WASHINGTON— California Senator Dianne Feinstein and Lake County Congressman Mike Thompson announced today that the Full Circle Wastewater Treatment Program has been designated to receive federal funding as part of the 2006 agriculture spending bill which was approved by Congress.

“Clear Lake is the largest freshwater lake completely within California, and we must do all we can to sustain it as one of California’s environmental jewels,” Senator Feinstein said. “Lake County’s Full Circle project is important because it will ensure high quality water supplies for surrounding communities, protect the lake from wastewater, and generate of clean geothermal power.”

The Full Circle program will build the necessary infrastructure for a wastewater treatment system that can be accessed by the communities surrounding Clear Lake . The new system will connect areas which are not currently served by the regional wastewater treatment system. This system will allow Lake County to meet the needs of its growing communities. The program may also provide addition water to the Geysers geothermal electricity generation facilities.

“I would like to thank Senator Feinstein for ensuring that this vital Lake County project was included in this bill,” Rep. Thompson said. “Lake County is home to a number of growing communities, the Full Circle program will ensure that the wastewater needs of our communities are addressed.”

The spending bill passed by Congress designates the Full Circle program as a rural wastewater project that is eligible to receive federal funding; a specific amount of funding was not allocated.

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