319 Nonpoint Source Program: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Water Quality and Drinking Water Projects: Bay Restoration Fund

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Spencer Owen
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1 Listed below are some of the Federal and State funding and information sources that are available for a variety of projects that can assist in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) The following are financial assistance offered and/or facilitated by the Maryland Department of the Environment. Funding may be in the form of grants, loans, or direct payments for specified uses. Visit the MDE Grant and Financial Assistance page for a complete list of programs. ndex.aspx Some of the Grants and Other Financial Assistance Opportunities offered through MDE: 319 Nonpoint Source Program: Provides financial assistance for the implementation of nonpoint source best management practices and program enhancements as a means of controlling the loads of pollutants entering the State's waterways. ms/319nps/index.aspx American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Water Quality and Drinking Water Projects: Under President Barack Obama s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, in June 2009 the Maryland Department of the Environment received $121.6 million for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund projects. Water_Quality_Finance/FedStimulusProposedProjects.aspx Bay Restoration Fund Wastewater Treatment Plants Fund: Provides up to 100% in grant funding to upgrade wastewater treatment plants with enhanced nutrient removal (ENR) technologies, that would allow sewage treatment plants to provide a highly advanced level of nutrient removal. Onsite Disposal Systems (OSDS) Fund: Provides up to 100% in grant funding for upgrades of existing systems to best available technology for nitrogen removal or for the marginal cost of using best available technology instead of conventional technology. Priority given to failing OSDS in Critical Areas. /water/cbwrf/osds/default.aspx Biological Nutrient Removal Cost-Share Program: Provides grants to local municipalities and agencies for upgrading WWTPs with biological nitrification/denitrification facilities to achieve a goal of annual average effluent concentration of 8 mg/l total nitrogen. /programs/waterprograms/water_quality_finance/wqfa_bnr.aspx

2 Linked Deposit Program: Provides a source of low-interest financing for certain water quality and drinking water capital projects. Below market interest rates are passed on to borrowers by participating commercial lenders with investment agreements with MDE. waterprograms/water_quality_finance/link_deposit/index.aspx Sewerage Facilities Supplemental Assistance Program: Provides financial assistance to local governmental entities in the form of grants, supplementing the Water Quality Loan funds, where affordability is a problem and to correct public health or water quality problems. /programs/waterprograms/water_quality_finance/wqfa_supplemental.aspx State Revolving Loan Fund: Provides a source of low interest financing to encourage private landowners, and water system owners to implement capital improvements that will protect or improve the quality of Maryland's water resources and provide safe drinking water. water_quality_finance/index.aspx Water Supply Program: Provides financial assistance to local governments or to water supply systems for wellhead protection projects and direct loans to local governments or to water supply systems for land acquisition for source water protection. /programs/waterprograms/water_quality_finance/wqfa_ws.aspx Department of Natural Resources DNR s Technical and Financial Assistance Programs: DNR provides more than 40 technical and financial assistance programs. To help you navigate through them we have divided them into four main groups: Grant and Loan Programs: DNR provides a number of direct grant, project grant programs as well as reimbursement programs and low interest and no interest loans. This section will review DNR Grants and Loans programs. Tax Reductions and Credits: Some of DNR s programs have enacted legislation to provide tax incentives to the public who are interested in providing certain stewardship efforts. Unique Scientific and Technical Research and Data: Many of DNR programs offer the public a unique variety of scientific expertise, research and data products include Geographic Information System (GIS) products that are available nowhere else. Most of this data and technical assistance has a significant financial value but is provided at no cost or very low cost to the public. Specialized Educational Programs: DNR s educational programs are widely diverse and target very specific material and audiences on a variety of natural resource subjects. DNR s

3 educational programs are not just informational. Stakeholders utilizing these resources have significant positive impacts on Maryland s Natural Resources. Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Maryland Department of Agriculture provides a number of programs designed to help farmers cover the costs of installing certain best management practices. Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program: The Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program provides farmers with grants to cover up to 87.5 percent of the cost to install conservation measures known as best management practices (BMPs) on their farms to prevent soil erosion, manage nutrients and safeguard water quality in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP): The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a federal-state conservation partnership that pays landowners attractive land rental rates to voluntarily take environmentally sensitive crop and pastureland out of production for 10 to 15 years and plant streamside buffers, protect highly erodible land or establish wetlands to protect the water quality and wildlife habitat of local streams. Cover Crop Program: The program provides cost-share support for Maryland farmers to plant cover crops on their farms to control soil erosion, reduce nutrient runoff and protect water quality in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Manure Transport Program: The Manure Transport Program helps poultry, dairy, beef and other animal producers cover the costs of transporting excess manure off their farms. dex.php United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The EPA offers resources on grant and other funding options such as, Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the Targeted Watersheds Grant Program and Wetland Programs. The EPA also provides host of other resources such as Technical information regarding Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL). Some of the EPA programs are listed below. For a complete listing of all the resources the EPA offers visit the EPA website. Grants and Funding: Clean Water State Revolving Fund: The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) provides attractive, low-cost funding for projects that improve water quality, renew wastewater infrastructure, and support local economies. The Independent, revolving loan funds in all 50

4 states and Puerto Rico administer the SRF program, providing financial assistance to local communities. Targeted Watersheds Grants Program: Established in 2003, the Targeted Watersheds Grant program is designed to encourage successful community-based approaches and management techniques to protect and restore the nation's watersheds. Wetland Programs: There are two grant programs, Wetlands Program Development Grants and the Five Star Restoration and Grants Programs that help protect the Nation's wetlands. EPA Technical information regarding TMDL s Technical Support Documents: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL): The EPA Region 3 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Web site provides a central location for accessing information about the TMDL program throughout the Region. EPA Region 3 serves the Mid-Atlantic States of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Chesapeake Bay TMDL: EPA has established a "pollution diet" known as a Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL, that will drive actions to clean local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. Other Funding and Information Resources Maryland BayStat: A statewide tool designed to assess, coordinate and target Maryland s Bay restoration programs, and to inform our citizens on progress. Maryland Governor's Grants Office: U.S. Government Grant Finder: Grants.gov is your source to FIND and APPLY for federal grants. Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund (DNR): The Trust Fund allows Maryland to accelerate Bay restoration by focusing limited financial resources on the most effective nonpoint source pollution control projects.

5 USDA Rural Development Grant Assistance: Program assistance is provided in many ways, including direct or guaranteed loans, grants, technical assistance, research and educational materials. USDA Rural Development Loan Assistance: Program assistance is provided in many ways, including direct or guaranteed loans, grants, technical assistance, research and educational materials. Chesapeake Bay Trust Grants trees, cisterns, and small stormwater retrofits.

As stewards of the land, farmers must protect the quality of our environment and conserve the natural resources that sustain it by implementing

N A T U R A L R E S O U R C E C O N S E R V A T I O N As stewards of the land, farmers must protect the quality of our environment and conserve the natural resources that sustain it by implementing conservation