Did the Work, and Was Never Reimbursed; Wants EPA to Pay

Out on Award So County Taxpayers Don’t have to Pick Up Cost

EPA Reimbursement Would Provide Taxpayers With Sorely Needed Sewer Infrastructure Improvements

Schumer and Mangano: New Sewer Upgrades and Odor Control Systems Could be Put in Place with EPA Reimbursement

Today, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer, joined by Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to release over $20 million worth of grant money awarded to the County in the mid-1980s. The grants, awarded under a now defunct EPA Sewer Infrastructure program, would reimburse the County for multi-million dollar upgrades at the Cedar Creek and Bay Park wastewater treatment plants dating back almost 3 decades ago.  While work was done, the reimbursement never came and Nassau taxpayers picked up the cost. Schumer and Mangano will call on the EPA to release the funds so that taxpayers can be reimbursed for previous outlays and future projects can be funded without increases in sewer rates.  The federal reimbursement will be directed to the County’s sewer fund, which will save Nassau taxpayers millions in financing costs over the coming years.

“The fact that $20 million has been withheld from Nassau County for 30 years is simply unacceptable and it’s time for the EPA to pay up,” Schumer said. “It’s outrageous that these grants were never paid to the county and it’s time for the EPA to reimburse Nassau County taxpayers so that they aren’t on the hook for future costs and repairs for the county’s sewer system."

"30 years later, the check is not in the mail." Senator Charles Schumer

"At a time when families are doing all they can to make ends meet, government must do the same.  That's why I'm demanding today that the EPA release the $20 million it has withheld from Nassau County for the past 30 years," said Mangano.  "Although we have already begun to implement solutions to reduce odors at the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant, these Federal funds could help advance our system while improving the quality of life for the entire community."

Schumer and Mangano are proposing that the more than $20 million in owed EPA funds for Nassau County be reimbursed immediately so that future projects like the new 3-point plan to upgrade the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant upgrade can beign, which will improve south shore waterways, which have been blamed for odor, fish kills, and other environmental issues in Bay Park.  Schumer and Mangano said that with the EPA reimbursement, these upgrades can be accomplished without placing an additional tax burden on local property owners.

There are several projects that are currently budgeted for, which have the county assuming additional debt to accomplish. The County currently has $13.5 million of debt programmed for odor abatement projects over the next 4 years and is committing $7 million to reduce chlorine at Bay Park. The overdue $20 million reimbursement would allow the county to move forward with these projects, without the necessity of passing on the cost to residential sewer rates.

Schumer is also making a direct appeal to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to immediately conduct a top-to-bottom review of these decades-old grant awards for Nassau County and expedite approvals of over $20 million in grants owed to the County’s sewer fund.  With the return of these EPA funds, Nassau County could complete significant sewer system upgrades and reduce the tax burden on local residents.

"Improvements to the Bay Park Sewage Treatment are long overdue. Today's bipartisan efforts to obtain Federal dollars could benefit the entire community by reducing odors and improving safety at the facility," said Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony Santino.

"For too many years, the EPA overlooked the Bay Park community and I am joining the fight to demand the release of these long-overdue funds so we can upgrade and overhaul the plant; this is how we can immediately improve the quality of life for the working families and seniors of Bay Park." Legislator Howard Kopel, LD 7

EPA awarded a grant to the County in 1984 for $7.5 million the upgrade and expansion of wastewater treatment operations in Nassau County , $12 million for architectural and engineering fees, and $2 million for sewer piping. Though EPA Region 2, which covers the Long Island region, has issued an opinion that the county should be reimbursed, headquarters has denied the requests on broad grounds about general management of EPA grants.

“The bottom line is Nassau County did everything it was supposed to do and lived up to its obligations with these projects,” continued Schumer. “And yet despite this, EPA is leaving Nassau County taxpayers on the hook. The bottom line is these release of these dollars could have a significant impact on residential and commercial water rates in the district and the EPA has an obligation to release them.”