DEP Information Related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has multiple roles associated with implementing the ARRA. DEP has received and is administering funds from the US Environmental Protection Agency for clean water infrastructure projects, diesel emission reduction projects, and leaking underground storage tank projects. In addition, DEP has been awarded a nationally competitive grants related to our mission of conserving, protecting and improving the natural resources of the state from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Department will also play an important role performing environmental review and permitting of projects funded with ARRA funds.
Agency’s Stimulus Accountability Officer
Graham J. Stevens
Office of the Commissioner
Phone: (860) 424-4166 / Fax (860) 424-4053
DEP Projects:
DEP was awarded a $48 Million in ARRA funding to capitalize Connecticut's revolving loan fund for the financing of construction of wastewater treatment facilities and associated infrastructure. This grant funding was deposited into the Connecticut state revolving fund also known as the Clean Water Fund. All funds within the Clean Water Fund (CWF) are governed by applicable state statutes (CGS 22a-475 through 483) and the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies known as the CWF Regulations. Funding under the CWF is established based upon a priority rating system with criteria regarding improvements to water quality and the protection of public health. The ARRA CWF funding must follow this same priority rating system and method of awards as the state contributions to the CWF.
Based on a federal statutory allotment, Connecticut received $48,010,300 (federal allotments for clean water).
Projects Being Funded: ARRA funding is being directed to construct 4 combined sewer overflow sewer separation (CSO) projects and 1 electrical generation project, which will meet the ARRA requirement that 20% of this grant invest in green infrastructure. All 5 projects will be with the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) in Hartford, and these projects are the highest priority on the current priority list.
Currently, all four of the four MDC CSO projects are under construction. The green infrastructure project, the electrical generation project, is out to bid.
The construction projects funded by this grant will result in the reduction of combined sewage (sanitary and storm sewage) that discharges into receiving waters in the City of Hartford. In addition, there is direct job creation and retention for engineers and construction contractors for these projects. There are also indirect effects on jobs that have not been fully evaluated. Since this grant has been awarded, 75 engineers, construction contractors and other sub contractors have performed services on these two projects.
Additional information on ARRA CWF Funding
Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) State Program
State program funds may be used to develop and implement grant and loan programs for clean diesel projects that maximize job creation and preservation through the implementation of verified and/or certified retrofit technologies and EPA verified idle reduction technologies. States may also elect to include emerging diesel emission reduction technologies in their grant and loan programs.
ARRA funds will be allocated to states that apply and the District of Columbia. Connecticut has received $1,730,000 in funding.
DEP will utilize the $1.73 Million in ARRA DERA funds for three projects: 1) a retrofit program to reduce diesel emissions associated with highway construction and maintenance; 2) the establishment of an electrified truck stop to reduce the impact of drayage truck idling in and around the Port of New Haven; and 3) a locomotive engine conversion project to replace a highly polluting locomotive engine on one locomotive used as a switch engine at the Providence and Worcester rail yard in New Haven.
Additional Information on ARRA DERA Funding.
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks Trust Fund
The $200 million LUST Recovery Act money will pay for activities at shovel-ready sites to assess and cleanup underground storage tank petroleum leaks. The money may be used either to:
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Oversee assessing and cleaning up underground tank leaks, or
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Directly pay for assessing and cleaning up leaks from federally regulated tanks where the responsible party is unknown, unwilling, unable, or the cleanup is an emergency response.
EPA has awarded Connecticut $2,000,000 in ARRA funding under this program (EPA Funding Distribution). The award can be increased to $2,280,000, if additional funds become available for redistribution.
Connecticut has applied for $2,280,000 from EPA –
Application to EPA and was awarded up to $2,280,000, but only $2,000,000 has been obligated - EPA Award
DEP is utilizing a Vendor to perform investigation and cleanup services on selected LUST sites. DEP has sent out a request for proposals to contractors qualified to conduct such work under the Agency's Hazardous Site Remediation Services for the CT DEP contract.
Proposals were received from seven firms and DEP accepted the proposal from Loureiro Engineering Associates. Work continues on site selection, site access and other planning efforts.
DEP was awarded $2.5 Million in competitive NOAA Coastal and Marine Restoration Project funds for construction of the Tingue Fish Bypass on the Naugatuck River in Seymour, CT. CTDEP committed $2,250,000 in State match for this project for an overall project cost of $4,750,000.
Project Scope: Major construction activities include creation of a fish bypass channel around the Tingue Dam on the Naugatuck River through excavation and removal of fill. The channel will include habitat features to ensure diadromous fish passage success. The site will be stabilized and streamside habitat restored to promote infiltration of stormwater by the use of pervious paving and native vegetation landscaping techniques. Post-construction activities will include monitoring the fishway in two ways: visual observations of fishes actively migrating up the fishway, and documentation of physical and hydraulic conditions (comparing design flow characteristics with actual flow characteristics)..
Tingue Dam Application
NOAA Interactive Map of Marine and Coastal Habitat Restoration Projects funded under the ARRA
As this project advances, additional information will be provided.
Clean Water Section 604b Water Quality Planning Management Grants
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded DEP $485,000 in Water Quality Management Planning Grant funds under section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act. Under the federal Clean Water Act, Section 604(b) funds are awarded to State water quality management agencies (DEP) to carry out water quality management planning including revising water quality standards; performing waste load allocation/total maximum daily loads, point and non-point source planning activities, water quality assessments and watershed restoration plans. The seven projects that will be conducted with these grant funds are outlined below.
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Evaluation of CT’s Stormwater General Permits to promote better site design and incorporation of Low Impact Development practices to minimize stormwater runoff volume and pollutant loads for new land use development projects. This project will be administered by CTDEP. Technical and professional services will be conducted by a Vendor to be procured through a request for proposal (RFP). Vendor services will not exceed $150,500.
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Development of a Water Diversion Database Planning Tool – data management architecture and analytical tool to store, derive and display water quality and water quantity data for enhanced management of CT’s water resources. This project will be administered by CTDEP. Technical services will be provided by the Vendor TriCom, Inc. who is the current consultant working on the CTDEP WQX water quality data management system. Vendor services will not exceed $100,000.
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Publication of Municipal Aquifer Protection Guidance Manual to help municipal aquifer protection agencies better understanding the important role they have in protection of ground water. This manual will be an important tool for municipal aquifer protection agencies to assist them with the adoption and implementation of local aquifer protection regulations. The manual content will be developed by CTDEP. A Vendor will be procured to conduct the professional publication services. Vendor services will not exceed $25,000.
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Municipal Aquifer Protection Agency Training will be conducted to educate and train municipal officials and staff of the eighty-two (82) towns in Connecticut that have aquifer protection areas. Trainees will acquire the tools needed from the training program to successfully implement local Aquifer Protection Area Program for the protection of public drinking water. This project will be administered by CTDEP. The University of Connecticut, College of Continuing Studies will be the Vendor on this project and assist with arranging a training location, accept and track registration, register participants, send certificates, along with other logistics. Vendor services will not exceed $15,500.
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Creation of a Norwalk River Watershed Based plan to address bacterial impairments, based upon the Norwalk River Watershed Initiative’s Action Plan and Update. The project will be administered by the Sub Recipient, Southwest Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA). SWRPA will revise and re-write the Norwalk River Watershed Action Plan to incorporate EPA’s Nine Elements format. Vendor services will not exceed $35,000.
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Creation of a Watershed Based Plan to address bacterial impairments in the Pequonnock River. The project will be administered by the Sub Recipient, Southwest Conservation District, who will develop the Watershed Based Plan. Vendor services will not exceed $59,000.
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Creation of a Watershed Based Plans for the Saugatuck/Aspetuck, Mianus, and Five Mile River Watersheds. The project will be administered by the Sub Recipient, SWRPA, who will develop draft Watershed Based Plans. Vendor services will not exceed $100,000.
As projects progress, additional information will be provided.
Competitive Grant Applications by DEP
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Coastal & Marine Habitat Restoration
Information on Grant Opportunity
NOAA Announcement
DEP Grant Applications
Forest Service – Wildland Fire Management and Capital Improvement and Maintenance
Information on Grant Opportunity
DEP Applications
Environmental Protection Agency – National Clean Diesel Program
Information on Grant Opportunity
DEP Grant Application
Formal Correspondence
Certification Letters:
Letters of Support:
Required Reports based on provisions in ARRA
The ARRA contains a number of reporting provisions. All reports associated with efforts funded through the ARRA will be posted by the agency as they become available.
DEP utilizes the following Quality Assurance Plan as a framework for collecting and reviewing data elements required to be submitted by Section 1512 of ARRA.
Narratives of Activities Through September 30, 2009
Narratives of Activities Through December 31, 2009
Quarterly Reports to Federal Agencies
Reports Submitted to the US House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
T&I Committee Report - CT DEP Clean Water - May (XLS)
Contracts and Memorandum of Agreements for all projects receiving ARRA funds.
Diesel Emission Reduction Act
Links
