Pennsylvania DEP Announces Growing Greener Plus Grants Available

Deadline to submit an application is Oct. 26

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Environmental Protection announced today that applications are being accepted for four different grants through the 2012 Growing Greener Plus grant solicitation.

The awards are for Watershed Protection grants, Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) grants, Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Set-Aside grants and Section 319 Nonpoint Source grants.

"This provides a unique way for organizations to apply for four different grants at the same time," DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. "We are happy to be able to have this opportunity to fund projects that will preserve and protect Pennsylvania's watersheds."

The Watershed Protection grants program invests in projects that will protect and restore Pennsylvania's watersheds from impairment due to nonpoint source pollution. It also includes the Watershed Renaissance Initiative to fund the complete implementation of a watershed restoration plan that completely restores an impaired watershed.

Potential projects should be located in "priority" watersheds and reduce the source of impairment; lead to water quality restoration; or support the installation of agricultural best management practices to achieve compliance with existing agricultural water quality requirements. Eligible applicants are counties, municipal authorities, municipalities, county conservation districts, watershed organizations, councils of government and other authorized organizations involved in the restoration and protection of Pennsylvania's air, land and water.

The program is funded by revenues from solid waste tipping fees paid to the Environmental Stewardship Fund as authorized by the Environmental Stewardship and Watershed Protection Act.

SMCRA and AMD Set-Aside grants are available to municipalities, municipal authorities, school districts and incorporated non-profit organizations for projects meeting SMCRA Bond Forfeiture or AMD Set-Aside or grant requirements.

Section 319 grants focus on funding projects similar to Watershed Protection but with special emphasis within targeted Watershed Implementation Plan watersheds. Section 319 Nonpoint Source grants are available to counties, municipal authorities, municipalities, county conservation districts, watershed organizations, councils of government and other authorized organizations. 

The SMCRA Bond Forfeiture and AMD Set-Aside grant programs are authorized by Section 18(j) of the federal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act. Section 319 Nonpoint Source grants are authorized by Section 319(h) of the federal Clean Water Act.

Applications should be sent to DEP's Grants Center at P.O. Box 8776, Harrisburg, PA 17105. Applications must be postmarked no later than Oct. 26. If they are hand-delivered to DEP, the package must be received by 4 p.m. on Oct. 26. Late or electronic submissions will not be considered.

For more information on the grants, visit DEP's website at www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: "Growing Greener."

Media contact: Amanda Witman, 717-787-1323

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

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