Thursday, Jun 23 2011 3:29PM
The USDA announced help is on the way for rural Alaskan communities with issues regarding clean drinking water.
On June 16, Dallas Tonsager, Under Secretary for Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced a newly signed agreement will speed up the process for conducting water quality management projects in rural Alaskan communities.
Alaska Rural Development state director Jim Nordlund signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium that will accelerate the Rural Alaska Village Grant Program (RAVGP). The RAVGP provides funding for water and wastewater infrastructure construction in rural areas of Alaska.
"Rural Development is working to improve the quality of sanitation in rural Alaska, and we're committed to doing it without delay. I have seen first-hand the challenges facing residents of Alaska's villages and this agreement is intended to quickly and effectively fund the village water quality projects that are ready to go," said Tonsager.
Tonsager added sanitary conditions in many rural Alaskan communities are suffering due to the lack of clean drinking water and waste services.
From 1995 to 2007, the RAVGP provided a total of $394 million to the DEC for community upgrades and projects.