Pollution-Reduction Grants, Loans Offered

More than $71.3 million in grants and loans have been offered to local governments and Indian tribes by the state Ecology Department to reduce pollution.

Bremerton, for example, is being offered a $2.5 million loan to build a collection sewer to separate sewage from storm water runoff, avoiding sewage overflows into Puget Sound each time there’s a big rain.

The 91 proposed projects would tap the Centennial Clean Water Fund, which gets money mainly from state tobacco tax revenue, and the State Revolving Fund, which is made up of federal and state funds.

Local governments and tribes have until until December to accept the State Revolving Fund loans and July to accept Centennial Clean Water Fund grants or loans.