Legislative Ltr Clean Water Loan Fund
'--
December 14, 2006
<<CompleteOFFICIALName _Address>>
Re: Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF)
Dear <<Title>> <<Las!>,:
I am writing on behalf of the citizen's of the City of Dubuque to ask for your support in restoring
the funding cuts that the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) has taken in recent
years as you finalize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's FY 2007 budget.
Functional water infrastructure is necessary for our city to grow, to keep the environment clean,
and to protect the health of our residents and visitors. The SRF provides a key component of
our funding for these projects. Cities like ours pay the majority of the costs associated with
water infrastructure, but without federal commitment of funding to help us meet federal
compliance rules, it becomes unlikely that these important projects become a reality. The
federal government bears a responsibility for upholding its portion of the protections that the
Clean Water Act provides communities like ours and other towns across the country.
The City of Dubuque has an upcoming project that provides for the rehabilitation of the walls,
floors and concrete covers of two clear well reservoirs. It also provides for "baffles" in a clear
well to help meet new IDNR and EPA disinfection rules. It would be in the City's best interest to
utilize the SRF loan funds to help minimize the costs of this project.
As you wrap up the 2007 budget process, I am asking you to support SRF funding by restoring
the nearly $200 million currently proposed for a cut back into EPA's budget for this item.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
MCVM:ksf
cc: Steve Johnson, Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Governor
Senator Tom Harkin
United States Senate
731 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Charles Grassley
United States Senate
135 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-1501
Congressman Jim Nussle
303 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-1502