09.23.04

Cantwell Secures $400,000 for City of Battle Ground Wastewater Treatment Plant

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced today that she secured $400,000 in a Senate spending bill to help the City of Battle Ground's wastewater treatment plant become a reality. Battle Ground, which currently pipes all of its wastewater 13 miles to the Salmon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, is looking to stave off sewage capacity problems.

"A wastewater treatment facility for Battle Ground will result in both economic and environmental advantages for the city and taxpayers," Cantwell said. "The city recognized that its sewage infrastructure needed to be developed further. I'm glad to help secure these funds."

The wastewater treatment plant would be used in addition to the Salmon Creek plant, which would still handle some of Battle Ground's wastewater.

Battle Ground is in the feasibility phase of a plan to build the Wastewater Reclamation Facility, working with local, state and federal agencies to ensure that the necessary permits will be issued. After the city finishes the feasibility studies early next year, it will begin designing the plant. The federal funds secured by Cantwell will be used in the designing phase.

City Manager Eric Holmes thanked Cantwell for her efforts.

Holmes said, "Senator Cantwell's work on behalf of the City and citizens of Battle Ground will allow us to move closer to construction of our own water reclamation facility in Battle Ground. Not only would such a facility benefit our community by adding fiscally responsible and environmentally progressive capacity to the City's sewer system, it would relieve pressure from the Salmon Creek Regional Wastewater Facility, benefiting the greater Clark County region. We appreciate and are thankful for the Senator's work and look forward to bringing this project to reality."

The funds were included in the Senate version of the fiscal year 2005 Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill, which passed the Appropriations Committee. Cantwell hopes the House of Representatives will also approve funding for the project.