In Saco, Congresswoman Pingree, Biden EPA Administrator Regan Highlight Infrastructure Law's Potential to Address Impacts of Climate Change in Maine

Statement

This afternoon, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) hosted President Biden's Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Michael S. Regan, on a tour of Saco's Water Resource Recovery Department to highlight how Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding can help address the impacts of climate change in Maine. The wastewater treatment facility in Saco, which serves more than 12,000 residents and 375 businesses, has faced significant flooding due to sea level rise caused by climate change. Following the tour, Regan and Pingree held a press conference to discuss funding streams to improve wastewater infrastructure in Saco and throughout Maine under the new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and heard directly from Howard Carter, the Director Saco Water Resource Recovery Department, about how climate change-related flooding has posed challenges for the area.

"Today, we saw first-hand how climate change is already impacting Maine and threatening the vital services our societies rely on to live safe and healthy lives. Being situated along the Saco River, the Saco Water Resource Recovery Department has witnessed a rising sea level that worsens by the year and causes regular flooding. But the Saco facility is taking action to ensure it is resilient to the effects of sea level rise, flooding, and climate change," said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. "After being underfunded for far too long, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will make the single-largest investment in water infrastructure ever, helping fund projects to strengthen resilience to extreme weather and climate change through upgrades to reduce the effects of flooding and their harmful impacts. As Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the EPA, I'm proud to fight for funding that helps us confront the climate crisis, and I thank Administrator Regan for coming to Maine to see our efforts in action and the real-world potential of the historic Infrastructure Law."

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