Tappan Zee Bridge

In a recent appeal to Governor Cuomo using upwards of $500 million in taxpayers money on Tappan Zee Bridge Repairs and replacements. The state's Department of Environmental Conservation and the state Environmental Facilities Corp. filed a federal rejection for the use of  federal clean water loans to help pay for the $3.9 billion in bridge repairs and replacements. This would enrage the environmental community in a time when Cuomo is stepping all over them says a reporter from Syracuse news, referring to hydrofracking. In the Environmental Facilities 53-page appeal it stated how a sub office of the EPA has went beyond it reach of control and put down multiple projects that were sanctioned under Clean Water State Revolving Fund. They did this so the money could be available for state officials to use for there bridge. 

                                                (Tappan Zee Bridge Replacements (Google))

Richard Manna from the EPA Disputes Division apparently has 180 days to decide on the appeal. Instead of this money going to infrastructure it would go to environmental projects.  EFC spokesman John Sorensen says the Fund would go to "protect, restore and promote the Hudson River estuary." "Congress knew full well that human development would pose ongoing challenges to estuaries," written in the appeal. "(EPA) Region 2 cannot invent new hurdles Congress did not impose." This Loan looked controversial from the start says Khurram Saeed of Lohud.com. This is the first time our state is taking money from a clean waters fund to use it for highways and infrastructure. The fund has traditionally been used for local municipalities like drinking water. Despite not getting the loans yet the state has reported is does have enough money for the replacements until early 2015.