Four Water Projects Get $313 Million from TWDB
From Regulations to Aid, State and Federal Government Have a Hand in Infrastructure Issues from Brownfields to Water and Hot Mix Asphalt
Four Water Projects Get $313 Million from TWDB
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will provide $313.7 million in financial assistance to four projects with the Trinity River Authority receiving the biggest chunk of the funding at $300 million for wastewater system improvements.
The TWDB will loan the funding to the Trinity River Authority to finance wastewater system improvements utilizing the pre-design funding option. The Authority’s Central Regional Wastewater System (CRWS) is a large regional wastewater system currently serving a population of 1.2 million in Dallas, Tarrant, Ellis, Johnson, and Denton counties.
The service area includes all or portions of 20 cities in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex as well as the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Collection system improvements include the planning, design, or construction of 19 relief interceptor projects and 11 rehabilitation projects. Construction will include approximately 116,788 lin ft of 15-in through 108-in sanitary sewer line, in addition to various other rehabilitation items for manholes and meter stations. Wastewater treatment plant improvements include the planning, design, or construction of 23 projects.
Construction will include the replacement of aging units, improving system reliability, and providing wet weather flow storage and treatment. These projects, along with additional projects to be completed with future bond funding, are necessary to complete the up-rating of the CRWS Treatment Plant from 162 to 189 million gallons per day (MGD).
The other three projects receiving funding include the Harris County Water Control and Improvement District No. 36, city of Commerce and Zapata County. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund will provide $7.3 million for water system improvements with $5 million for the Harris County Water Control and Improvement District No. 36 and $2.3 million to the city of Commerce. Zapata County will receive $6.4 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for wastewater system improvements.
New 811 Number Provides “Call Before You Dig” Service
Promotion has started on a new national “Call Before You Dig” number to eliminate confusion of multiple numbers across the country. By calling 811, callers can connect with local One Call Centers that notify the appropriate local utilities. The local utilities dispatch crews to the requested site to mark the location of underground lines. The 811 number will not eliminate existing one-call center numbers, but will work in concert with them.
Current statistics on One Call Centers show that the majority of Americans are not using this service. Created to eliminate the confusion of multiple "Call Before You Dig" numbers across the country and to be an easy-to-remember resource, 811 will make it easier for Americans to call before attempting any digging project, whether it be something small like planting a tree or installing a mailbox or a larger project like building an addition or deck.
Brownfields EPA Grants Awarded to North Texas Communities
North Texas will receive $3.4 million in brownfields grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help revitalize former industrial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community use. The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) received a $3 million grant to establish a revolving loan fund for brownfields cleanup along transit lines.
The city of Arlington received grants totaling $400,000 to assess brownfields cleanup needs at sites throughout the city.
Brownfields are vacant, abandoned or under-used properties where redevelopment may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. EPA’s Brownfields Program empowers cities and states to work together to clean up these properties and turn them into community assets.
NCTCOG will use its $3 million brownfields revolving loan fund grant to support cleanup activities at sites containing petroleum and other hazardous substances. Targeted properties include sites located along transit lines in southeast Fort Worth and southeast Dallas County. Cleaning up these sites is expected to spur commercial and residential redevelopment.
The city of Arlington was awarded two assessment grants totaling $400,000 to inventory brownfields sites with potentially hazardous or petroleum contamination, conduct environmental site assessments, and perform community outreach.
Redevelopment of the city’s brownfields sites is part of its overall economic strategy to attract new businesses and generate jobs.
New Standards Set for Hot Mix Asphalt Plants
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality instituted new requirements for all hot mix asphalt plants effective July 10. Now, all hot mix asphalt (HMA) plants shall meet at least a front half outlet grain loading of 0.01 grains per dry standard cu ft (gr/dscf) and a combined, front half and back half, outlet grain loading of 0.04 gr/dscf. If stack sampling was done and it demonstrated compliance of the HMA standard permit prior to July 10, then data in lieu of testing (DILOT) is acceptable. If the stack sampling did not show compliance with the HMA standard permit, then new stack sampling must be performed and DILOT will not be acceptable.
Legislature Passes Comprehensive Water Bill
Comprehensive water legislation passed in the final hours of the session with House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 3 representing a legislative package to develop and manage the state’s water resources. House Bill 3 includes provisions for the protection of instream flows and freshwater inflows, the management of groundwater in the area regulated by the Edwards Aquifer Authority and the operations and oversight of the Edwards authority. Senate Bill 3 includes identical language on the instream flows and freshwater inflows as well as provisions for conservation and water rights. Absent from the legislation is language designating specific sights for construction of new reservoirs in the state. An interim joint committee is also established under the legislation to review and make further recommendations on the state’s water issues.
DFW Airport to Host 2008 International Conference
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport will host the 2008 Airport Cities World Conference & Exhibition in Texas. The conference will bring together airport executives from around the globe to discuss the dynamic trend in the aviation industry of land development and recruiting top business tenants to bolster non-aviation revenues.
The airport is also poised to develop its vast untapped natural resources. In October, DFW signed a contract with an initial value of $186 million with Chesapeake Energy Corporation to drill for natural gas. Exploration is slated to begin this summer, and the additional royalties paid to the airport will fuel capital expansion plans.
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