Economic Stimulus Funding Holds Potential for Environmental Programs, Green Infrastructure, Stormwater Management
Over-Stimulated?
Since the recent passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), federal agencies have been frantically crafting new stimulus programs that both create jobs and support environmental programs, including stormwater management. There’s a good summary of what this means to Pennsylvania available here.
In Pennsylvania, about $250 million has been allocated to SRF, almost $45 million (20 %) of which will go to the Green Project Reserve, including “Green Infrastructure” and “Environmentally Innovative Projects.” PENNVEST and PADEP are administering this program. Check out the Notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and the information on the PENNVEST website.
Applications for “shovel ready” projects are due by May 18, 2009. Project eligibility seems to be remarkably broad.
American Rivers’ has dedicated a section of its website to help make sense of it all and provide guidance on what different federal agencies are doing. Go there. For focus on EPA efforts, especially the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, go here.
More Changes at PADEP…
As noted previously [MS4 PAG-13 Permit and Stormwater Management Model Ordinance revised, public comment period tba] , PADEP has rolled out Draft Revised Regulations for its General Permit (PAG-13) for Small Municipal Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). New requirements for municipalities with TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads) stream designations are triggering lots of comment. Make sure you take a look. We’ll be commenting in more detail on this in an upcoming post…
Worthwhile Newsletter
Like its parent print journal, Stormwater, the monthly electronic newsletter is an excellent source of information on the industry nationwide. Be sure to check it out — and sign up to stay in tune.
