DEP to Clean up Housatonic River

• Last fall the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection issued a Request for Proposals for projects that can be funded from the approximately $9 million now available for restoration work in Connecticut as the result of a 1999 settlement with General Electirc.The projects are to restore the natural resources and recreational uses of the Housatonic River that were injured by the release of PCBs from the General Electric facility in Pittsfield, Mass.
• The DEP announced they received a total of 92 proposals of which 75 of the proposed projects meet program requirements. The Connecticut SubCouncil for the project will consider all comment on the eligibility report and is scheduled to make final decisions on project eligibility at its March 27 meeting. It is expected that a Restoration Plan will be formally adopted in early 2008. Project grants will be awarded in late 2008.
• A complete list of the proposals, sponsors, sponsoring organization and eligibility determinations can be found at the project Web site, ww.housatonicrestoration.org.