The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has invalidated most of a $511-million loan for 12 projects related to New York's Tappan Zee Bridge replacement work, contending that the span's construction activities do not advance the water quality mandates as specified by the loan program. The agency says it will, however, award $29.1 million to five of the 12 projects.
The move is a major blow to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who sought the funding under EPA's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program to help pay for the $3.9-billion span, his signature bridge project. The program allows the state's Environmental Facilities Corp. (EFC) to administer low-cost loans to local governments and agencies for drinking water, wastewater infrastructure and other clean-water projects.