Note: The following OM&R related material was extracted from PA DEP’s 2006 Growing Greener I & II Watershed & Flood Protection Grant Application Package

GROWING GREENER II FUNDING

The amount of $230 million has been allocated to the Department as a result of the Growing Greener II (GGII) Bond Initiative for its existing programs for watershed protection, mine and acid mine drainage remediation, and plugging of abandoned oil and gas wells. At least $60 million shall be used for acid mine drainage abatement and mine cleanup efforts.

A new funding source for Growing Greener projects is available as a result of the Growing Greener II ("GGII") Bond Initiative. Projects funded under this initiative must meet the following eligibility and funding restrictions.

GGII Project Eligibility Projects must be for capital improvement and meet the following two conditions:

• be a physical improvement to land; AND,
• there must be a reasonable expectation that the project will last for the term of the bond which is 20-25 years.

Projects that meet the above eligibility criteria will be considered for this funding source.

Examples include, but are not limited to, projects that would incorporate the following elements:

• construction of natural stream channel and bank restoration
• construction of stormwater management practices
• installation of certain agricultural best management practices including:
• fencing, riparian forested buffers, wetlands
• construction of abandoned mine drainage treatment systems
• construction of mine reclamation projects that will result in significant
• improvement in water resources
• construction of a mine treatment facility
• plugging of orphan or abandoned oil and gas wells

If design and permitting costs are included as part of the construction project, they will also be eligible under GGII. Design and/or permitting costs alone are not eligible.

Repair and replacement of existing projects funded through Growing Greener are eligible for funding under GGII.

GGII Funding Restrictions

Administrative and overhead costs are prohibited. Salary costs for GGII funds may only be used for activities that lead to the implementation and construction of the actual project. Costs specifically excluded are those related to administrative charges, salaries, overhead, etc. Examples of administrative salaries include, but are not limited to, completion of progress reports, quarterly reports, final reports, and invoice preparation/processing.

GGII Priorities

In addition to the Growing Greener priorities on pages 2-6, special focus areas for GGII include:

• Projects that reduce nonpoint source pollutant loads through implementation of projects associated with a watershed restoration plan and result in measurable water quality enhancements in impaired watersheds.
• Projects that reduce mine and acid mine drainage.
• Projects that plug abandoned oil and gas wells.
• Projects designated under the County Environmental Initiative that mitigate or eliminate geological hazards (including landslides, avalanches, ground subsidence and coastal and beach erosion).

E. Operation, Maintenance and Replacement

Important Note: Projects that provide for the replacement or repairs associated with existing GGI eligible projects are eligible for GGII funding. Operation and routine maintenance costs are NOT eligible for GGII funds.

The need for long-term operation, maintenance and replacement (O, M&R) has been recognized as a requirement to ensure the long-term success of watershed restoration projects. This category is not intended to fund routine operation and maintenance activities that are the responsibility of the local sponsor, nor is it intended to replace systems damaged by operator negligence. The purpose of this funding category is to fund non-routine operation, maintenance and replacement items needed for existing watershed restoration projects. This category is not expected to be used to cover all O, M&R costs, but only those that can’t be covered by project sponsors using local resources.

[Allowable] Examples include:

• lab analysis of water samples collected for monitoring purposes,
• sludge or sediment removal from settling ponds,
• major structural repairs to berms damaged by flooding,
• replacement of materials being used up in the system (compost, limestone) and
• partial system reconstruction where the system is not operating as designed.

Dedicated sponsors, with landowner approval, are expected to provide much of the operation and routine maintenance needs. However, when costly maintenance needs, technical upgrades, and system replacement needs arise, Commonwealth funding may be necessary.

[When applying, you should:]

• Identify on a map the approximate size and location of the critical areas to be treated. Include photographs if available.
• Describe how the measures to be implemented will have a significant impact on restoring or protecting habitat or water quality. (Refer to the TMDL for the watershed, if one exists.)
• Quantify environmental results/benefits that can be expected as a result of project implementation (i.e., measures implemented, pollutant reduction, improvement in biological or physical parameters).
• Describe contractor involvement, contracting procedures, construction inspection provisions and whether competitive bidding will be used.
• Indicate project schedule, tasks and timelines. Be sure to include your progress in obtaining necessary permits and approvals.
• For projects involving planting, we favor projects that use species native to the region. List species you will use, if known. Make sure to provide adequate maintenance (even through difficult growing conditions, like drought).
• For projects proposing treatment of a specific pollution source (such as abandoned mine drainage), include water quality data if available and cite the source of the data.
• Letters of support from the municipality or county demonstrating that you coordinated your project with the municipal entities to determine consistency with local land use planning.
• Identify the funding source of the original construction project that resulted in the system needing O, M&R funds.
• Describe what routine measures have been done prior to this application for the efficient operation of the facility to preclude the need for more expensive replacements.
• Describe who is currently responsible for various O, M&R tasks at the site and whether or not an O, M&R plan exists (if so, please submit a copy; if not, one will be required as a deliverable at the completion of the project).
• What will be the impacts to the watershed should this system fail to provide effective treatment?