California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority (VVWRA) has received a $5.8 million reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after appealing a Federal auditor’s report alleging mishandling of funds for the Upper Narrows emergency and pipeline realignment projects.
“This payment is an exoneration of VVWRA and how it handled Federal funds”, said VVWRA General Manager Darron Poulsen. “VVWRA contended the grant money was spent legally and in good faith and this payment affirms what we had said all along.”
According to VVWRA the Upper Narrows pipeline replacement became necessary after a sewer line ruptured and spilled sewage into the Mojave River. A temporary bypass and eventual realignment of the sewer line cost the agency $42 million dollars.
After the project was completed in 2016, an audit by the Office of the Inspector General alleged that VVWRA had mishandled a portion of the Federal funding and recommended FEMA disallow $33.1 million dollars in grant funds.
VVWRA vehemently denied the findings and appealed.
Late last year VVWRA was notified that their appeal was upheld and that reimbursement would be forthcoming.
“Integrity is one of our core values at VVWRA”, said Poulsen. “I believe this payment will go a long way in assuring the public that we are good stewards of the resources we use.”
