HARRISBURG – Today Sen. Cris Dush (R-25) announced the Centre County Conservation District Corsica Borough (Jefferson County) and Sykesville Borough (Jefferson County) are set to receive more than $5.6 million in Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) grant funding for individual water quality and stormwater infrastructure improvement projects.
“With so many families struggling with ever-rising costs and inflation, cost-effectively funding necessary infrastructure improvement projects must always remain a top priority,” said Dush. “Securing this highly competitive PENNVEST funding is a huge win for even more homeowners, employers, schools, farmers and volunteer firefighters throughout our communities whose health, wealth and safety depend upon affordable and reliable access to clean and pristine water.”
The following recipients were approved for PENNVEST funding during an Oct. 16 voting meeting:
- Centre County Conservation District (Hall Farm Beef Facility Project) – $1.5 million
The Hall Farm, a small beef operation located in Julian, Centre County, is experiencing issues with inadequate manure storage and nutrient/sediment runoff that is negatively impacting the water quality of an unnamed tributary to Dick’s Run, a nearby cold-water fishery.
During this project, the farm’s existing manure storage unit will be decommissioned and a new, 60-by-280-foot stacking structure and heavy-use feeding area will be built elsewhere on the farm utilizing recommended agricultural best management practices. The construction will also include a roof, fencing, gates, reinforced animal trails, access lane, septic tank and piping outlets.
The Hall Farm currently houses 100 beef cows, 50 calves and 10 replacement heifers. Upon project completion, 3,673 pounds of nitrogen, 136 pounds of phosphorus, and 21,497 pounds of sediment is estimated to be eliminated from local waterways annually.
- Corsica Borough (School, Water and Pine Streets Stormwater Pipe Relining Project) – $450,000
Serving approximately 170 households—without presently charging a stormwater user rate—Corsica Borough, Jefferson County, owns a public stormwater collection and conveyance system that is operating beyond its useful life and in severe disrepair.
The proposed project will install cured-in-place pipe or folded thermoplastic pipelining of approximately 3,200 feet of stormwater piping. Approximately 31 concrete inlets will be repaired or replaced. Additional project costs include surface restoration, traffic control, and erosion and sediment controls for existing rights-of-way.
Consistent with land use planning and farmland preservation efforts, these upgrades will ensure that stormwater during future heavy precipitation events is adequately controlled; and other safety hazards associated with deteriorated stormwater infrastructure, including sinkhole formation on residential properties, will be significantly reduced or eliminated.
- Sykesville Borough (London Street and Highland Avenue Stormwater Infrastructure Replacement Project) – $3.6 million
Serving a small municipal population of less than 12,000—without presently charging a stormwater user rate—Sykesville Borough, Jefferson County, owns and maintains a stormwater collection system covering much of the borough’s central business and residential district.
To further ensure that stormwater flooding is adequately and safely controlled during future heavy precipitation events, the project will include replacement or installation of approximately 1.5 miles of existing stormwater collection pipe with high-density polyethylene pipe of between eight inches and 60 inches in diameter.
Approximately 75 inlets, manholes and other miscellaneous stormwater drainage regulators will also be replaced around London Street, Highland Avenue, Grant Street and Washington Street. The project will alleviate street flooding, property damage and outlet channel backups during rain events.
“Effectively functioning water, sewer and stormwater systems are critical to the health and safety of our local communities, but are very expensive to build, upgrade and maintain,” emphasized Dush. “Securing this PENNVEST funding will help to offset costs which means ratepayers do not have to bear the economic burden of these high-priced improvements that in the end minimize severe flooding, prevent pollution in our streams and safeguard local water supplies.”
Since its inception in 1988, PENNVEST has served communities and citizens by funding sewer, storm water and drinking water projects across the commonwealth. PENNVEST is not supported by the state’s General Fund budget, which covers the daily operations and services of the Commonwealth. Financing is provided through the use of federal funding and prior bond issues by the state as well as proceeds from the Marcellus Shale Impact Fee legislation, Act 13 of 2012.
CONTACT: Ty McCauslin, Communications Director at 717-787-7084 or tmccauslin@pasen.gov.