SCHUMER ANNOUNCES WEST POINT PROJECTS CLEAR KEY HURDLES IN CONGRESS – HOUSE AND SENATE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS BILL INCLUDE MAJOR FUNDING FOR NEW $70 MILLION WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT ON BASE & $55 MILLION TO REBUILD WEST POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Current West Point Waste Water Treatment Plant Was Built Nearly 60 Years Ago & Has Not Been Updated Since 1972; Suffers From Leaking Tanks That Are Beyond Repair And In Need Of An Upgrade – West Point Would Be Able To Replace Old, Deteriorating Water Plant
West Point Elementary School Was Originally Constructed In 1963 & Fails to Meet Federal Education And Energy Regulations – Replacing School Would Ensure Students Receive Great Education In State-Of-The-Art Facility
Schumer: West Point Military Base Elementary School & Waste Water Treatment Facility Need & Deserve to Be Updated
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that several New York Priorities were incorporated into the House and Senate appropriations bills, including funding for the West Point Military Base and surrounding community. Specifically, the bill included $70 million to replace the waste water treatment plant at West Point. The plant was built in 1956 and has not been upgraded since 1972. As a result, the plant suffers from leaking tanks that are beyond repair. Additionally, the bill included $55 million for a new elementary school at West Point. The current school was constructed in 1963 and remains in violation of numerous federal education and sustainability regulations. Schumer said that replacing the base’s waste water treatment plant and the elementary school with new state-of-the-art facilities would be major steps forward in improving the environmental conditions at West Point and providing a great education to the children of the surrounding area, many of which are children of military service members.
“The Waste Water Treatment Plant at West Point has deteriorated over time and must be replaced. The condition of the base’s Elementary School is similarly concerning. These outdated facilities consistently fail to meet federal education and energy regulations, and this does our children a great disservice. It is high-time we update these facilities so we can give the base and the school the new, state-of-the-art resources it needs and deserves,” said Senator Schumer. “When it comes to servicing this plant and educating the next generation of leaders, we should not cut any corners.”
The current waste water treatment plant at West Point has consistently failed to meet discharge requirements and has been cited with numerous violations since 2009. Building a new facility would allow employees to take advantage of advanced technology to treat water and avoid further environmental violations.
The current West Point Elementary school does not meet Department of Defense Education Agency regulations, specifically the Education Facilities Specifications as well as current AT/FP, ADA, and NFPA requirements. It also is in violation of numerous federal energy and sustainability mandates. The new school would meet the federal education and energy regulations and provide a quality education for 500 students in grades Pre-K through 4th.
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