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 commonwealth by conducting…

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection received a $1.56M formula grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Water Quality Management Planning program (CFDA 66.454), awarded January 1, 2026, and extending through December 31, 2027. Supported by Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, this award enables Pennsylvania to conduct comprehensive water quality management planning activities designed to improve impaired waters and protect unimpaired waters across the Commonwealth through implementation of Clean Water Act programs. Deliverables include designated and existing use evaluations, cooling water intake rules and performance standards assessments, algal toxin data collection for water quality criteria development, water contact sports assessment methods, protected use assessments, quality assurance project plan reviews, and advanced restoration plan development.

In accordance with Clean Water Act Section 205(j)(3), Pennsylvania will jointly develop workplans with and pass through a minimum of 40 percent of funding to regional public comprehensive planning organizations and interstate organizations to complete protected use assessments and continue advanced restoration plan work initiated under previous grant cycles. These subrecipient partnerships leverage regional expertise and ensure coordinated watershed management planning across Pennsylvania's diverse water resource areas.

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 commonwealth by conducting planning that informs and supports implementation of clean water act programs. $149,210 in federal funds is contingent upon availability. 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 passthrough at least 40% of funding to regional or interstate watershed management planning agencies. This agreement is supported by funding provided under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58). Activities:the activities to be performed include the following water quality management planning activities - designated/existing use evaluations, cooling water intake rules and performance standards evaluations, algal toxin data collection for the development of algal toxin water quality criteria and the development of water contact sports assessment methods, data collection for the assessment of protected uses, review quality assurance project plans (qapps), advance restoration plan (ARP) planning. Subrecipient:subawards will be used to work with regional public comprehensive planning organizations (rpcpos) and appropriate interstate organizations (IOS) to complete protected use assessments and to continue work on advanced restoration plans (ARP) started under the previous 604(b) grant.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include designated/existing use evaluations, cooling water intake rules and performance standards evaluations, algal toxin data collection for the development of algal toxin water quality criteria and the development of water contact sports assessment methods, data collection for the assessment of protected uses, review quality assurance project plans (qapps), advance restoration plan (ARP) planning. The expected outcomes include completed waterbody surveys, stream evaluation reports, and redesignation rulemakings; reduced impact on aquatic life from cooling water intake structures and temperature targets for aquatic life; seasonal collection, compilation and evaluation of algal toxin samples to make them available for assessment method development and criteria development; comprehensive assessments of surface waters to be reported in the 2028 integrated report and subsequent integrated reports; and ongoing updates on methodology and other critical information for quality assurance documentation. The intended beneficiaries include the residents of the commonwealth of pennsylvania.