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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 22-567

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Growing Greener Plus Grants; Notice of Availability

[52 Pa.B. 2292]
[Saturday, April 16, 2022]

 As part of the Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) Growing Greener Plus Grants Program, applications will soon be accepted for Growing Greener (Watershed Restoration and Protection) grants under 27 Pa.C.S. §§ 6101—6113 (relating to Environmental Stewardship and Watershed Protection Act) and Bond Forfeiture and Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Set-Aside grants under section 18(j) of the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) (52 P.S. § 1396.18(j)). Growing Greener grants are designed to improve or protect this Commonwealth's waters from nonpoint source pollution associated with agricultural activities, AMD, stormwater runoff, energy resource extraction, and streambank and shoreline degradation, while Bond Forfeiture and AMD Set-Aside grants are designed to address legacy mining impacts.

 Eligible applicants include counties, municipalities, municipal authorities, county conservation districts, watershed organizations, councils of governments, educational institutions and other authorized organizations involved in water resource restoration and protection.

 The Department has identified multiple priority areas for this grant solicitation. Priority areas for Growing Greener grants include projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution—especially nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment pollution from agricultural and stormwater runoff—as well as AMD-related iron, aluminum, acidity and sediment pollution. The Department is particularly interested in design and construction projects that implement effective Best Management Practices (BMP) that reduce or eliminate pollutant loadings and lead to local water quality improvements. One new priority area for Growing Greener grants include projects that implement BMPs, stream restoration, bank stabilization to reduce runoff volumes, increase infiltration, improve water quality and assist in future flood prevention and climate resiliency in support of the Pennsylvania 2021 Climate Action Plan. This includes no-till farming, riparian forest buffers, green infrastructure, and other agricultural and stormwater BMPs. Another new priority area is the Growing Greener Watershed Renaissance Initiative (GGWRI) project category focusing on the complete implementation of existing watershed restoration or implementation plans on small catchment areas of approximately 25 or fewer land parcels. These GGWRI-eligible catchments have agriculturally-impaired waterways as listed in the Department's 2022 Integrated Water Quality Report and located in Centre, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Snyder and Union Counties.

 Through the same application process, applicants can also apply for funding through the Department's SMCRA Grant Programs to address legacy mining impacts. SMCRA grants are available to various entities including municipalities, municipal authorities and nonprofit organizations for projects meeting AMD Set-Aside or Bond Forfeiture grant requirements.

 Applications and all supporting documents must be submitted online through the Commonwealth's Electronic Single Application web site, eGrants, at www.esa.dced.state.pa.us. Applications will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, April 22, 2022. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 24, 2022. Late submissions will not be considered.

 To obtain more information about the Growing Greener Plus Grants Program, visit the Department's web site at www.dep.pa.gov (select ''Residents,'' then ''Grants, Loans and Rebates,'' then scroll down to ''Schools'' and select ''Growing Greener—for reducing nonpoint source (runoff) water pollution'').

PATRICK McDONNELL, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 22-567. Filed for public inspection April 15, 2022, 9:00 a.m.]


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