**Alexander, Wamp celebrate Earth Day with \$800,000**

**clean-water project for Copperhill**

April 21, 2008 - COPPERHILL, Tenn.---In celebration of Earth Day 2008,
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, U.S. Representative Zach Wamp and USDA
Rural Development State Director Mary Ruth Tackett today joined Mayor
Herbert Hood, local leaders and students from Copper Basin Elementary
School to announce a federal investment of \$800,000 to complete funding
for a new safe, reliable wastewater treatment system for families and
businesses in Copperhill, southeast Polk County and McCaysville,
Georgia. The celebration, including an Earth Day tree-planting took
place in the town square across from City Hall.

\"Earth Day is a good time to focus our energy and attentions on what we
can do to take care of the blessing we have in our Great American
Outdoors,\" Alexander said. \"This loan and grant will provide upgrades
to Copperhill\'s wastewater treatment facility to ensure that it
complies with state and federal clean water laws, in order to avoid
potential health and safety hazards in the Ocoee River. I will continue
to work with Congressman Wamp and other members of the Tennessee
delegation to make sure Tennesseans are getting the help they need.\"

During the Earth Day event Hood recounted Copperhill's long road of
recovery from environmental damage done by 100 years of toxic copper
mining and smelting. Since the reclamation effort began in the 1930's
millions of trees have been planted and the area is now enjoying an
accelerating transformation from barren waste to fertile hills and
valleys like the Cherokee National Forest and Ocoee Wildlife Management
Area that surround Copperhill.

"We are reminded on Earth Day that natural treasures like the Ocoee
River are worthy of our attention and stewardship to protect and improve
for future generations," Congressman Wamp said. "This funding will help
with much-needed infrastructure improvements for Copperhill residents
and will continue to promote economic growth in the area."

A Rural Development community facilities low-interest loan of \$500,000
and grant of \$300,000 will fund improvements to the municipal
wastewater treatment plant necessary to meet the growing needs of
Copperhill families and businesses. A federal Community Development
Block Grant of \$200,000 brings the total investment in clean
waste-water for Copperhill and the Ocoee River to \$1 million.

Upgrades to the existing plant and the addition of a new holding basin
will bring the facility into compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act
and the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act. The project will alleviate
potential sewer-related health and safety hazards in the Ocoee River and
provide adequate capacity for the facility to continue supplying
waste-treatment for neighboring McCaysville, Georgia.

Tackett said, "We are fortunate to have Senator Lamar Alexander and
Congressman Zach Wamp leading a strong congressional delegation for
Tennessee. Their support makes it possible for Rural Development to
deliver the financial resources the people of Copperhill need as they
build up a healthy natural and business environment."

As part of the celebration Sen. Alexander and Rep. Wamp presented awards
for the Copper Basin Elementary School Earth Day poster contest. Winners
included first grade students Jeffery Barnes, Faith Jack, Shayne Norris,
Kaitlyn Burger, Alison Taylor, Conner Wright, Virginia Chambers Cierrea
Hinrichs and Syndi Taylor. Teacher's leading the special Earth Day
studies at the school were Ms. Satterfield, Ms. King and Ms. Kilpatrick.

Water and waste disposal improvements promote health, safety and
economic development in rural communities. Rural Development invests in
these essential community programs by providing technical and financial
assistance through direct and guaranteed loans and grants for public and
non-profit organizations to develop, improve and repair water, sewer and
storm-drain systems. These programs serve unincorporated areas and
cities with a population less than 10,000.

Others participating in the announcement included Sen. Bob Corker's
Representative Betsy Ranalli, McCaysville Mayor Buddy Finch, and Rural
Development Area Specialist David Collett.

USDA Rural Development is committed to the future of rural communities
in Tennessee by providing financial and technical assistance through
housing, community and business development programs. In Fiscal Year
2007 Rural Development assisted more than 600,000 Tennessee families and
businesses with more than \$308 million in financial assistance through
loans and grants.

For more information on community infrastructure, housing or business
development programs available in southwest Tennessee, contact the Rural
Development Area Office in Chattanooga at (423) 756-2239, ext. 2 or toll
free at 800-342-3149 ext. 1492 or visit us online at
<http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn>.

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*"USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender". To file a
complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or
call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).*