Santa Teresa, N.M. – U.S. Senator Tom Udall attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Santa Teresa to celebrate the completion of the Sunland Park Wastewater Treatment Plant, made possible through a $9 million grant to the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF), which awards grants to address high-priority water supply and water sanitation needs. A representative from U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich’s office also attended the ceremony to celebrate the new treatment plant.
The new plant has the capacity to treat one million gallons of wastewater a day, helping to improve public health, protect the water quality of the Rio Grande, and provide critical services to more than 6,000 residents in two fast-growing Doña Ana communities, Sunland Park and Santa Teresa. It will also contribute to long-term economic development in the area, helping to attract new businesses and create good-paying jobs.
“Federal funding for state-of-the-art wastewater treatment and clean drinking water are smart investments, especially for our rural communities. Federal investment translates into improved health in our border communities, safe drinking water for residents, and increased economic development in Sunland Park and Santa Teresa,” said Udall. “This new plant is a great example of the federal government partnering with the state and the local community to protect public health, create jobs in the region, and improve the lives of New Mexicans. As the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing the EPA’s budget, I’m proud to have worked to double funding for the program that made this new plant possible, and to have worked to secure an additional $5 million in this year’s appropriations bill so we can continue investing in border infrastructure.”
“The completion of the Sunland Park Wastewater Treatment Plant Smart is a great example of smart investments in infrastructure that will not only improve public health, but also strengthen the community and contribute to long-term economic development,” said Heinrich. “The Border Environment Infrastructure Fund, which funded a significant portion of this project, was proposed for elimination by the current Administration. I assure you that I will oppose such cuts and will continue to highlight the many benefits of the critical projects funded by this and other important programs. Access to clean drinking water and safe sewer systems are essential to our state’s public health and overall wellness. I will continue to fight for resources that support New Mexico’s infrastructure and rural development.”
Udall and Heinrich were instrumental in prioritizing the border infrastructure project and securing funding for the treatment plant through the BEIF. In April 2012, Udall convened a field hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Children’s Health and Environmental Responsibility to investigate environmental concerns along the U.S.-Mexico border. At the hearing, he heard firsthand about the safety and environmental risks associated with the aging and outdated North Wastewater Treatment Plant, which posed a serious risk to residents’ health, and pushed for greater federal, state, and local collaboration on border water infrastructure. Udall and Heinrich fought for strong federal investment to replace the old plant with a new state-of-the-art plant, and finally secured the $9 million EPA grant in 2015.
Udall and Heinrich have long championed strong investment in environmental infrastructure to address the mounting backlog of water and wastewater needs in communities along the border. Earlier this year, the Trump administration’s budget request gutted funding for the BEIF, which would have jeopardized critical border infrastructure projects. Udall and Heinrich successfully pushed back against these deep cuts and worked with their colleagues on both sides of the aisle to restore funding for the BEIF, which is provided by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, where Udall serves as the lead Democrat. As the lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing funding for the EPA, including the BEIF, Udall has fought to increase access to potable water services for New Mexico communities all along the southern border.
