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***Michael W. Aube, State Director Emily J. Cannon, Public Affairs
Specialist***

***An Informational Newsletter of Rural Development's Rural Utilities
Division***

**About the Utilities Programs**

> ***The mission of the Utilities Programs of USDA Rural Development is
> to help improve the quality of life\
> and promote economic development in rural America. Rural Development
> administers USDA's Utilities Programs in a service-oriented,
> forward-looking, and financially responsible manner. These programs\
> have a long history of serving farm families and small communities.***
>
> ***The Utilities Programs direct the federal Electric,
> Telecommunications, and Water and Environmental programs. Along with
> Rural Development's Housing Programs and Business and Cooperative
> Programs, the Utilities Programs work as a part of Rural Development's
> mission area team to provide the tools rural Americans need to make a
> better life for themselves, their children, and their communities. The
> Utilities Programs also act as a catalyst for private sector
> investment in rural areas and promote rural America's ability to
> succeed in the new century.\
> ***

**Acting Under Secretary Gilbert G. Gonzalez Speaks at Earth Day\
Celebration Themed "Preserving the Penobscot River"**

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On April 29, Agriculture Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development
Gilbert Gonzalez\
announced before a gathering of over 130 area school children, \$7.6
million in funding to preserve the Penobscot River. USDA officials
visited with students at the Penobscot County Conservation Association
facility in Brewer where students learned about preservation and engaged
in fun and educational activities involving the Penobscot River.
Children from the Washington Street School, in Brewer, and Eddington
Elementary School, in Eddington, were engaged by speakers from the Maine
Discovery Museum, Atlantic Salmon Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and the Penobscot Nation. (continued on pg. 2)

"This exciting funding announcement is important to Maine's environment,
as it will support efforts to keep our rivers clean for future
generations," said Gonzalez. "The children who join us today are our
future, and educating them about the importance of preservation is
essential to maintaining a healthy earth tomorrow." USDA Rural
Development in Maine has invested over \$20 million in preserving the
Penobscot River since 2000 and is committed to the future of rural
communities.

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="3.3125in"
height="2.4895833333333335in"}The event included a presentation on sun
safety by Eddington Elementary's third grade class; activities such as
building a boat from recycled materials from the Maine Discovery Museum;
Salmon migration from the Atlantic Salmon Commission and U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service; and a presentation on the history and culture of the
Penobscot River by the Penobscot Nation. The children also engaged in an
art contest entitled, "What a Clean River Means to Me." The Grand Prize
winner was Emma Nichols from Washington Street School in Brewer. Other
winners included Abby Hallahan and Jake Qualheim,also from Washington
Street School; Anna Boyle and Jebediah Murphy-Dulac from Miles Lane
School in Bucksport; and Carli Poisson from the Eddington Elementary
School. Seedlings donated by the International Paper Company were given
to the children at the event.

The event was a joint effort of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation
Service, Farm Service Agency, and Rural Development. Each agency works
diligently towards preserving the earth and environment in Maine through
a variety of programs and mission areas.

USDA Rural Development funding of \$7.6 million to preserve the river\
was awarded to the City of Brewer in the amount of \$2,488,000; Town\
of Bucksport in the amount of \$2,990,000; Lincoln Sanitary District in
the amount of \$610,000; and City of Old Town in the amount of
\$1,515,500.

> Other USDA Rural Development investments in the environment included
> funds for the Town of Farmington in the amount of \$343,000; Pleasant
> Point Passamaquoddy Reservation in the amount of \$1,000,000; and
> Solid Waste Management Grants to Androscoggin Valley Council of
> Governments in the amount of \$117,000; Hancock County Planning
> Commission in the amount of \$44,600; Kennebec Valley Council of
> Governments in the amount of \$67,500; and Northern Maine\
> Development Commission in the amount of \$104,000.
>
> ![](media/image6.jpeg){width="5.0625in" height="2.451388888888889in"}

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> ![](media/image8.jpeg){width="4.430555555555555in"
> height="3.147222222222222in"}
>
> ![](media/image9.jpeg){width="1.78125in" height="1.34375in"}
>
> On May 10, USDA Rural Development staff, the Newport Town Manager,
> Newport Water District Trustees, Congressional staff, and the public
> gathered at Newport Water District's Open House Celebration to
> celebrate clean water provided by the District.
>
> "Most people just turn on the faucet without realizing all that goes
> into it," said Aaron Newhall, Chief Operator of Newport Water
> District, who gave visitors a tour of the facility. It is obvious that
> much effort is needed to preserve the pristine condition of drinking
> water. The District monitors the water weekly for the presence of
> lead, chlorine, iron, and phosphates.
>
> ![](media/image10.jpeg){width="1.6458333333333333in"
> height="1.2395833333333333in"}
>
> The water is treated using a technique called slow sand filtration.
> Comprised of a bed of sand which is supported by a layer of gravel,
> slow sand filtration is a process by which impurities are filtered out
> of water by using a top-down gravity process. The process is a form of
> natural, biological water treatment and removes solids, precipitates,
> and turbidity (muddiness) from the water. This effective process has
> been in use for over a century in Europe.
>
> USDA Rural Development has invested over \$5.1 million in the Newport
> Water District since\
> 1984 for water system improvements.
>
> ![](media/image11.wmf){width="1.5208333333333333in" height="1.4625in"}

  -------------- ---------------------- -------------- ------------- ----------------
  **Obligation   **Name**               **WW Direct**  **WW Grant**  **Project**
  Date**                                                             

  4/4/2005       Passamaquoddy Water    \$100,000      \$300,000     replacement pump
                 District                                            

  4/12/2005      Pleasant Point                        \$1,000,000   three pump
                 Passamaquoddy                                       stations

  4/27/2005      Town of Frenchville    \$134,000      \$400,000     EZ/EC

  6/24/2005      Caribou Utilities      \$500,000      \$1,210,597   EZ/EC-water
                                                                     upgrade

  8/12/2005      Calais, City of        \$600,000      \$400,000     Phase III
                                                                     upgrades

  3/16/2005      Brewer, City of        \$1,580,000    \$908,000     Hardy Street

  4/19/2005      Town of Bucksport      \$2,240,000    \$750,000     CSO

  4/28/2005      Norridgewock Water     \$575,000                    replace water
                 District                                            main

  4/29/2005      Old Town, City of      \$914,000      \$601,500     Blueberry Hill

  5/4/2005       Lincoln Sanitary       \$296,000      \$314,000     upgrade 3 pumps
                 District                                            

  6/21/2005      Town of Searsport      \$175,000      \$175,000     pump and sewer
                                                                     ext

  6/30/2005      Town of Franklin                      \$500,000     ECWAG

  8/9/2005       Norridgewock Water     \$476,000      \$150,000     replace water
                 District                                            main

  8/10/2005      Dexter Utility         \$400,000      \$300,000     upgrade water
                 District                                            plant

  8/10/2005      Milford, Town of       \$250,000                    replace pump
                                                                     station

  2/4/2005       Mt. Abram Chalet       \$275,000                    new reservoir
                 Association                                         

  2/11/2005      Boothbay Region Water  \$391,000      \$280,000     pump station
                 District                                            

  2/11/2005      Paris Utility District                \$15,000      PPG

  4/15/2005      Farmington, Town of    \$204,000      \$139,000     relocation

  5/9/2005       Paris Utility District \$175,000                    rehab standpipe

  6/6/2005       Farmington, Town of    \$215,000      \$90,000      replace sewer
                                                                     mains

  6/14/2005      Town of Jay            \$494,000                    replace sewer
                                                                     mains

  7/14/2005      Town of Rangeley       \$415,000      \$135,000     replace pump

  7/22/2005      West Paris Water       \$300,000      \$82,600      install new pipe
                 District                                            

  3/2/2005       Bowdoinham Water       \$640,000                    new water tank

  6/30/2005      AVCOG                                 117,000       solid waste mgt
                                                                     grant

  6/30/2005      HCPC                                  44,600        solid waste mgt
                                                                     grant

  6/30/2005      KVCOG                                 67,500        solid waste mgt
                                                                     grant

  6/30/2005      NMDC                                  104,000       solid waste mgt
                                                                     grant

                                                                      

                 TOTALS                 \$11,349,000   \$8,083,797   **To Date:
                                                                     \$19,432,797**
  -------------- ---------------------- -------------- ------------- ----------------

> **\* Funding does not include Water Circuit Rider Technical Assistance
> Grants funded through Rural Development's National Office**

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