Frequently Asked Questions for Hudson River Estuary Grants
For answers to questions not listed here, please contact the Hudson River Estuary Program at hrep@gw.dec.state.ny.us or call (518) 402-8996.
Q. Are we eligible to apply for a grant two years in a row?
A. Yes, but your application will score higher if you have completed the grant paperwork for the grant you received last year.
Q. Is it the same application and where can I get a copy?
A. The application is not the same. Every year we have some changes. For example, this year there is a single evaluation and scoring sheet. Another change this year relates to the budget. The total project cost is the sum of the grant amount and the required match. We have eliminated "non-match" and "approved project cost" in an effort to simplify our applications. For a large project like the "Walkway over the Hudson" you must identify a discrete part, or phase of the project that can be accomplished within the funding guidelines of the grants program. You can get a copy off our web site or by calling our office at 845-256-3016.
Q. Can I apply for an access grant to build a fishing pier on an inland reservoir which is not on the Hudson but is part of the 'estuary'?
A. Inland reservoirs and other bodies of water may be in the Hudson River estuary watershed, but not on the estuary. The Hudson's watershed is the area of land from which water flows downhill to the Hudson. The Hudson estuary is the river itself, in which salty seawater and fresh water meet. Like most estuaries, the Hudson is affected by tides - their influence reaches from the Atlantic Ocean up to the federal dam at Troy. Hudson River estuary grants in the access category must be located on this tidal portion of the Hudson. The other four categories have different geographic limits.
For more information on "what is an estuary"? visit the Estuary Management Programs and Hudson River Estuary pages
Q. If the town puts in cash as a match to the estuary grant, when do those funds have to be available (at the time of the application, or later in the project)?
A. When they apply, they only need to identify the funding source for the match. The actual cash match expenditure would occur at any point during the term of the contract should they be awarded a grant. They can include the match amount in a subsequent year's budget.
Q. The link you provided in the application to print free topo maps (see page 20, last paragraph) has been changed, discontinued.
A. Sorry, try one of the following sources instead:
- Topographic maps can be printed using the USGS National Map Viewer. Use the offsite link on the right side of this page to access the viewer. When the viewer is open, the topo maps can be added by choosing the layer menu called Topographic Maps and the layers called USGS Quadrangles and USGS Raster Graphics (Topo Maps).
- Topographic maps can be downloaded from the New York State GIS Clearinghouse in TIFF format. Use the offsite links on the right side to access the clearinghouse.
Q. If my project is Type II, as described on page 5 of the application, what should I say in the statement. Do I still have to submit part 1 of the EAF.
A. No, if your project is Type II, no significant environmental impact, you can submit a signed statement. Go to the question about State Environmental Quality Review Act requirements below for further detail and a sample statement.
Q. How many letters of support should I send and where do I send them.
A. Address all letters of support to Jill Shaw, Hudson River Estuary Grants Manager,
NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4751. Letters of support should be included with your applications in order to ensure that they are distributed to the reviewers. The most important letters of support are from your local partners and audience. Other letters of support are optional.
Q. If a grant is received to fund a consultant to provide a product, would the applicant be required to get three bids for work if a contractor is already on the state contract list for that municipality for those types of services?
A. The applicant must follow their municipality's bidding requirements. The Estuary Program does not get involved in the bidding process for granted projects since municipalities and non profits have their own legal requirements.
Q. Do you have an estimate of the approximate time when applicants will be notified if awarded a grant?
A. There is no set date for the announcement of the 2008 grants. In the past few years, the estuary grants were announced in December, 2007 (07 Grants), October, 2006 (06 Grants), and January 2006 (05 grants).
Q. Do you ever review the applications before submittal to make sure everything is in order?
A. Since all our grants are reviewed and scored on a competitive basis, estuary program staff do not review and comment on grant applications prior to final submission. Once your application is submitted, we are required to review that application as submitted. Please refer to the checklist on page 28 of the booklet, which outlines the requirements for a complete application package.
Q: Does the grant application need to be received by the program Grants Manager by the deadline date of June 27, 2008 or does it only need to be postmarked by the deadline date?
A. The application can be postmarked or hand delivered by the deadline date of June 27, 2008.
Q. Can overhead and indirect costs be used toward the grant match?
A. Overhead and indirect costs cannot be used toward the grant match.
Q. What are the State Environmental Quality Review Act requirements?
All applicants must fulfill the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) by including either a Type II statement or Part I of the environmental assessment long form. Applications must include clear drawings, maps, or plans of existing and proposed natural and man-made conditions on the project site and the areas immediately adjacent to the site. Information and forms about SEQR are available and downloadable on the DEC's website.
Type II Actions (no significant environmental impact)
Many Estuary Grants are classified as Type II actions (no significant impact) which are not subject to further SEQR review. In this case, provide a statement selecting one or more specific reasons in section 617.5 of the SEQR regulations that qualifies your project as Type II. If any permits are required, list them in your statement. See the list of Type II actions.
Type I and Unlisted Actions
Projects that involve ground disturbance, changes in zoning, and other listed activities are subject to SEQR review. Consult section 617.4 of the SEQR regulations to determine if your project is Type I or Unlisted. If the project is classified as Type I or Unlisted, submit a Full Environmental Assessment Form (EAF). If the project's impacts have been previously reviewed under SEQR, supporting documentation must be submitted (e.g., FEIS and SEQR Findings Statement).
Lead Agency Status:
The DEC will conduct lead agency SEQR review for all not-for-profit applicants. Not-for-profit corporations are required to complete and submit Part 1 of the Full Environmental Assessment Form (EAF).
A municipality will likely be the lead agency for SEQR if the DEC is the only other involved State agency, or will be responsible for initiating lead agency designation procedures if there are other involved State agencies. The lead agency designation is required to classify the environmental significance of the project under SEQR.
Type II Actions (no significant environmental impact)
617.c.1. maintenance or repair involving no substantial changes in an existing structure or facility;
617.c. 2. replacement, rehabilitation or reconstruction of a structure or facility
617.c. 6. maintenance of existing landscaping or natural growth;
617.c. 8. routine activities of educational institutions, including expansion of existing facilities by less than 10,000 square feet of gross floor area
617.c.10. construction, expansion or placement of a minor accessory structure not changing land use or density;
617.c.14. public or private best forest management (silvicultural) practices on less than 10 acres of land, but not including land clearing not directly related to forest management, clear-cutting or the application of herbicides or pesticides;
617.c.18 information collection including basic data collection and research, water quality and... engineering studies that do not commit to undertake, fund or approve any Type I or Unlisted action;
617.c. 21 conducting concurrent environmental, engineering, economic, feasibility and other studies and preliminary planning and budgetary processes necessary to the formulation of a proposal for action, provided those activities do not commit the agency to commence, engage in or approve such action.
Example of Type II statement:
This project, planning and feasibility study for [describe your project] car top boat launch] is a Type II action under SEQR 617.c.21 [select correct reason from list of Type II projects above] "conducting concurrent environmental, engineering, economic, feasibility and other studies and preliminary planning and budgetary processes necessary to the formulation of a proposal for action, provided those activities do not commit the agency to commence, engage in or approve such action." As such, no further action is required.
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Signature of authorized official
