Unalaska, AK – On Tuesday morning, City Manager Chris Hladick made a presentation to the State House Committee on Community and Regional Affairs on the status of the wastewater treatment plant.

Because the Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the current facilities do not meeting their permitting standards, the city is working on the development of a new treatment plant, which could cost up to $24 million.

At the hearing, Hladick explained the history of the project and discussed state and federal funding for its construction. Unalaska is applying for $4 million from the state for help constructing the wastewater treatment plant, along with $3 million for the water treatment plant. It is asking for matching grants from the federal government. The city plans to cover the rest of the cost of construction.

These financial requests prompted a bit of regional rivalry from Rep. Alan Austerman, of Kodiak.

"On a number of occasions, your ex-mayor has indicated how well Unalaska does as the number one seafood port in the nation, compared to Kodiak," he said.

Hladick responded, "The amount of money that's involved is tremendous. There would be a rate shock to the consumer - and we are doing it. We are in the planning phase."

Last year, a funding request for the project was vetoed by Governor Sean Parnell.