Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) announced today the state Department of Environmental Protection has awarded grants to two Carbon County townships through its Sewage Facilities Enforcement Grant program.

Penn Forest Township received a grant of $24,275 and Lausanne Township received $139. The grants reimburse the municipalities for 50 percent of their eligible expenses for sewage enforcement activities. The costs and expenses vary based on the size of the municipality."Act 537 requires municipalities to develop and maintain up-to-date sewage facilities and that can be a costly mandate for our communities," Heffley said. "I am pleased that the state is offering some financial assistance."Act 537 was enacted in 1966 to correct existing sewage disposal problems and to prevent future problems.More information is available at

www.dep.state.pa.us