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Current Stimulus Projects

Clean Water State Revolving Fund

outside wastewater treatment plant
Making improvements to wastewater treatment
plants help protect water quality

DEC is partnering with the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) to provide low-interest rate financing to municipalities to construct water quality protection projects, such as wastewater treatment improvements. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) mandates 20% of each state's allocation must also fund water quality projects that use innovative approaches to energy and water efficiency, incorporate green infrastructure, and use innovative treatment technologies. This grant, which is the largest grant in EPA history, was awarded to DEC and will be administered by EFC.

Program Funding

$432 million for New York State.

USEPA will distribute funding to DEC and EFC will administer the grant. A list of projects is available through the EFC link in the right column.

Clean Water Act Section 604(b)- Water Quality Management Planning Grants

Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 604(b) grants are used to fund regional comprehensive water quality management planning activities to improve local water quality. CWA Section 604(b) grants are one of the vehicles the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) used to disseminate stimulus funding. Grant awards are made through a competitive process. Eligible applicants include regional public comprehensive planning organizations in New York State and interstate planning organizations working in New York State.

In May 2009, DEC requested applications for ARRA 604(b) funding for projects in the following categories:

  • Green Infrastructure Planning Activities - analyzing opportunities to install "green" infrastructure for protecting/improving water quality.
  • Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Elements - planning that supports the development of TMDLs which limit pollutants entering a water body from throughout its watershed.
  • Phase II Stormwater Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) and Construction Planning Activities - planning that supports stormwater management programs to limit discharge of pollutants associated with stormwater in conformance with the requirements of the New York State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) General Permits for MS4s and Construction Activities.
  • Other Water Quality Management Planning Activities - such as, but not limited to, watershed planning, GIS development and application, development of local laws, floodplain management.

Detailed information about the application process is available.

Program Funding

$1.7 million in funding has been awarded to eight regional planning boards and commissions for eleven projects.

Schedule

Contracts will be executed by February 17, 2010. Project activities may occur between February 17, 2009 and February 17, 2012.

New York State Clean Diesel Grant Program

CDTA city bus on a road in Albany, NY
Cleaner buses mean cleaner air in metropolitan areas

DEC established the New York State Clean Diesel Grant Program to provide funding to four transit authorities to install diesel particulate filters (DPFs) on heavy-duty diesel buses. Adding these filters is considered a "Level 3" retrofit and will generally reduce particulate matter by more than 85% for the vehicle. The grant program would result in the installation of filters on approximately 200 heavy duty diesel buses, which are required to be retrofitted pursuant to the New York State Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2006. DEC received federal funding for this program by the USEPA through ARRA.

Program Funding

$1.47 million in funding to four transit authorities:

  • Niagara Frontier Regional Transportation Authority (NFTA) - $364,170
  • Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) - $551,124
  • Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro) - $212,981
  • Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) - $342,223

Under DEC's program, New York State will provide 75% reimbursement for completed Level 3 retrofit installations. The transit authorities are required to provide a 25% funding match. Total project costs including the authorities' match will total $1.96 million.

Deadline

Contracts between DEC and the four authorities are undergoing administrative review. The retrofit installations have commenced, and all installations must be completed by September 30, 2010 to be eligible.

Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund Program

The Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Program grants are available from the USEPA to eligible entities (e.g. states and territories) to clean up petroleum releases from federal eligible underground storage tanks and/or to oversee their cleanup. In addition to regular LUST Trust funds, DEC applied for and received a LUST ARRA funded grant to cleanup existing petroleum incidents.

Program Funding

An additional $200 million available nationally in ARRA (stimulus) funding has been allocated to the LUST Program. New York received $9.212 million via a grant to DEC.

USEPA will distribute funding in the form of a LUST grant awarded to DEC. No state share is required.

Reporting Requirements

DEC must comply with ARRA reporting requirements and USEPA grant requirements.

Deadline

USEPA must obligate Recovery Act resources by September 30, 2011 and the recipient (DEC) must obligate at least 35% of funds and expend at least 15% of the funds within nine months of the grant award.

Eradication of Giant Hogweed and Oak Wilt in New York

Image of giant hogweed

DEC applied for and received an ARRA funded grant from the USDA Forest Service (USFS) Economic Recovery Program - State & Private Awards for Wildland Fire Management under the subcategory of Forest Health and Invasive Species Protection. The awarded project will be undertaken by Department and seasonal staff in DEC's Forest Health program within the Division of Lands and Forests. Heracleum giganteum (Giant Hogweed) is an invasive, federally listed noxious weed that causes severe burns to humans. Oak wilt is a tree disease, caused by the oak wilt pathogen Ceratocystis fagacearum, which kills 100% of oak trees that become infected. This project will include the detection, identification and eradication of giant hogweed in its known locations in several small infestations in approximately 30 counties in the state as well as the only known infestation of oak wilt in New York.

Program Funding

$127,378,700 in USFS ARRA (stimulus) funding has been made available nationally for forest health and invasive species. New York received $763,000 via a grant to DEC. No state share is required.

Reporting Requirements

DEC must comply with ARRA reporting requirements and USFS award requirements, including the filing of quarterly reports on project activities and job creation.

Deadline

DEC must complete the awarded project by December 31, 2011. Project activities will be conducted during the growing seasons of 2010 and 2011.