News Release

Contact: Kevin Herglotz, (202) 720-4623
kevin.herglotz@usda.gov
Tim McNeilly, (202) 690-0498
tmcneill@rdmail.rural.usda.gov

AGRICULTURAL SECRETARY ANNOUNCES GRANT TO HELP EASE ATHOL’S WATER EMERGENCY

     BOISE, IDAHO, August 13, 2001--Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the approval of a $40,000 Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant (ECWAG) to the community of Athol, Idaho to assist in providing a new source of safe drinking water to approximately 50 rural residents.

     “Safe and clean drinking water is as basic to human life as it gets. Developing a new source of safe drinking water for Athol residents is a very crucial need,” said Secretary Veneman.

     In the community’s application to USDA for assistance, local officials indicated that nearly 50 rural residents, of the community’s population of 356 residents, lost access to safe drinking water when the local spring, used to provide residents with water, was closed due to not meeting the Safe Drinking Water Act. Residents in this largely rural community have relied for many years on the ability to haul water from the local spring to their homes.

     Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants are available to assist rural communities that have had a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water. Grants can be made in rural areas and cities or towns with a population not in excess of 10,000 and a median household income of 100 percent of a State's non-metropolitan median household income. Grants may be made for 100 percent of project costs. The maximum grant is $500,000 when a significant decline in quantity or quality of water occurred within 2 years, or $75,000 to make emergency repairs and replacement of facilities on existing systems.

     USDA Rural Development serves as the lead federal entity for rural development needs, and administers program assistance through three agencies: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Utilities Service. Further information on USDA Rural Development can be obtained by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

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