This agreement funds a capitalization grant for the recipient's clean water state revolving fund (CWSRF) program with a primary purpose to address emerging contaminants

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 awarded $1,391,000 in formula grant funding to the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission on March 1, 2025, under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program (CFDA 66.458). This capitalization grant establishes a long-term financing mechanism through which the state will provide low-interest loans to municipal sub-recipients for water infrastructure projects, with a primary focus on addressing emerging contaminants including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and microplastics. The funding was appropriated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Through the CWSRF program, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission will finance the planning, design, and construction of eligible water quality improvement and protection projects across the state, with anticipated completion by February 28, 2028. Sub-recipient municipalities will utilize the low-interest loan financing to implement infrastructure projects that directly improve and protect water quality, with intended beneficiaries including citizens throughout Arkansas. The revolving fund mechanism enables repayments from project loans to sustain ongoing financing for future water infrastructure initiatives.

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. This project is funded under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA). Activities:the recipients of these funds will provide low interest financing to numerous subrecipients for costs eligible under section 603(C) of the clean water act, with the primary purpose of addressing emerging contaminants. Subrecipient:loans will be provided to municipalities through the state revolving fund programs to fund direct infrastructure projects. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include financing planning, design, and construction of eligible water quality improvement and protection projects. The expected outcomes are to improve and protect water quality with an emphasis on emerging contaminants. The intended beneficiaries include citizens throughout the state.