NH Delegation Announces Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding for Piscataqua Region Estuaries

U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) welcomed today's announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that $132 million from the bipartisan infrastructure law will be invested in the National Estuaries Program (NEP). This unprecedented investment will provide each of New England's estuaries of national significance with up to $4.5 million over the next five years to fund important work to protect and restore the estuaries, including the Piscataqua Region Estuaries.

The delegation's statements today follow their announcement in June on the release of $1 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure law out of the $5 billion allocated in the legislation to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in small and disadvantaged communities. Last year, Shaheen, Hassan, Kuster and Pappas announced more than $72 million in federal funds for New Hampshire from the EPA to improve the state's drinking water and wastewater systems, including addressing PFAS and lead in Granite State water supplies.

"New Hampshire's way of life and our economy are rooted in our natural environment," said Representative Pappas. "It's welcome news that these funds are being delivered to our communities to protect and restore the Piscataqua Region Estuaries, work that will improve access to clean water and resiliency on the Seacoast. I'll keep fighting in Congress to ensure that our state receives the resources needed to protect our environment and build safe, resilient infrastructure in all our communities."

"This latest infusion of federal dollars serves as a continued reminder about how the bipartisan infrastructure law is delivering for New Hampshire communities. It's exciting to see how these dollars will make a tangible difference in our communities, and in this case, through restoring water quality and ecological integrity in the Piscataqua Region Estuaries," said Shaheen. "As a lead negotiator of this legislation, I'm proud to see these crucial federal resources benefitting our state as intended. Whether it's updating drinking water infrastructure or mitigating the effects of climate change or preserving our waterways, the investments from the infrastructure law just keep coming."

"This new funding will help both our environment and our economy, and is yet another example of how the bipartisan infrastructure bill that we passed into law continues to deliver for New Hampshire," said Senator Hassan. "This latest funding will help protect and restore our estuaries – which is critical to supporting the environment and our tourism industry."

"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Package continues to deliver for our Granite State communities – this funding for the National Estuaries Program is another example of its impact," said Representative Kuster. "I'm pleased to see these resources heading to our state to improve the water quality and overall health of the Piscataqua Region Estuaries and protect New Hampshire's natural landscape. I look forward to the positive impact of this funding on our state and our environment."