EPA Administrator Announces $436M WIFIA Loan for Indiana

On Thursday, while visiting an Indiana Superfund site, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt separately announced that Indiana will be receiving WIFIA funding this year to address statewide drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs.  Just as a reminder, WIFIA, or the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, is a “…federal loan and guarantee program at EPA that aims to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects.”  Pruitt’s statement did not include details on the loan award beyond saying that Indiana would receive it “…once all needed processes are completed.”

Excerpts from the Administrator’s press release follow.  To read the complete release, please click here.

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt signed a memorandum to accelerate removal of lead contamination [in the soil] in Indiana, near the site of a former metals facility. He also announced that Indiana will receive a $436 million federal loan through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.

 Administrator Pruitt joined [Indiana] Governor Holcomb for a roundtable with local stakeholders and commended the state for the creativity in its application for a FY2017 WIFIA loan and noted the project as an example for other states to follow. Once all needed processes are completed, the state will receive a $436 million loan to provide revolving loans to local water entities to focus on drinking water and wastewater treatment projects.