This Week's Updates:

• Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) and Engineering Planning Grants (EPG) Awarded
• New Drinking Water Source Protection Program
• Climate Smart Communities Grants Awarded
• Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Final 2019 Intended Use Plans (IUPs)

Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) and Engineering Planning Grants (EPG) Awarded

WQIP Program

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, as part of the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Awards, announced $103 million for 124 WQIP projects that will improve water quality, reduce polluted runoff and restore waterbodies and aquatic habitats.

The WQIP program provides grant funding for projects including: municipal wastewater treatment; municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4); non-agricultural nonpoint source runoff abatement; land acquisition for source water protection; salt storage; and aquatic habitat restoration. A full list of awarded WQIP projects is available on DEC’s WQIP Program webpage.

EPG Program

Governor Cuomo, through the REDC Awards, announced $3 million for 79 EPG grants that will provide financial assistance to communities for the initial planning of eligible Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) water quality projects.

The EPG program provides funding to municipalities for engineering and/or consultant fees for engineering and planning services for the production of an engineering report. A full list of EPG projects is available on the Environmental Facilities Corporation’s EPG webpage.

New Drinking Water Source Protection Program 

DEC and the New York State Department of Health, in consultation with the departments of State and Agriculture and Markets, have created a statewide program to help municipalities develop and implement protection plans for their drinking water sources. The state invites all community public water supplies to apply for this new Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2). 

The State will partner with up to 30 communities to: update drinking water assessments, develop plans to protect public water supply source water areas, and assist municipalities with plan implementation. The state will hire a consultant to work with the communities, and there will be no out-of-pocket costs to participating municipalities for plan development.

To apply, visit the Drinking Water Source Protection Program Applicants webpage and complete the online application. Applications are due February 15, 2019.

Climate Smart Communities Grants Awarded

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced that DEC's Climate Smart Communities Grants Program has awarded $7.3 million to municipalities across the state as part of the REDC Awards. The grants provide support for communities seeking to become State-certified Climate Smart Communities and support projects that advance Governor Cuomo's climate change and clean energy goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating flood risk, and preparing for extreme heat and weather events.

Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Final 2019 Intended Use Plans (IUPs)

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), DEC, and the Department of Health have prepared the Final Federal Fiscal Year 2019 Intended Use Plan (IUP) for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The IUPs include lists of projects that may receive financial assistance between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019.

EFC is seeking comments from the public by January 16, 2019 regarding projects that were added to the Annual Project Priority List after publication of the Draft 2019 IUPs. For more information, including the list of new projects and how to comment, view the December 26 Environmental Notice Bulletin.