This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $1,043,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) capitalization grant under CFDA 66.458 to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Financial Services Division. The grant provides funding to DEQ's CWSRF program, with the primary purpose of addressing emerging contaminants in water systems across the state. The activities under this Formula Grant include DEQ providing low-interest financing to numerous sub-recipients for infrastructure improvements eligible under the Clean Water Act, with a focus on projects that address emerging contaminants such as compounds from personal care products, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and microplastics. The expected outcomes are for DEQ to establish and manage an effective and self-sustaining CWSRF program to improve and protect water quality and public health for citizens throughout Montana. The grant period runs from April 1, 2024 to December 31, 2028.

The purpose of the project is for a capitalization grant which provides funds for the recipient's clean water state revolving fund (CWSRF) program with a primary purpose to address emerging contaminants. Emerging contaminants refer to substances and microorganisms, including manufactured or naturally occurring physical, chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, which are known or anticipated in the environment, that may pose newly identified or RE-emerging risks to human health, aquatic life, or the environment. These substances, microorganisms or materials can include many different types of natural or manufactured chemicals and substances - such as those in some compounds of personal care products, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and microplastics. Activities:the activities are to provide low interest financing to numerous subrecipients for costs eligible under section 603(C) of the clean water act and the primary purpose must be to address emerging contaminants. Subrecipient:this grant agreement capitalizes the state SRF program, allowing the state SRF program to make loans and principle forgiveness (SUBAWARDS) to communities for infrastructure improvements.outcomes:the benefits of this grant will be to capitalize the recipient's CWSRF with a primary focus on emerging contaminants. The expected outcomes are to establish and manage an effective comprehensive CWSRF program and to maintain a self-sustaining revolving fund to improve and protect water quality and public health for citizens throughout the state.