MakingWaves - News from DEC's Division of Water

In This Issue:

• Proposed New Environmental Justice provisions for State's Water Infrastructure Loan Programs
• Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds Draft Intended Use Plans for Federal Fiscal Year 2021
• NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation Announces Funding for NYC Water Projects
• How's My Waterway Webcast
• Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Notifications

Proposed New Environmental Justice Provisions for State's Water Infrastructure Loan Programs

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced proposed changes to the financing tools New York makes available to municipalities that will prioritize Environmental Justice areas for water infrastructure projects. The State is revising the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs to include additional considerations for low-income communities and communities of color that have historically been burdened by pollution and other environmental challenges. The draft CWSRF and DWSRF Intended Use Plans, which the Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) announced this week, include revisions to incentivize water infrastructure improvements in Environmental Justice communities. EFC has also released amended SRF Hardship Policies for public comment that will enable more communities to access zero-interest financing for water infrastructure improvement projects. 

Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds Draft Intended Use Plans for Federal Fiscal Year 2021

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), DEC and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) are pleased to announce the availability of the Draft Federal Fiscal Year 2021 Intended Use Plans (IUPs) for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The CWSRF and DWSRF programs are available to municipalities and certain non-municipal entities in New York State to finance water quality and drinking water related projects.

The Draft IUPs include lists of projects that could receive financing between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021, the next IUP financing period.

Eligible entities interested in financing one or more projects not listed in the Draft CWSRF IUP or Draft DWSRF IUP should submit the appropriate IUP project listing information as soon as possible but no later than September 21, 2020. Written comments on the Draft IUPs must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. September 21, 2020. EFC and DOH will host a webinar to review the Draft 2021 CWSRF and DWSRF IUPs on August 19, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. and hold a virtual joint public hearing to accept comments on September 2, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.

For more information, including how to comment and register for the webinar and public hearing, view the August 5th Environmental Notice Bulletin. 

NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation Announces Funding for NYC Water Projects

NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) announces $470 million in long-term low-interest financial assistance has been provided for water quality improvement projects in New York City during the last quarter of 2019 and the first half of 2020. Fall 2019, EFC's Board of Directors approved $182 million in long-term low-interest financing for improvements at New York City’s Croton Filtration Plant. Subsequently, in January 2020, EFC's Board of Directors approved $288 million in long-term low-interest financing for improvements at wastewater treatment facilities throughout New York City. These projects will enhance New York City’s efforts to provide safe and reliable clean water systems.

For the 2020 federal fiscal year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allotted New York State $175,401,000 for wastewater and water quality-related projects under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $44,967,000 for the State’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

How's My Waterway Webinar

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a webinar on August 27, 2020 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on How's My Waterway (HMW). HMW provides a comprehensive overview of water quality data and information in the United States on the community, state, and national scale. The webinar will include a live demo of the recently enhanced version of HMW.

Visit EPA's website to register or learn more about the webinar, or access the HMW tool directly.

Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Notifications

Visit NYHABS, DEC’s harmful algal bloom notification map, to view locations of freshwater HABs in New York State that were reported in the past two weeks. Click on a dot for more information, including the date it was reported, the waterbody name, and pictures. Click on the arrow at the bottom of the screen to view a list of reported HABs.

Know it. Avoid it. Report it.

If you see a HAB, please use the reporting form to submit a report to NYHABS.  

Because waterbodies may have HABs that have not been reported to DEC, we recommend avoiding contact with floating mats, scums, and discolored water.

If you, your family, or pet have been in contact with a HAB, please rinse with clean water and report any symptoms to your local health department.