October 5, 2012 through October 26, 2012 the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) accepted applications for four green grants under the 2012 Growing Greener Plus grant proposal.
The four separate awards are for the Watershed Protection grants, Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) grants, Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Set-Aside grants and Section 319 Nonpoint Source grants. The announcement was made by DEP Secretary Mike Krancer.
“This provides a unique way for organizations to apply for four different grants at the same time,” Krancer said. “We are happy to be able to have this opportunity to fund projects that will preserve and protect Pennsylvania’s watersheds.”
The Watershed Protection grants are available for projects that protect and/or restore Pennsylvania’s watersheds from negative effects of nonpoint source pollution. These projects should be applied to priority watersheds and “reduce the source of impairment; lead to water quality restoration; or support the installation of agricultural best management practices to achieve compliance with existing agricultural water quality requirements. Eligible applicants are counties, municipal authorities, municipalities, county conservation districts, watershed organizations, councils of government and other authorized organizations involved in the restoration and protection of Pennsylvania’s air, land and water.”
SMCRA and AMD Set-Aside grants can be utilized by municipalities, municipal authorities, school districts and incorporated non-profit organizations. They must meet the SMCRA Bond Forfeiture or AMD Set-Aside or grant requirements.
Section 319 grants are similar to the Watershed Protection grants but focused on projects within the targeted Watershed Implementation Plan watersheds.
The DEP plans to award approximately $12 million in total for Growing Greener grants, with $3 million set aside for 319 grants and $2 million set aside for AMD grants.