Jenniffer González announces approval of $ 10.9 million in federal funds for the Municipality of Lajas

Washington, D.C. - Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez today announced the approval of $ 10,901,000 in federal funds, which were held since 2016, so that the Municipality of Lajas can comply with federal and state regulations and can continue with landfill projects.

Because of hurricanes Irma and María, the cost of the project allows movement forward with the partial closure of the Lajas Municipality landfill facilities, subsequent closures, improvements, equipment and compliance with state and EPA regulations, increased to $ 10,901,000. The cost of the project is divided into $ 782,000 committed to other resources and $ 10,119,000 of funds from the Rural Utilities Service Office (RUS, for its acronym in English).

The combination of loan and allocation of federal funds allows compliance with the requirement of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the continuity of the landfill operation in the Municipality of Lajas, and to enable other areas for the same purpose. It also gives continuity of solid waste service to the town of Lajas and bordering municipalities.

"I am committed to working collaboratively with the municipality and the mayor, Marcos A. Irizarry Pagán, to identify and maximize federal resources that contribute to the socioeconomic development of the region, as is this new allocation of funds," said the resident commissioner.

Earlier this year, the congresswoman met with the secretary of the federal Department of Agriculture (USDA, for its acronym in English), Sonny Perdue, with whom she discussed the situation of the municipality of Lajas and the funds needed to boost landfill projects. They also discussed planning with the USDA offices to expedite the disbursement of funds for the municipality.

"In 2016 a loan of $ 4.8 million and a $ 2.0 million donation was approved that only covered the costs for a single phase and was never disbursed. In March 2017, I asked the Commissioner for help in releasing funds. ", Said Marcos A. Irizarry Pagán.

"Thanks to the intervention of the Commissioner, the approval and now the release of the funds was achieved, but with better terms for the Municipality: now it is a single phase, plus a donation of $ 7.5 million (an increase of $ 5.5 million) and a reduction of loan to $ 2.6 million", added the mayor.

The scope of the project for the Municipality of Lajas would involve the closure of cell 1 (1A and 1B) with a closing limit. Three additional cells will be built that will comply with the applicable closure and operation guidelines established by the EPA and the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources to comply with the regulations. Cell 2 will be divided into cells 2A and 2B in terms of construction and operation. Cell 3 will also be built. The project consists of a single phase originally was in two.

As part of the new approval, the full funds were granted for a single construction phase and the final completion is projected for October 2023.