Notice_of_Availability_of_State_and_Federal_Funds Notice of Availability of State and Federal Funds

7/15/15 N.Y. St. Reg. Notice of Availability of State and Federal Funds

NEW YORK STATE REGISTER

VOLUME XXXVII, ISSUE 28

July 15, 2015

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS

 

ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES CORPORATION

Division of Engineering and Program Management 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12207-2997

MUNICIPALITIES OF NEW YORK STATE

New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2015

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) is pleased to announce the availability of grant funding through the New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2015 (NYS Water Grant program). Through this Act, EFC has received the grant authority to assist municipalities in funding infrastructure projects for the protection of water quality and public health. Projects funded through the NYS Water Grant program shall be awarded to water quality or public health infrastructure projects for:

• replacement or repair of infrastructure; or

• compliance with environmental and public health laws and regulations related to water quality

EFC shall consider and give preference to municipalities that meet the hardship criteria and projects that result in the greatest water quality improvement or greatest reduction in serious risk to public health. For wastewater, priority will also be given to projects that mitigate combined sewer and storm sewer overflows as well as for projects that increase system resiliency, protecting wastewater collection and treatment systems from sea level rise and damage from extreme weather.

Municipalities with sewage treatment works (clean water) projects may be eligible for NYS Water Grants up to $5 million or 25% of the project cost after discounting other grant funds. Municipalities with drinking water projects may be eligible for NYS Water Grants up to $2 million or 60% of the total project cost.

The NYS Water Grant program will provide a total of $200 million to both clean water and drinking water projects. For State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2015-2016, $30 million is allocated for clean water projects and $20 million for drinking water projects. Additional grant is expected to be available in SFY 2016-2017 and SFY 2017-2018.

EFC administers the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) that provide subsidized financial assistance to qualified NYS municipalities. Participation in either the CWSRF or DWSRF programs is not a requirement to receive a NYS Water Grant. However, the low cost financial assistance and one-stop convenience of jointly financing a NYS Water Grant project with assistance through the CWSRF or DWSRF programs is strongly encouraged.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS:

A NYS Water Grant eligible entity is any municipality such as a county, city, town, village, district corporation, county or town improvement district, school district, Indian nation or tribe recognized by the state or the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the boundaries of New York State, and any public benefit corporation or public authority. (School districts are eligible for NYS Water Grants but are ineligible for CWSRF or DWSRF financial assistance).

Projects eligible for clean water NYS Water Grants will be from one of the three following categories:

• Projects that qualify for a reduced interest rate financing (Hardship) under the CWSRF program

• Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) / Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) Projects

• Resiliency Projects

Applicants will identify their intended category by submitting a Category Selection Certification Form, which is part of their NYS Water Grant Application.

Projects eligible for drinking water NYS Water Grants will be drinking water infrastructure improvement projects that are defined as eligible by the DWSRF excluding the extending of water service to areas not currently served by public water.

APPLICATIONS:

NYS Water Grant Application forms and guidance documents are available on the EFC website at www.efc.ny.gov/NYSWaterGrants. Applications forms are provided in fillable electronic format. It is expected that documents that supplement a complete application will be required to be submitted. For applicants with projects that are currently listed on either the CWSRF or DWSRF Intended Use Plans (IUP), the application process will be abbreviated. In addition to the application, drinking water projects that are not currently listed on the DWSRF IUP will be required to submit a NYS Water Grant listing form with the NYS Department of Health that is available on the EFC website.

DUE DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:

Submit applications by: Friday, September 4, 2015

Submit applications to: [e-mail]

Documents submitted to supplement the application can be submitted through the EFC dropbox.

WEBINAR:

EFC will host a webinar to present and discuss the NYS Water Grant program on Thursday, July 16, 2015, at 10:00 AM. This event will present an overview of the NYS Water Infrastructure Improvement Act, as well as direction on how to apply for NYS Water Grant funds. There will also be an opportunity to answer questions. Log-on instructions for this webinar will be posted on EFC’s website at www.efc.ny.gov/NYSWaterGrants.

CONTACTS:

For assistance, please email: [e-mail]

For Clean Water:

Dwight Brown, SRF Program Services Coordinator, Division of Engineering & Program Management, Environmental Facilities Corporation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207-2997, [phone], FAX: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]

For Drinking Water:

Michael Montysko, P.E., Chief of Design, Bureau of Water Supply Protection, Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower, Rm. 1135, Albany, NY 12237, [phone] ext. 27650 or [phone], FAX: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]

ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES CORPORATION

Division of Engineering and Program Management 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12207-2997 and Department of Health Bureau of Water Supply Protection Empire State Plaza Corning Tower Room 1135 Albany, NY 12237

MUNICIPALITIES OF NEW YORK STATE; OWNERS/OPERATORS OF PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS; NOT-FOR-PROFIT LAND TRUST ORGANIZATIONS; NON-MUNICIPAL AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT NON-POINT SOURCE FACILITY OWNERS

Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) for Water Pollution Control; Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF); Draft 2016 Intended Use Plans (IUPs); Anticipated Funds Available; Project Priority Lists; Eligible Projects; Public Hearing; Webinar; Comments; Applications

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Health (DOH) are pleased to announce the availability of the draft Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2016 Intended Use Plans (IUP) for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF); and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The CWSRF and DWSRF programs are available to municipalities and certain non-municipal entities in NYS to finance water quality and drinking water related projects.

EFC estimates that approximately $520.1 million will be available for subsidized financing for the CWSRF during FFY 2016. This includes an estimated federal capitalization grant amount of $100 million.

The DOH will receive an estimated $36.3 million DWSRF federal capitalization grant of which a maximum of $7.27 million may be made available for eligible hardship projects as additional subsidization as hardship grants. A specific breakdown of the DWSRF sources and uses will be included in the Draft IUP.

The IUPs include lists of projects that could receive reduced-interest subsidized and unsubsidized financing between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016, the next IUP financing period. The interest rate for subsidized financings is reduced by 50% (CWSRF) or 33.3% (DWSRF) of the market rate for bonds. Please visit EFC’s website at www.efc.ny.gov for more information.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS:

CWSRF - Municipal water pollution control projects eligible for CWSRF reduced interest subsidized and unsubsidized financing under Section 212 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) include, but are not limited to: wastewater treatment facilities and conveyance systems; combined sewer overflow abatement facilities; stormwater pollution abatement; energy efficiency initiatives; system security measures; water conservation, reuse and recycling systems; and other municipally-owned projects or portions of projects that maintain, protect or improve water quality.

Municipal and non-municipal entities may apply for CWSRF assistance for non-point source projects that protect water quality under CWA Section 319 or implement an approved National Estuary Plan under CWA Section 320. Projects eligible for CWSRF reduced interest subsidized and unsubsidized financing include, but are not limited to: green infrastructure; land acquisition or conservation easements for water quality protection, including wellhead protection; brownfield remediation; contaminated soil and storage tank remediation; water quality aspects of landfills such as landfill leachate collection, storage and treatment, landfill gas collection and control, and landfill capping; stormwater management facilities and equipment; wetland and waterbody restoration; highway deicing materials storage; deficient or failing decentralized septic systems; or other non-point source projects to maintain, protect or improve water quality under Section 319.

DWSRF - Drinking water systems eligible for DWSRF reduced interest subsidized and non-subsidized financing are: municipal and privately-owned community water systems and non-profit, non-community water systems. Municipally-owned water systems are also eligible for reduced interest unsubsidized financing. Projects eligible for DWSRF financing include: construction, rehabilitation, and upgrading of water treatment plants; transmission and distribution mains; storage facilities; pump stations; interconnections; rehabilitation or development of new drinking water sources; consolidation of water supply services; upgrades to existing water systems; energy efficiency initiatives; and capital investments to improve security of drinking water systems.

INTENDED USE PLANS AND PROJECT LISTING:

Eligible entities interested in financing one or more projects not currently listed in the draft CWSRF IUP or draft DWSRF IUP should submit the appropriate IUP project listing information as soon as possible but no later than Friday, September 4, 2015 as provided below. For assistance with the IUP listing process, please call the EFC contact as listed at the end of this notice.

For CWSRF new projects, an applicant will need to provide a CWSRF Project Listing Form, an approvable engineering report or technical report, an executed engineering agreement for planning services (if those services are expected to be financed with the project), and a Smart Growth Assessment Form to EFC as soon as possible but no later than September 4, 2015 to be listed for financing of projects on the Annual List of the final CWSRF IUP. EFC uses a web-based portal for listing projects (Project Listing and Update System – PLUS) that can be accessed at http://plus.efc.ny.gov/.

For DWSRF projects, an applicant will need to provide a DWSRF Listing Form and an engineering report or plans and specifications to the DOH by Friday, September 4, 2015, or have completed construction, to be included on the Annual List in the final DWSRF IUP.

A notice regarding the availability of the draft IUP will be e-mailed to municipal applicants, system owners, financial advisors, consulting firms, and other interested parties. The draft CWSRF IUP will also be available on the EFC website at www.efc.ny.gov. The DWSRF IUP will also be available on the EFC website at www.efc.ny.gov and the DOH website at www.health.state.ny.us (click on the “Topics A to Z” button, “Drinking Water”, and “Drinking Water State Revolving Fund”).

PUBLIC MEETING AND HEARING:

A joint public meeting and hearing to review the draft FFY 2016 CWSRF IUP and DWSRF IUP will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at 3:00 PM in the Stedman Room of the William K. Sanford Town Library in the Town of Colonie, Albany County. The Library is located at 629 Albany Shaker Road, approximately ¼ mile east of Exit 4 off I-87. Pre-registration is not required. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for disabled persons if requested in advance.

DUE DATE FOR COMMENTS:

Written comments on the draft IUPs must be submitted prior to the September 4, 2015 deadline.

CWSRF Program:

Submit comments by: Friday, September 4, 2015

Submit comments to: Timothy P. Burns, P.E., Director, Division of Engineering and Program Management, Environmental Facilities Corporation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207-2997, FAX: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]

DWSRF Program:

Submit comments by: Friday, September 4, 2015

Submit comments to: Michael Montysko, P.E., Design Section Chief, Bureau of Water Supply Protection, Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower Rm. 1135, Albany, NY 12237, FAX: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail] (if sent by email put Draft IUP comment in the subject line)

WEBINAR:

EFC and DOH will host a webinar to review the draft FFY 2016 CWSRF and DWSRF IUPs on Wednesday, August 5, 2015, at 10:00 AM. This event will present an overview of the 2016 CWSRF and DWSRF IUP, as well as an opportunity to answer questions. Log-on instructions for this webinar will be posted on EFC’s website at www.efc.ny.gov.

EFC & DOH CONTACTS:

For assistance with the IUP listing process, or for information on these SRF programs, please contact:

CWSRF: Dwight Brown, SRF Program Services Coordinator, Division of Engineering and Program Management, Environmental Facilities Corporation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207-2997, [phone] or [phone], FAX: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail], EFC website: www.efc.ny.gov

DWSRF: Michael Montysko, P.E., Chief of Design, Bureau of Water Supply Protection, Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower, Rm. 1135, Albany, NY 12237, [phone] ext. 27650 or [phone], FAX: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]

1220 Washington Avenue State Campus, Building 7A Albany, NY 12242

UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITHIN TARGETED COUNTIES

Fiscal Year 2015 Critical Infrastructure Grant Program

Fiscal Year 2015 Critical Infrastructure Grant Program seeks applications for up to $50,000 in federal State Homeland Security Program funding made available by the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) for critical infrastructure protection. The FY 2015 Critical Infrastructure Grant Program (CIGP) advances a common understanding of risk management. Applicants select a critical infrastructure site or special event or seasonal at risk location and complete a risk assessment. First responders assess their capability to prevent and protect against attacks on the site. Grant funding is then applied to mitigate vulnerabilities identified in the risk assessment or enhance first responder’s capabilities.

The priority focus for the FY 2015 CIGP is government owned critical infrastructure sites; and special event or seasonal at risk locations. Examples of government owned sites include, but are not limited to, government office buildings (city/town halls, courthouses), emergency services (emergency operations centers, 911 centers, police or fire stations), water systems (water treatment facilities, water distribution, wastewater treatments) and cyber security initiatives. Examples of a special event or seasonal at risk location include, but are not limited to, major community festivals, races, seasonal camps, or other mass gathering events. These locations should be reoccurring, at locations that have defined geographic boundaries and the event or location must pose special security concerns, such as population surges and other factors that require additional law enforcement or emergency resources.

Only units of local government within targeted counties are eligible to apply for the FY 2015 CIGP. Units of local governments include: counties, cities, towns, and/or villages. Applicants must be located in New York City or one of the following targeted counties: Albany, Broome, Dutchess, Erie, Herkimer, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Nassau, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Tioga, Wayne, Westchester, and Yates. The application must be coordinated with at least two (2) agencies with prevention and/or protection responsibilities at the selected site. These must be law enforcement, fire department, emergency management, information technology professionals, or public works agencies.

Applications will be accepted from July 2, 2015 through 11:59 p.m. on August 18, 2015 via DHSES’ Electronic Grants Management System (E-Grants).

For the Request for Applications (RFA) please visit the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) website at http://www.dhses.ny.gov/grants or DHSES’s Grant Hotline at [phone].