Letter to Craig Fugate, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency - Cost of Repairs to Kingston Sewage Treatment Plant Should Be Approved ASAP
Letter
Dear Administrator Fugate:
I write you today in support of the City of Kingston's application for an additional $4.4 million in funding under the Public Assistance program to repair the Kingston Wastewater Treatment Plant (NY-4085-PW-02506(0)). As you know, the wastewater treatment plant suffered significant damage during Superstorm Sandy. The treatment plant sits along the Rondout Creek, which flooded during the storm, ruining equipment, causing damage to electrical systems, and causing the plant to go offline for several hours.
I thank you for your attention to the $2.2 million that has already been awarded to this project; that funding will go a long way toward helping the city rebuild this critical piece of infrastructure. As you know, however, during a later evaluation, additional damage was discovered at the wastewater treatment plant. Due to the need to get power up and running at the facility as quickly as possible after the storm, most equipment was only wiped clean and vacuumed in the immediate aftermath, instead of going through a thorough tear down and inspection process. Staff at the wastewater treatment plant have noticed an increased failure rate with many pieces of equipment that were partially or fully submerged from the floodwaters.
The City has developed a cost-effective plan to repair the damage to the Kingston Wastewater Treatment Plant. Their plan will provide the plant with an increased level of flood protection, a more robust and simplified electrical system, and more resilient facilities. With its Public Assistance grant increased to $6.7 million, the Kingston Wastewater Treatment Plant will be able return to its pre-storm state of performance, with increased resiliency and emergency backup in the event of the next storm.
I sincerely hope the City of Kingston's application for increased Public Assistance funding meets with your approval. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
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