This agreement is supported by funding provided under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) (also known as the bipartisan infrastructure law)

This agreement is to fund the commonwealth of pennsylvania's water quality management planning program to improve impaired water and protect unimpaired waters across the state by conducting planning that informs and supports implementation of clean water act programs. In accordance with clean water act section 205(j)(3), unless a waiver request is approved by EPA, the recipient will jointly develop workplans with and provide at least 40% of this award to regional or interstate watershed management planning agencies. Activities:the activities to be performed include the following water quality management planning activities: stream use designation/redesignation evaluations; cooling water intake rules and performance standards evaluations; algal toxin and bacteria data collection for the development of bacteria and algal toxin water quality criteria and the development of recreation use assessment methods; data collection for the assessment of protected uses; review quality assurance project plans (qapps); develop equity/EJ and climate change assessments subrecipient:DEP has entered into an agreement with the susquehanna river basin commission (srbc) to conduct data collection activities for the assessment of the water contact use within the upper west branch susquehanna river basin. Training and audits were completed throughout this reporting period and data collection will continue through the next. Updated assessments are expected to be included in the 2026 integrated report.outcomes:anticipated deliverables are stream use designation/redesignation evaluations, cooling water intake rules and performance standards evaluations, algal toxin and bacteria data collection for the development of bacteria and algal toxin water quality criteria and the development of recreation use assessment methods, data collection for the assessment of protected uses, review quality assurance project plans (qapps), and the development of equity/EJ and climate change assessments. The outputs from these activities will be completed waterbody surveys and evaluation reports incorporated in pennsylvania's water quality assessment database and integrated water quality monitoring and assessment report as appropriate; reviewing information submitted by existing facilities, demonstrations and other forms of documentation implemented under section 316(b) of the clean water act to reduce the impact on aquatic life from cooling water intake structures, temperature targets for aquatic life, an annual report to EPA for the USFWS and NOAA, and a catalog of historical documents and correspondence; updates to recreation use assessment methods and the development of datasets to support water quality criteria development; comprehensive assessments of surface waters including the susquehanna river and the west branch susquehanna river; yearly review of the quality assurance project plans (qapp's) and necessary updates as needed or at least every 5 years; ongoing updates to data collection protocols and subsequent updates to the qapp's, which will provide an opportunity for EPA review well before july 2026; and equity/EJ and climate change assessments to be included in pennsylvania's BI-annual integrated monitoring and assessment report (IR). Intended beneficiaries are the residents of the commonwealth of pennsylvania. Federal funds in amount of $149,210 is contingent upon availability.