FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009

Congress okays funding for Glendale historic entryway, Surprise water treatment, other projects in Omnibus appropriations bill

WASHINGTON - Almost $3 million in funding for Arizona projects, including the restoration of historic buildings in Glendale, was approved under an Omnibus Appropriations Bill approved today by the U.S. House of Representatives, announced Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz.

The projects were part of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which combined nine annual appropriations bills left over from last year, including Fiscal Year 2009 Interior and the Environment appropriations.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

"These projects are important to the people and communities of Arizona," Pastor said.

The projects included:

- $200,000 from the Save America's Treasures program under the Historic Preservation Fund for the Glendale Historic Entryway project. This project includes the restoration of two historic facilities and the creation of an entryway, walks and associated public amenities. The entryway is positioned at the gateway from the U.S. 60 (Grand Avenue) to historic downtown Glendale. The property currently contains an historic service station from the 1920s, and a 1925 adobe house. Both are contribution properties on the National Register. The funds would be used to stabilize and weatherize the exterior of both the adobe house and the service station, as well as pumps, equipment and a period office with cash register and auto parts. An interactive exhibit would be provided explaining the history of the 18-mile Grand Avenue.

- $700,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) Program for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. The funds would be used for the planning and implementation of the Drainage Master Plan on Tribal Lands located near Tucson, Ariz. This project has local and regional significance because it will address safety, economic and transportation problems resulting from flooding and drainage issues. The project will provide a systematic approach for addressing existing and future drainage issues within the tribe's lands and surrounding communities. The tribe has matching funds.

- $500,000 from the EPA STAG program for the City of Surprise to design an arsenic removal system that can be operated within the existing Roseview water supply facility to better utilize the current equipment and infrastructure on site. The Roseview water supply facility provides potable water to onesquare mile of citizens living in Surprise, and has the ability to provide emergency water to the neighboring City of El Mirage.

- $500,000 from the U.S. Geological Survey for the U.S. - Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program. The University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) utilizes funds from this program to develop and implement an integrated scientific approach for the identification and assessment of priority aquifers, to evaluate data as part of the development of study plans for each priority transboundary aquifer, and to provide outreach information to water managers and natural resource agencies in the United States and Mexico.

- $1 million from the EPA for the Southwest Consortium for Environmental Research and Policy (SCERP). This consortium of five United States universities, including Arizona State University, and five Mexican universities conducts research projects to address the acute air, water and health problems plaguing the U.S. - Mexican border region. SCERP-supported research has facilitated many solutions to critical environmental problems in this unique, environmentally challenged area. Funds will be used to continue this vital research along the border.