The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for its latest round of Growing Greener Plus Watershed Restoration and Protection Grants.  Applications are due August 16.  (formal notice)

The Department anticipates there will be approximately $18 million available for Growing Greener grants, $3 million available for 319 NPS grants and $2 million available for acid mine drainage set-aside grants in this round.

"Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Corbett and the General Assembly, millions of dollars from the Act 13 impact fee are revitalizing this program, which is helping to protect our waterways," DEP Acting Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. "We are also continuing to partner with the federal government by encouraging innovative projects to reclaim mine sites and restore the environment."

For the upcoming grant round, the Department will invest in projects that will ultimately protect or restore, or both, this Commonwealth's watersheds from impairment due to nonpoint source pollution.

Examples of special priority areas include: projects located in ''priority'' watersheds that reduce the source of impairment; ''priority'' type activities that lead to water quality restoration or protection; and projects that support the installation of agricultural Best Management Practices to achieve compliance with existing agricultural water quality requirements.

Examples of eligible projects include those that will reduce nonpoint source pollution in watersheds where streams are impaired, projects that will help reduce Total Maximum Daily Load pollutants and integrating stormwater management into watershed management and water conservation strategies.

Through the same application process, applicants can also apply for funding through the Department's Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) Grant Programs and Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grant Program.

SMCRA grants are available to various entities including municipalities, municipal authorities and nonprofit organizations for projects meeting SMCRA Set Aside or Bond Forfeiture grant requirements. Section 319 grants focus on funding similar projects to Growing Greener but with special emphasis within targeted watersheds.

Eligible applicants include: counties, authorities and other municipalities; county conservation districts; watershed organizations recognized by the Department who promote local watershed conservation efforts, council of governments and other authorized organizations involved in the restoration and protection of the environment in this Commonwealth.

Click Here to download the application package in Word format or Click Here to download the application package as a PDF file. visit DEP’s Growing Greener webpage or send email to: GrowingGreener@pa.gov.

Growing Greener Coalition

“The Growing Greener Coalition applauds the Commonwealth for recognizing the critical need to protect Pennsylvania’s water and land resources and natural environment,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the PA Growing Greener Coalition.  “These funds will be put to good use restoring watersheds and removing hazardous materials from ground soil, ensuring clean, safe drinking water and an improved quality of life for Commonwealth residents.”

According to a recent survey from the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg, 92 percent of Pennsylvanians surveyed think that state funds dedicated to preserving farmland and open space, providing parks and trails and protecting rivers and streams should continue to be used for these purposes.

The Penn State Harrisburg survey also found that nearly 78 percent of respondents support increasing state funds to conserve and protect open space, clean water, natural areas, wildlife habitats, parks, historic sites, forests and farms even if that would cost the average household $10 more annually. These high levels of support are consistent across every geographic region, gender, ethnic, educational and economic demographic throughout the state.

6/24/2013