66.437: Long Island Sound Program

66.437

Active

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

July 14, 2022

July 14, 2022

The Long Island Sound Program: (1) implements the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP); and (2) assists the states of Connecticut and New York and other public or nonprofit entities in implementation, research, planning, enforcement, and citizen involvement and education related to reducing pollution and improving the quality of the environment to sustain living resources in the Long Island Sound. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2022: To award assistance agreements that support the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) National Estuary Program. Section 119(d) of the Clean Water Act, as amended by America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 Public Law No: 115-270, authorizes the Administrator to award grants to eligible entities to implement the LISS Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), with special emphasis on implementation, research and planning, enforcement, and citizen involvement and education projects. The LISS management conference, with participants from state, interstate and regional environmental agencies, local governments and other public or nonprofit private agencies, research institutions and individuals, develops programs to protect and restore Long Island Sound. EPA also provides assistance through funds appropriated under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act (The National Estuary Program). The LISS program characterizes the problems in the estuary, determines relationships between pollutant loading and impacts on living resources, maintains a comprehensive plan recommending solutions to priority problems, and implements actions addressing priority problem areas. Activities focused on theme areas identified in the plan as requiring special attention, such as: clean waters and healthy watersheds; thriving habitats and abundant wildlife; sustainable and resilient communities; and sound science and inclusive management. Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Long Island Sound will receive $21.2 million for FY 2022 through CWA §119 and $909,800/year through CWA §320. These allocations are expected to continue for five years, through 2026. The LISS goal for BIL funding is to significantly improve Long Island Sound’s environmental health, climate resilience, and economic vitality in an equitable manner in communities across the Sound’s watershed. The focus will be on: 1) planning and implementation of infrastructure improvements to enhance water and habitat quality, including green infrastructure, essential equipment upgrades, transition to innovative septic systems and nitrogen reduction upgrades to wastewater treatment plants; 2) climate resilience and sustainability through implementation of the LISS 5-year Sustainable and Resilient Communities Work Plan, including community planning and implementation of living shorelines, wetland restoration, and flood mitigation; and 3) integrating environmental justice goals with all LIS watershed protection and restoration activities through implementation of the LISS 5-year Environmental Justice Work Plan, including public involvement, coastal public access, and human and ecosystem health goals. A key component is EPA’s release of the RFA to support and build community capacity to address Environmental Justice within communities.

B - Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)

State, interstate, local governments, Tribal governments (must be either federally-recognized or state-recognized), regional water pollution control agencies, and other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, and organizations are eligible. Private profit-making entities, and individuals, are not eligible.

Not Applicable

https://sam.gov/fal/da6050c74f4a4337b974f04dcb1836fd/view