The Department of Environmental Protection and the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority will hold a hearing July 19 on its FY 2016 plan for using federal funds to finance drinking water, wastewater treatment, nonpoint source and pollution abatement projects. (formal notice)

The intended use plans cover projects to be considered for design, engineering or construction loans or grants under the federal Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

The Drinking Water Fund will be capitalized with approximately $26.5 million in Federal funds and approximately $5.3 million of State funds.

Approximately $7.2 million of these funds will be set aside for technical assistance to small systems, operator training and certification, and source water assessment and protection, as authorized under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

The DWSRF IUP also includes a narrative work plan that describes how these set-aside funds will be used. PENNVEST is also allocating an additional $1.1 million for administrative purposes.

Finally, an additional $5.3 million must be set-aside for additional subsidization to disadvantaged communities.

The FY 2016 DWSRF grant does not have a requirement to set-aside funding for green infrastructure projects. However, the Commonwealth will continue to promote them.

These projects must meet the EPA criteria for green infrastructure and can fall into at least one of four categories: (1) water efficiency; (2) energy efficiency; (3) environmentally innovative; and (4) green stormwater infrastructure.

The Clean Water Fund will be capitalized with approximately $52.9 million of Federal funds and approximately $10.6 million of State funds.

While approximately $2.1 million could be set-aside for program administration costs, this is not being proposed for this particular grant.

Finally, up to $15.8 million may be set-aside for additional subsidization to disadvantaged communities and $5.3 million must be set-aside for green infrastructure projects that meet the EPA criteria for green infrastructure and that fall into one or more of the following categories: (1) water efficiency; (2) energy efficiency; (3) environmentally innovative; and (4) green stormwater infrastructure.

Comments are due August 2.  Commentators are encouraged to submit electronic comments using DEP’s eComment site. Written comments can be submitted by e-mail to: ecomment@pa.gov or by mail to the Policy Office, Department of Environmental Protection, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063. Use ''Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds'' as the subject line in written communication.

The July 19 hearing will be held in the 2nd Floor Auditorium, Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at 1:30.

Persons wishing to offer comments at the public meeting should contact the Division of Technical and Financial Assistance by calling 717-705-4090 or by sending email to: cblair@pa.gov by 4 p.m. on July 18, 2016.

When written statements are prepared and will be submitted at the meeting, speakers will be asked to restrict the oral portion of the statement to a summary of the written comments.

Copies of the proposed clean water intended use plans will be posted on DEP’s State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan webpage or may be obtained by contacting Crystal Blair, DEP Division of Technical and Financial Assistance by calling 717-772-4011.

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