CONNOQUENESSING TWP — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has responded to township tap-in fee concerns.

Connoquenessing Township can apply for grants to reduce the fee.

On Sept. 1 the board of supervisors of Connoquenessing Township listened to grievances from citizens concerning the $22.5 million sewage project.

Three of the main concerns residents had were compensation for land used, possible cost overruns of the project, and the cost residents will pay to tap into the new public sewage system.

The Eagle reached out to the DEP for comment on the concerns.

“This question should be directed to the township's engineer and/or solicitor,” said Tom Decker, community relations coordinator for the DEP, regarding the question of compensation for land used.

Decker said that while the DEP cannot speculate on cost overruns, “The Act 537 Plan should/does/will include estimates of the cost of the project and typically include dollars for 'contingencies.'

“Funding sources, such as the Community Development Block Grant, have been used by municipalities to assist with tap-in fees,” said Decker, responding to the question of how residents can reduce tap-in fees.

The construction of the sewage system is projected to begin in August 2022 and finish in September 2024.