The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now accepting proposals for water quality trading or other market-based projects in the Ohio River and other watersheds through its Targeted Watersheds Grants Program.

Projects must address reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, or other pollutant loadings that cause low oxygen levels in local waters and which enter the Mississippi River system. Projects must be located in one of the three Mississippi River sub-basins with the highest nutrient loads contributing to hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: the Ohio River (which includes Western Pennsylvania), the Upper Mississippi River, or the Lower Mississippi River.

Proposals must be nominated by the governor of the state in which the project resides. EPA will award up to $4.2 million to support approximately 15 to 25 outstanding proposals.

6/13/2008