EPA is providing technical assistance grants to develop an integrated planning approach to meeting Clean Water Act requirements.
EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management is making available $335,000 in technical assistance for communities seeking technical support to develop an integrated planning approach to meeting Clean Water Act requirements for municipal wastewater and stormwater management. The primary purpose of the technical assistance is to help EPA develop practical examples of how to implement the different steps in developing an integrated plan in order to provide useful information to communities across the nation who are interested in integrated planning.
An integrated planning process has the potential to identify a prioritized critical path to achieving the water quality objectives of the CWA by identifying efficiencies in implementing competing requirements that arise from separate wastewater and stormwater projects, including capital investments and operation and maintenance requirements. This approach can also lead to more sustainable and comprehensive solutions, such as green infrastructure, that improves water quality as well as supports other quality of life attributes that enhance the vitality of communities. The CWA and implementing regulations, policy and guidance provide the necessary flexibility to implement an integrated planning process.
Letters of interest must be received by June 27, 2014, 5:00 p.m. EST. EPA anticipates providing assistance to five communities. If additional funding becomes available, EPA may return to the applicant pool identified through this request to select additional recipient communities.
More information can be found at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/integratedplans.cfm