DEC Announces $103 Million in Grants to Improve Water Quality, Reduce Algal Blooms Included in REDC Awards
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 12/28/2018 02:37 PM ESTDEC Delivers Press Release - Information to keep you connected and informed from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation |
Share or view as a web page || Update preferences or unsubscribe |
DEC Announces $103 Million in Grants to Improve Water Quality, Reduce Algal Blooms Included in REDC Awards |
Grants Awarded to 124 Projects to Address Documented Water Quality Impairments$3 Million Engineering Planning Grants Awarded for 79 studiesNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today that Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's 2018 Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) annual competitive funding program awarded more than $103 million in grants to 124 projects that will improve water quality, reduce the potential for harmful algal blooms (HABs), and protect drinking water across the state. The grants are administered by DEC. DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "Access to clean water is critical to the health, safety, and economic wellbeing of our communities. With Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York is investing millions of dollars to protect and restore invaluable water resources statewide and addressing growing threats like harmful algal blooms." Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) President and CEO Sabrina M. Ty said, "Under Governor Cuomo, New York State has become a national model for water infrastructure investment. EFC is proud to assist these communities and with grants like those announced today, municipalities across the State are better meeting the water quality needs of their residents." In addition, DEC and EFC awarded $3 million for 79 Engineering Planning Grants that will be used by municipalities to prepare engineering reports that advance water quality improvement projects to construction. New York's Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant program funds projects that directly address documented water quality impairments. The EPG program funds engineering studies that will ultimately lead to wastewater treatment improvement projects that can be funded through the WQIP or other funding opportunities. These competitive, statewide grant programs are open to local governments and, in some instances, not-for-profit corporations. Eligible applicants apply for this funding through the Governor's annual Consolidated Funding Application. Primarily funded by the Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017 and the State's Environmental Protection Fund, the grants are being awarded for a variety of projects, including:
A full list of grant awards is available on DEC's website. Examples of funded projects include:
WQIP grant recipients will receive up to 75 percent of the project costs for high priority wastewater treatment improvement, non-agricultural nonpoint source pollution abatement and control, land acquisition for source water protection, salt storage, aquatic habitat restoration, and municipal separate storm sewer system projects. EPG grant recipients will receive up to 80 percent of the eligible engineering planning costs. |