WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced $9,602,669.71 in federal Sandy relief grants to New Jersey State Department of Transportation and the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission. The funding is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Public Assistance grant program.

"This funding helps cover many of the costs associated with restoring critical public facilities and utilities damaged by Superstorm Sandy," said Senator Menendez, who helped lead the New Jersey delegation in the fight for federal Sandy relief. "Federal Sandy relief not only helps the agencies that receive it, but also helps the entire state continue on its path to full recovery from the storm. And I am committed to making sure that New Jersey continues to receive the resources we need to come back better and stronger than before the storm."

The federal Sandy relief funding announced today includes:

  • A total of $8,177,317.07 to the Passaic Valley sewerage Commission that includes:
    • $1,161,828.25 to remove storm debris from around 56 sewerage facilities that are located on a 140-acre complex.
    • $3,026,879.43 to repair the primary clarifier facility damaged as a result of Superstorm Sandy in order to restore partial services.
    • $1,739,581.24 to repair the sludge storage and decant facilities damaged as a result of the storm.
    • $2,249,027.15 account to repair the underground tunnel facilities that contain the electrical and water services damaged as a result of the storm.
  • $1,425,352.64 to the N.J. Department of Transportation help reimburse the cost to contractors to perform sonar identification of hazardous debris deposited in 198 nautical miles of navigation channels in the Raritan Bayshore, Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington, Atlantic and Cape May shore areas along the coast of New Jersey.

In January, President Barack Obama signed the Superstorm Sandy Supplemental Appropriations bill into law, bringing the total Sandy aid enacted by Congress to $60.2 billion. The funding package included federal aid to help homeowners, businesses, and communities recover, and resources to rebuild coastal, transportation, and water infrastructure.

Public Assistance grants are awarded by FEMA on a rolling basis after receiving applications from the state, which coordinates the process with local governments.

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