State of Nebraska
Department of Environment and Energy
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln, NE 68509
PHONE: (402) 471-2186
FAX: (402) 471-2909
Invitation for 2015
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROJECT PROPOSALS
The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) is inviting proposals for source water protection projects. Funding is authorized through section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act as administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the NDEQ and the Nebraska Health and Human Services System.
These funds are a potential source of support for drinking water protection and source water assessment projects in Nebraska. Program overview, grant process, general program information, funding priority, project requirements and format are outlined in the attached guidance.
Any questions you may have regarding this invitation must be submitted in writing, or by email to the Source Water Coordinator, to the address below no later than March 16, 2015. All questions and their answers will be posted on the NDEQ website by March 30, 2015. Proposals must be submitted to the NDEQ office in Lincoln by 4:00 PM Monday April 27, 2015. Please direct all questions and requests and proposals to:
Source Water Coordinator
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 N Street, Suite 400, The Atrium
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8922
Telephone: (402) 471-2186
Website: http://deq.ne.gov
ndeq.moreinfo@nebraska.gov
NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
INVITATION FOR SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROJECT PROPOSALS
FUNDING UNDER SECTION 1452 OF THE FEDERAL SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
ESTIMATED ANNUAL FUNDS | $100,000 |
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS | Political subdivisions, in Nebraska, that operate a public water system serving a population of 10,000 or less and have met all requirements of the Source Water Assessment Program. |
ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES | Projects that provide long-term benefits to drinking water quality, quantity and/or education. Eligible projects include:
- Contaminant source identification – research / investigation
- Contaminant pathway removal - includes the closure of abandoned or unused wells
- Contaminant removal – pollution prevention and waste reduction
- Contaminant source management – implementation of best management practices (BMPs), ordinance development and implementation of a Source Water or Wellhead Protection Plan
- Education and information sharing- workshops, brochures, meetings, and media campaigns
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INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES |
- Activities related to the operations and maintenance of drinking water systems and water treatment;
- Activities related specific to the treatment, transmission, distribution, consolidation or storage of the drinking water system which includes mapping of the water distribution system
- Land purchases;
- Projects that only develop a Source Water or Wellhead Protection Plan and do nothing toward implementation of the plan;
- Projects requesting only personnel expenses;
- Projects geared towards the security aspect of Source Water, such as security fencing and cameras.
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APPLICATION DEADLINE | April 27, 2015 |
REQUIRED COPY | Send original proposal to the following address. |
Proposals must be delivered to or received by the NDEQ office in Lincoln on or before 4:00 PM Monday April 27, 2015. Late proposals will be returned. Mail or hand deliver applications to:Source Water Coordinator
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 N Street, Suite 400, The Atrium
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8922
Telephone: (402) 471-2186 Facsimile and email submissions will not be accepted
Late proposals will not be accepted
Phone 402-471-2186 Toll Free: 877-253-2603 |
GRANT PROCESS
Project proposals will be reviewed by staff at NDEQ, Nebraska Health and Human Services, and potentially other individuals and organizations. Projects recommended by the reviewers will be forwarded to the Director of NDEQ for approval. Projects are subject to final approval by the EPA.
Timetable:
| March 16, 2015 | All questions regarding this invitation must be received in writing. |
| March 30, 2015 | All written questions regarding this invitation and their answers will be posted on the NDEQ website or mailed to potential applicants that specifically request such. |
| April 27, 2015 | Proposals, including a DUNS number, must be received at the NDEQ Lincoln office by 4:00 PM of this due date. |
| ~May 2015 | Proposals are reviewed by committee |
| ~June 2015 | Projects are selected and sponsors notified. Funding is made available to begin projects pending approval of a final Project Implementation Plan and finalization of a funding agreement. |
Changes in 2015:
- Projects geared towards the security aspect of Source Water will no longer be eligible
- There will be a required 10% match for any funds received.
- Activities specific to the treatment, transmission, distribution, consolidation or storage of the drinking water system which includes mapping of the water distribution system will no longer be eligible.
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GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
Source Water Protection Grants are available for proactive projects geared toward protecting Nebraska’s drinking water supplies and will address drinking water quality, quantity and/or education. Eligible applicants are political subdivisions that operate a public water system serving a population of 10,000 or less.
Rather than providing the grant to complete one task, it is preferred that grants be provided to help establish and develop comprehensive local source water protection programs, enhance cooperation and education among citizens, local government, businesses, and agricultural producers. Grants can be used for source water protection planning expenditures or for the development of a Wellhead Protection Plan, but only in conjunction with the implementation of pollution prevention tasks.
Grants cannot be used for the sole purpose of developing a Source Water or Wellhead Protection Plan, for only personnel expenses, to purchase land, or for operations and maintenance activities. In addition, activities specific to the treatment, transmission, distribution, consolidation or storage of the drinking water system which includes mapping of the water distribution system are no longer eligible. Projects that primarily focus on research or investigation are discouraged. Examples of projects that have previously been funded can be found on the NDEQ website: http://deq.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/OnWeb/SWPGMain
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