WASHINGTON— This week, the House Committee on Appropriations voted to advance the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson – Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee – highlighted the inclusion of State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) for the cities of Island Park, Preston, Rexburg, and Pocatello, Idaho at his request through Community Project Funding (CPF). 

“As Idaho’s only appropriator, it’s a great responsibility to ensure Idaho’s projects and priorities are funded,” said Rep. Simpson. “It’s my honor to fight for our great state and produce results in a meaningful way. STAG appropriations for our local communities are a great way to do just that.” 

  Preston:

 This funding will be used to build a new water storage tank in Preston, Idaho. Preston’s water is currently delivered to the city from a mountain spring through a 14-mile pipeline. The community has experienced two water line breaks in the past year, resulting in an inadequate water supply for residential use and emergency services, including fire protection. This project would ensure the community has the reliable and sufficient water they need now and into the future.

 “On behalf of the Preston City Council and in effect, the Citizens of Preston, I feel it necessary to formally express appreciation and thanks to Congressman Mike Simpson for assisting our Community to provide funding to construct additional water storage tanks for our City,” said Preston Mayor Dan Keller. For nearly 125 years, Preston City has had only one source of culinary/potable water. While this source has been adequate and valuable, it is essential that additional water storage and/or water source enhancement be created immediately in the event issues to our 14-mile water line occurs. It is critical that additional water storage capacity be created to provide water to our residents in the event of needed fire suppression and more importantly, consumptive needs. We are grateful for the work Congressman Simpson has done to make available Federal funding to assist small rural communities such as Preston. We again appreciate Congressman Simpson's passion, foresight, leadership, and ability to look out for the interests of rural communities in Eastern Idaho. Again, Thank you to Congressman Simpson and his staff for navigating us through the Community Project Funding process.”

Pocatello: 

This funding will be used to install approximately one mile of gravity sewer main within the City of Pocatello, which would provide the backbone needed to extend service to the City’s sewer system to the Johnny Creek area of Pocatello. This area is made up of about 850 residences, about 220 of which are not connected to the municipal sewer system. A significant number of these homes have failed or failing septic systems, and more failures are expected until this part of the community can be connected to a new, modern municipal sewer system. This funding will complete phase one of the larger project. 

“On behalf of Pocatello and especially the homeowners of our Johnny Creek neighborhood, I want to thank Congressman Simpson for once again delivering critical infrastructure funding for our community,” said Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad. “Study after study has indicated that we have to transition decades-old septic systems to the City's modern municipal wastewater system. The funding secured by Congressman Simpson will allow us to cost-effectively kick off this effort.” 

Rexburg: 

This funding will be used to upgrade the Headworks facility at the City of Rexburg Wastewater Treatment Plant and replace the regional sewer interceptor, lift station, and pressure sewer line that convey wastewater from northeast Rexburg and the towns of Sugar City and Teton to the treatment plant. The sewer lines and lift stations are shared by all three communities and are approaching capacity, have serious corrosion issues, and are in need of replacement. The current Headworks is not large enough to reliably treat current and future flows. This project would ensure that the system can both meet current needs and be prepared for projected growth in this area. 

“We are so appreciative of Congressman Simpson’s help on securing funding for the Rexburg area wastewater treatment system upgrade. With our city’s rapid growth, it has been a struggle trying to find enough cash in our annual budget to accomplish this vital project and keep up with many other demands that growth causes. Congressman Simpson has been a great ally to us in Congress to get a share of taxpayer monies returned to this area to help cover the cost of upgrading our wastewater headworks facility and replacing a critical sewer line that is in dire need of replacement.,” said Rexburg Mayor Jerry Merrill. 

“The regional sewer interceptor and upgrade to the Waste Water Treatment plant are vital components for the growth of Rexburg. The replacement of this interceptor line and lift station is badly needed because of corrosion and limited capacity. The upgrade to the headworks will also allow us to continue to support the growth of Rexburg. These upgrades have been in the works for years and we want to thank Congressman Simpson and his team for all their hard work in helping us get congressional funding for these projects,” said Keith Davidson, City of Rexburg Public Works Director and City Engineer. 

Island Park: 

This funding would be used to construct a new single municipal water system in Island Park, Idaho, to replace numerous disparate small systems. Funding would cover a new well, water storage tank, and booster pump station; 8,500 linear feet of water main; nearly 200 service lines with meters; and a SCADA system for monitoring and control of the water system. Island Park, a gateway community to Yellowstone National Park, currently has over 50 separate public water systems, many of which have experienced multiple instances of bacterial contamination over the past several decades due to the geology and environment. Replacing these many small, inadequate systems with one municipal system with access to deeper aquifers, guarantee a year-round water supply, and reduce the risk of further contamination caused by the number of individual holes drilled into the aquifer. 

“The City of Island Park, Idaho is facing a crisis involving polluted commercial and residential wells in concentrated areas of our community. The traditional way to resolve this issue here would be to have every property owner sink their own well. This would eventually result into hundreds of new wells penetrating the aquifer, subjecting the water source to additional stress and potential contamination,” said Island Park Mayor Mike Bogden. “The city of Island Park is proposing that we consolidate the water rights and wells into a public water system that would require only a few wells to be drilled, making this both financially and environmentally sound. Being a very small, recreational community, we cannot implement this strategy without help from both our State and Federal partners.” 

Funding for Idaho’s CPF’s is a part of the Fiscal Year 2024 funding package for the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.  

This funding package will now go to the full floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.