NOTICES
Watershed Protection and Restoration Grants and Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act Grants through the Growing Greener Plus Program; Request for Applications
[45 Pa.B. 2318]
[Saturday, May 9, 2015]As part of the 2015 Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) Growing Greener Plus Program (Growing Greener), applications are now being accepted for watershed protection and restoration grants. Under 27 Pa.C.S. §§ 6101—6119 (relating to Environmental Stewardship and Watershed Protection Act), the Department is authorized to allocate these grants to a variety of eligible applications including: counties, authorities and other municipalities; county conservation districts; watershed organizations recognized by the Department who promote local watershed conservation efforts; councils of governments; and other authorized organizations involved in the restoration and protection of the environment in this Commonwealth.
For the upcoming grant round, the Department will invest in projects that will ultimately protect or restore, or both, watersheds in this Commonwealth from impairment due to nonpoint source pollution, with a focus on priority activities. Examples of special priority activities include: projects located in priority watersheds identified by the Department that reduce the source of impairment; priority activities that lead to water quality restoration or protection; and projects that support the installation of agricultural Best Management Practices to achieve com-pliance with existing agricultural water quality requirements. A full list of priority activities is available in the grant application.
Examples of eligible projects include those that will reduce nonpoint source pollution in watersheds where streams are impaired, projects that will help reduce Total Maximum Daily Load pollutants, and integrating stormwater management into watershed management and water conservation strategies.
Through the same application process, applicants can also apply for funding through the Department's Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) Grant Programs and Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grant Program. SMCRA grants are available to various entities including municipalities, municipal authorities and nonprofit organizations for projects meeting SMCRA Set Aside or Bond Forfeiture grant requirements. Section 319 grants focus on funding similar projects to Growing Greener but with special emphasis within targeted watersheds.
The deadline for submitting applications to the Department's Growing Greener Grants Center (Center) is July 10, 2015. Applications must be postmarked no later than July 10, 2015. If hand delivered, the package must be received by the Center by 4 p.m. on July 10, 2015, at the following address. Late submissions will not be considered.
To request or download an application or obtain more information concerning the Growing Greener Program, visit the Growing Greener web site at www.dep.state.pa.us (DEP Keyword: Growing Greener). The Center can be contacted at (717) 705-5400 or GrowingGreener@state.pa.us. Written requests should be addressed to the DEP Grants Center, 15th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8776, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8776.
JOHN QUIGLEY,
Acting Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 15-869. Filed for public inspection May 8, 2015, 9:00 a.m.]
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