Agenda - 12-06-2012 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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22 MILESTONES Soon after its formation, the Utility Commission embarked upon the most significant infrastructure capital building project to date. In 1972, federal legislation was passed that required public utilities to better clean the wastewater being discharged into rivers, streams or other raw water sources. The Federal Government offered grant money administered by the Environmental Protection Agency to assist with this point source clean up. To qualify for the grant money, each Public Utility had to conduct an extensive study to determine specific problems, methods to remedy them and a timetable for completion. This document became known as a 201 plan. Fortunately, the Staff of the Utility Commission had already completed this research and was all but ready to process. However, at that time, the Utility Commission had insufficient funds to pay for all the projects needed. Because many other North Carolina Public Utilities had not prepared their 201 plans in time, the City/County Utilities Division was able to submit its plan and receive $70 million in EPA grant money. The EPA grant money paid for 75% of the designated environmental improvements, leaving the State and City/County Utility Commission to pay the remaining 12.5% respectively. The $70 million improvements were spent on the following projects: • $7.2 million Connected Town of Kernersville's Sanitary Sewer System Archie Elledge Wastewater Treatment Plant. • $5.5 million Major improvements at the Archie Elledge Wastewater Treatment Plant. • $2.0 million Construction of Regional Laboratory and Maintenance Building at Elledge to serve Wastewater Treatment Plants. • $2.3 million Inspections and repairs of existing sewer lines to reduce infiltration and inflow. • $3.0 million Construction of new sewer lines. • $50.0 million Construction of the Muddy Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. (Hoar, 2-24-82) 8