Colonial authority seeks new funding
REDSTONE TWP.- The Colonial Joint Sewage Authority is working to obtain funds, permits and finishing plan designs for a public sewerage system in Redstone and Jefferson townships. The authority secured a $350,000 loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to cover engineering, design and legal fees in November 2000. The authority is currently trying to obtain a second loan from PENNVEST to pay for acquisition of property, construction and permitting.
On Monday, the authority members put their signature on an application for a national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit from the Department of Environmental Protection.
As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the NPDES permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into the waters of the United States.
According to engineer Rob Kuchar, this permit allows for the treatment plant to discharge treated water into streams. The treatment plant, which will disperse 160,000 gallons of discharge a day, would be located on the Jefferson Township side of Redstone Creek and will accommodate both townships.
It may be quite a while before actual construction of the sewage-treatment system begins, but progress is being made, according to officials.
Engineer Dick Widmer told the authority that he expects to have a preliminary layout of the land, with property lines and utility locations, completed by the next meeting.
However, Widmer said the final plans for the project will probably not be completed until the end of the year.
Since plans are moving rapidly, Widmer suggested that the authority meet every month, instead of every other month. The authority agreed to begin meeting every month, beginning in July. The meetings will be held the first Monday of the month at 3 p.m. at the Redstone Township Municipal Building.
The Colonial Joint Sewage Authority is made up of Redstone Township supervisors Larry Williams, Ralph Rice and Raymond Paris and Jefferson Township supervisors Larry Stuckslager and Jeffrey Redman.