The Arkansas Department of Health has received $867,454 to distribute to marinas and other businesses operating in rivers for updated equipment, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.
The department receives Clean Vessel Act grant money every year, state Health Department spokesman Meg Mirivel said. The fiscal 2018 award is up about $237,000 from last year but still lower than the 2015 and 2016 amounts, which topped $1 million.
The funds will be used for boats to pump sewage at a Swaha Lodge and Marina on Lake Greeson and Jennings Enterprises Sugarloaf Harbor Marina on Bull Shoals Lake, Mirivel said. Additional funds will be used for floating restrooms, marine sewage pumps, pipes for marine sewage and plumbing on docks that sends boater sewage ashore.
Zinke’s office announced about $15.4 million in Clean Vessel Act grants nationwide.