The Commonwealth Financing Authority is now accepting applications for Act 13 Program watershed restoration, abandoned mine drainage abatement, baseline water quality data, orphaned or abandoned well plugging, sewage facilities, flood mitigation programs and recreation grants.

The deadline for applications is May 31.

These grants are funded by the Act 13 drilling impact fees paid by natural gas drillers.

In 2022, CFA invested $18.2 million in 130 projects.

Here’s a quick summary of what’s available and the links for more details--

-- Watershed Restoration: The overall goal of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Program  is to restore, and maintain restored stream reaches impaired by the uncontrolled discharge of nonpoint source polluted runoff, and ultimately to remove these streams from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Impaired Waters list.

-- Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment: Projects which involve the reclamation of Abandoned Mine Well(s), construction of a new AMD site, remediation and repair of existing AMD project sites, operation and maintenance maintaining current AMD remediation sites, establishment of trust fund to ensure ongoing maintenance is achieved, and monitoring of water quality to track or continue to trace nonpoint source load reductions resulting from AMD remediation projects.

-- Orphan or Abandoned Well Plugging Program: Projects which involve the cleaning out and plugging of abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells; stray gas mitigation systems; and well venting projects.

-- Baseline Water Quality Data: Projects which involve practices for water sample collection and analysis to document existing groundwater quality conditions on private water supplies.

-- Sewage Facilities Program: Costs associated with the planning work required under Act 537 Sewage Facilities Act.

-- Flood Mitigation: Projects authorized by a flood protection authority, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or identified by a local government for flood mitigation are eligible for the program.

-- Greenways, Trails And Recreation Program: Projects which involve development, rehabilitation and improvements to public parks, recreation areas, greenways, trails and river conservation.

Applicants are strongly urged to contact their House and Senate member to make them aware you intend to submit an application for funding under these programs and ask for their endorsement.

For more information and instructions on how to apply, visit the Commonwealth Financing Authority Act 13 Programs webpage.  Questions should be directed to 717-787-6245.

Related Article:

-- CFA Announces Investment Of $18.2 Million In 130 Recreation, Flood Protection, Environmental Restoration Projects Funded By Act 13 Impact Fee

Related Articles - Water Quality:

-- CFA Now Accepting Applications For Act 13 Watershed Restoration, Mine Reclamation, Sewage, Flood Mitigation, Recreation Grants  [PaEN]

-- DEP Receives $29.35 Million In Federal Funding To Support Abandoned Mine Land Economy Revitalization  [PaEN]

-- NRCS-PA Announces Additional Application Deadline For Conservation Security Program [PaEN]

-- Coalition For Delaware River Watershed: Bipartisan Bill Introduced In Congress To Expand Equity In Delaware River Conservation Program  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna University Freshwater Research Institute, Chesapeake Conservancy Formalize Relationship On Watershed Restoration Projects  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Now Accepting Entries To 2023 Save The Bay Photo Contest  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Bay Journal: Chesapeake Bay Foundation Leader Hillary Harp Falk Calls For Shifts In Bay Cleanup Strategies

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners March 20 Workshop: Prepare And Connect On National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Funding Applications, Farm & Home Center, Lancaster

-- Interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission Issues 2022 Annual Report

-- Appalachian Voices Urge Congress To Pass Proposed FY 2024 Investments In Appalachian Coalfields

-- Delaware RiverKeeper March 10 RiverWatch Video Report

[Posted: March 8, 2023]

3/13/2023