Making Strides with Public Projects: Update on PA Top Ten

EATONTOWN, N.J — One of the largest public assistance projects in the history of the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently received final approval for funding.

The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission’s Newark Bay Treatment Plant is the fifth-largest sewage treatment facility in the nation. The plant, which is situated on a low-lying 140 acres at the edge of Newark Bay, treats wastewater, municipal sewage sludge and drinking water sludge from 3.43 million combined residents of New Jersey and New York, serving approximately 25 percent of New Jersey’s population and 15 percent of New York City’s.

Forty-six separate project worksheets were associated with the plant. The FEMA-obligated cost of PVSC’s combined projects is $348,680,241.44, topping the list of New Jersey public assistance applicants.

The facility sustained more than $90 million of damage to everything from generators and internal wiring to support vehicles on the grounds. In addition to the repairs, PVSC plans to build a flood wall that will protect the entire facility from a similar future disaster. That project will require approximately one year to design and 5-6 years to build.

Debris removal was the most costly expense in the days immediately after Hurricane Sandy, and FEMA has obligated more than $203 million to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for Sandy-related remediation and expenses, including $161.4 million for debris removal expenses. The third-highest application total for PA grant funding is the Middlesex County Utilities Authority at $93.7 million.

In New Jersey, FEMA Public Assistance grants for Hurricane Sandy recovery work pay 90 percent of the eligible costs not covered by insurance payouts. FEMA provides the funding to the State of New Jersey for reimbursement to the applicants. Any remaining costs are paid for by the applicant.

Grants also can be used to pay for the repair, reconstruction or replacement of eligible public facilities and infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

As of October 3, 2014, FEMA has obligated nearly $1.5 billion for public assistance projects related to Sandy in New Jersey.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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