Environmental Assistance Grants Program

On September 20, 2010, with the publication of the Request for Proposals (RFP) Notice in the State Register, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has officially announced the opening of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 Environmental Assistance Grant Round for application. This notice is issued under authority provided in Minn. Stat. §115A.0716, subd. 1 and Minn. Rules Parts 9210.0800 to 9210.0855. The deadline for submittal of applications is November 1, 2010, by 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, except where specified otherwise.

Approximately $1,208,770 is available for EA grant awards among the following four (4) Focus Areas to encourage outcome-oriented, economically driven approaches to pollution prevention, waste reduction, toxicity reduction, water quality protection, and resource conservation:

1. Resource Conservation and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction: focus on providing assistance in identified regions of the State for implementing projects achieving measurable outcomes in waste and toxicity reduction, reuse, and/or recycling that advance the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Council (MCCAG) and Integrated Solid Waste Management Stakeholder Process goals of a 0% increase in waste generation per capita by 2020, a reduction of 3% in waste generation per capita by 2025, achievement of a 50% recycling rate by 2011 and a 60% recycling rate by 2025.
2. Source-Separated Composting: focus on providing assistance to Minnesota political subdivisions to reduce the amount of organic wastes entering disposal facilities that advance the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Council (MCCAG) and Integrated Solid Waste Management Stakeholder Process goals of a 10% composting rate by 2012 and 15% by 2020.
3. PAH Contaminated Stormwater Pond Sediment: focus on providing assistance to municipalities for the removal and management of stormwater pond sediments contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).  
4. Metropolitan Landfill Abatement: focus on providing assistance to the seven metropolitan counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington for implementation of projects featuring resource conservation, reuse, waste and toxicity reduction, and recycling activities that advance the goals, policies, and objectives identified in the 2010 Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan (applications due by 3:00 p.m. CST, November 15, 2010).

Request for Proposals

 Environmental Assistance Grants: FY11 Round; Request for Proposals Funding Guidance (p-f2-27a)

 Focus Area A: Resource Conservation and Greenhouse Gas Reduction - Application form (p-f2-27c)

 Focus Area B: Source-separated Composting - Application form (p-f2-27d)

 Focus Area C: PAH-contaminated Stormwater Pond Sediment - Application form (p-f2-27f)

 Focus Area D: Metropolitan Landfill Abatement - Application form (p-f2-27e)

 Frequently Asked Questions: Environmental Assistance Grants: FY11 Round (p-f2-27b)

 Generic Grant Agreement (p-f2-27g)

 State Register Notice: Sept. 20, 2010

Relevant Grant Resources

• Minnesota Statutes, Rules and 2009 Session Laws: The environmental grant program is administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency under Minnesota statutes and rules (Minn. Stats. §§ 115A.0716, 115A.02, 115D.02 and 115D.03 and Minn. Rules part 9210.0800-9210.0855). 
  • 115A.0716 Environmental assistance grant and loan program
  • 115A.02 Legislative declaration of policy; purposes
  • 115A.03 Definitions
  • 115D.02 Policy
  • 115D.03 Definitions
  • 116D.02 Declaration of state environmental policy
  • Minnesota Rules 9210.0800-9210.0855 Solid Waste Grant and Loan Programs
  • Minnesota Session Laws 2009, Chapter 37, Article 1, Section 43 Composting Competitive Grant Program
  • Minnesota Session Laws 2009, Chapter 172, Article 2, Section 4
  • Minnesota Session Laws 2010, Chapter 361, Article 2, Section 4  
• Minnesota Legislative Districts
• MPCA Strategic Plan

Assistance and Information

The MPCA will consider other projects that further the Agency’s mission to protect, conserve, and improve the environment if deemed by the Agency to be “time-sensitive.” Prior to the FY11 application submittal deadline of 3:00 p.m. CST, November 1, 2010, potential applicants may request consideration of their project proposals as time-sensitive if the grant request is less than $10,000, and the applicant can demonstrate why they cannot reasonably abide by the FY11 EA Grant process and timelines.

For more information on time-sensitive requests or program assistance, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 651-757-2208; toll free 1-800-657-3864.