WASHINGTON The United States Congress has given final approval to several requests by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) for funding of environmental preservation projects in Rhode Island. The $4.175 million in funding, part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Interior Appropriations Conference Report, provides money for land acquisition, drinking water and storm water infrastructure, and conservation and preservation projects.Reed stated, "This funding helps preserve the many natural resources and valued wildlife refuges in Rhode Island and will contribute to cleaner waterways and drinking water throughout the state. We need to protect and maintain our environment so generations of future Rhode Islanders can enjoy the scenic state we have today." The President is expected to sign the bill shortly after receiving it from Congress.The projects include:East Providence Waterfront Storm Water Management Analysis $250,000The bill provides $250,000 for the City of East Providence to analyze and develop an innovative storm water management plan for its newly revitalized waterfront. East Providence has commenced a major revival of more than 300 acres of its waterfront that includes the cleanup of contaminated industrial sites and the development of residential, retail, and commercial facilities. Redevelopment of these vacant, polluted coastal properties has been hindered by the inability to efficiently and effectively address storm water management on a project by project basis. The federal funding will allow the city to conduct an engineering analysis that will look at innovative storm water management approaches on a district-wide basis.Reed has helped East Providence secure $5 million in Section 108 Loans and Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI) Grants for the redevelopment of the waterfront site.Town of Cumberland Water Infrastructure$1,000,000Reed worked with Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) to ensure the bill includes $1,000,000 for the Cumberland Water Department to upgrade and improve the towns water supply infrastructure. The towns water supply is produced at the Sneech Pond water treatment plant and two municipal well fields. Additional water is purchased wholesale from the neighboring Pawtucket Water Supply Board (PWSB). The Water Department is facing increased challenges transmitting more water from the PWSB connection point to the growing and developing northern areas of the town. Also, Cumberlands treatment process for Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal was below standards last year. Cumberland will use the federal funding to improve the TOC testing and removal process and to bring the Abbott Run well field to full service, which would result in the availability of 300,000 gallons per day. The town will also use the funds to loop dead end water mains and clean and line a 10-inch transmission line laid in the 1930s. The Water Department currently provides water to approximately 22,000 residential, commercial, and industrial properties through 7,600 service connections.Town of North Smithfield Water Infrastructure$200,000The bill provides $200,000 for the Town of North Smithfield to extend municipal water from the City of Woonsocket to the Waterford neighborhood in North Smithfield. Approximately 80 homes in Waterford have been notified by their current water source, the Town of Blackstone, Massachusetts, that they must find an alternate source of drinking water. Blackstone has recently experienced numerous water shortages due to rapid growth. Deerfield Commons, an 80-unit assisted living residence also located in the Waterford is served by wells and does not have an adequate supply of water for fire suppression. Elevated levels of arsenic have also been detected in the wells serving the facility and the Rhode Island Department of Health has indicated that it probably does not meet the 2006 drinking water standards for arsenic The federal funds would support the installation of 3,100 feet of 10 water lines from a water tank on Rhodes Avenue in Woonsocket to Waterford. Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex -Land Acquisition $525,000The bill includes $525,000 to help the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex to purchase two high-priority properties adjacent to the John H. Chafee and Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuges. The land contains a variety of important habitats including barrier beaches important to the threatened piping plover, coastal wetlands, shoreline, upland forest, and forest wetlands.The properties to be purchased include the Stone Property at the Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge and the Howland II Project at the John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge.In FY 04, Reed secured $1 million for the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Last year he secured $500,000 for the Complex. For more information contact Charlie Vandemore at the National Wildlife Refuge Complex (401) 364-9124.Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Heritage Partnerships: $800,000Construction: $500,000 The bill provides $800,000 in partnership funds and $500,000 in construction funds for the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridors activities to preserve and revitalize this nationally significant region. The Blackstone Heritage Corridor recognizes the national and historical significance of the Blackstone region as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Spanning two states and encompassing two communities and a half million people, the partnership between the National Park Service, the States of Rhode Island and Massachusetts and several local communities has been a national model for revitalization projects. The Corridors planned construction projects include river restoration, historic preservation, and educational programming.In FY 04 Reed secured $1.865 million for the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Last year he secured $1.65 million for the Corridor. For more information contact Michael Creasey at the Blackstone Corridor (401) 762-0250. Bugnet Property Forest Legacy Project West Greenwich $600,000The bill includes a $600,000 to protect the 66-acre Bugnet property in West Greenwich. The property features extraordinary biodiversity and natural resource as well as a sustainable timber operation, which has been a Rhode Island certified American Tree Farm since 1970 and has continually demonstrated a long-term commitment to active forest management. Protecting this land will enhance public use and enjoyment of the adjacent lands which host cycling, birding, hiking and hunting as well as a public drinking water supply.