USDA Rural Development: Parkland Sanitary District celebrates Earth Day with USDA Rural Development

Receives loan/grant combo for wastewater collection system

SOUTH RANGE, WI — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development joined village officials at Parkland Town Hall today in celebration of Earth Day 2010 and to participate in a ground breaking ceremony for a new wastewater collection system for Parkland Sanitary District.

The day included a formal program where USDA Rural Development Administrative Programs Director Lori Wells, representing State Director Stan Gruszynski, presented Parkland Sanitary District with an Earth Day Award for upcoming improvements to the wastewater collection system. Additionally, ground was broken on the project by District Board members, Superior Mayor Dave Ross, State Senator Bob Jauch, State Representative Nick Milroy, representatives from MSA Engineering, Maki and Overom Law Firm and other federal and state officials.

The project includes a pressure sewer, lift stations, and holding basin to serve the community. A wastewater collection system will be constructed that connects to the City of Superior collection system, sending all wastewater for treatment at the City of Superior Wastewater Treatment Plant. Currently the residents use holding tanks for wastewater disposal and some utilize on-site wastewater treatment systems. The new system will provide proper treatment of wastewater to prevent insufficiently treated wastewater from being discharged into the ground surface and nearby surface waters.

USDA Rural Development approved a loan for $2,992,000 and a grant of $4,716,000 toward the project through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009.

“Earth Day calls for a cleaner, safer environment for its inhabitants and today we’re here to celebrate the cleaner, safer wastewater collection system for the residents of South Range,” said Wells. “Improvements to the Village’s wastewater system means improvements to its residents’ health and wellness; sanitation; and a solid foundation on which growth and opportunity are realistic endeavors. On this 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, USDA Rural Development is proud to celebrate this new beginning with South Range.”

President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on Feb. 17, 2009. It is designed to jumpstart the nation’s economy, create or save millions of jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act includes measures to modernize our nation’s infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.

More information about USDA’s Recovery Act efforts is available at http://www.usda.gov/recovery. More information about the Federal government’s efforts on the Recovery Act is available at http://www.recovery.gov.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As the lead federal agency for rural development needs, USDA Rural Development administered nearly $744 million dollars this past year to rural Wisconsin communities. Funds are used to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technological infrastructures. For more information on USDA Rural Development programs visit USDA’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/wi.