Show All American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds at the MPCA
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is providing stimulus funding for Minnesota environmental projects. More specific information about ARRA and funded programs nationwide is available at recovery.gov . Information about ARRA funded programs in Minnesota is also available at Recovery.mn
The MPCA has been awarded a total of $6,713,600 ARRA funds for clean diesel, leaking underground storage tanks and water quality management activities. In addition, staff support wastewater, stormwater and nonpoint source pollution projects under the state Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
The MPCA received $1,730,000 from the ARRA to reduce diesel emissions and improve air quality primarily by limiting emissions of fine particles and carbon dioxide (CO2). This will be accomplished by providing grants to fund pollution reducing technology, either by retrofitting older engines, or replacing engines. Certain pollution reducing technologies will also save operators fuel, which will lower CO2 emissions. The grant program targeted public and private heavy duty diesel fleets throughout Minnesota. Auxiliary power units (APUs) are a popular clean diesel technology. These small engines serve as generators for heating and cooling of the cab for long-haul truckers. Using the APU while parked overnight instead of the truck engine will offer a tremendous reduction in CO2 and save fuel. Other emission reducing, repower or replacement technologies to be funded by grants include: diesel oxidation catalysts and particulate traps, refrigeration generator units and hybrid diesel-electric power systems. See Grants/Financial Assistance for Clean Diesel Projects for more information.
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) are part of the Minnesota Petroleum Remediation Program (PRP). The goal of the PRP is to protect human health and the environment by evaluating, minimizing or correcting petroleum contamination impacts to soil and water caused by leaking storage tank systems. The MPCA received $4,256,000 from the ARRA for LUST and is using the funds to complete environmental assessments and necessary cleanups at contaminated sites. Sites must fit the eligibility criteria for ARRA LUST funding, as well as have the potential of being able to meet both ARRA and environmental benefit measures. An existing PRP process of taking over sites without viable responsible parties and completing work through an existing state of Minnesota master contract will be used for performing cleanup activities. PRP sites have been prioritized based upon ARRA LUST guidance and will be addressed in a manner that best accomplishes program goals. See LUST and PRP for more information.
The MPCA was awarded an ARRA grant for $727,600 to fund water quality management planning activities. These management activities are funded under the Clean Water Act, sections 604(b) and 205(j) and will be used to address continuing planning process (CPP) updates and total maximum daily load (TMDL) communications work. The CPP documents how MPCA operates water quality programs under the Clean Water Act on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). TMDL communications will include creating an MPCA web page/portal to communicate progress on developing TMDLs and watershed plans through specific case studies and stories
The ARRA award is providing $291,160 in grants for priority water management planning activities. These grants were made available through a competitive process to regional public comprehensive planning organizations, such as Regional Development Commissions, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Watershed Districts, Joint Powers Boards, Watershed Management Organizations, counties and interstate planning organizations.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund, is established under the Federal Clean Water Act and state law to make loans to for point source (wastewater and stormwater) and nonpoint source water pollution control projects. The Public Facilities Authority (PFA) prepares an annual Intended Use Plan (IUP) based on a Project Priority List developed by the MPCA. The IUP describes the projects and activities eligible for funding during the state fiscal year. See Clean Water Revolving Fund - Wastewater and Stormwater for more information.
The PFA has received $107 million in ARRA funds for the Clean Water Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water Revolving Fund to provide low-interest loans and principal forgiveness (grants) for clean water and drinking water projects in Minnesota. See the PFA for information on these ARRA projects.
