News Release 554

DEPARTMENT RECEIVES
NATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND INNOVATION AWARD FROM EPA

Volume 35-554

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 29, 2007 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources received a national award for performance and innovation for its comprehensive project tracking system. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the department at the 2007 annual Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities.

The department was recognized for promoting the use of better management practices in its Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program by investing in a comprehensive project tracking system. The department posts the information from the tracking system to its Web page to give applicants the ability to track their individual projects throughout the process. EPA also noted the system has improved accountability and financial management.

EPA created the Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success Awards in 2005 to recognize the extraordinary successes of the States' Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs. Each EPA's regional office nominates one state for this honor.

The Department of Natural Resources operates the State Revolving Fund Program that provides subsidized, low-interest loans to communities and public water and sewer districts statewide. These loans are used to construct water and wastewater treatment facilities. To date, the program has financed $1.93 billion of construction statewide and provided interest savings of over $573 million to its participants as compared to conventional financing.

For more information on the State Revolving Fund, contact the department's Water Protection Program at 573-751-1300 or visit www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/srf/index.html.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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