DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS FOR A CAPITALIZATION GRANT WHICH PROVIDES FUNDS FOR THE RECIPIENT'S DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM WITH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE TO ADDRESS EMERGING CONTAMINANTS IN DRINKING WATER WITH A FOCUS ON PROJECTS ADDRESSING PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS). 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:SECTION 1452 OF THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT AUTHORIZES ARKANSAS TO UTILIZE FUNDS TO FURTHER THE HEALTH PROTECTION OBJECTIVES OF SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT. ARKANSAS HAS SUBMITTED AN INTENDED USE PLAN AS PART OF THE APPLICATION PACKAGE FOR THIS CAPITALIZATION GRANT. THIS INTENDED USE PLAN CONTAINS A LIST OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS EMERGING CONTAMINANTS THAT MAY RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THIS GRANT. THE RECIPIENT MAY ALSO USE SOME OF THE FUNDING FOR SPECIFIC 'SET-ASIDES' TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL SYSTEMS, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION, STATE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND OTHER ALLOWABLE USES.SUBRECIPIENT:THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION WILL BE ENTERING INTO FUNDING AGREEMENTS WITH COMMUNITIES/UTILITIES AS PART OF THEIR ARKANSAS DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM, AND THEREFORE CONSIDERED SUBAWARDS. HOWEVER, THESE WILL BE AWARDED AS LOANS AND NOT AS SUBGRANTS.OUTCOMES:THE BENEFITS OF THIS GRANT WILL BE TO CAPITALIZE THE RECIPIENT'S DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND WITH PRIMARY PURPOSE TO ADDRESS EMERGING CONTAMINANTS IN DRINKING WATER WITH A FOCUS ON PROJECTS ADDRESSING PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS). THE FUND CAN THEN BE USED TO INCREASE TECHNICAL, FINANCIAL AND MANAGERIAL CAPACITY OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS, AND PROVIDE ASSURANCE OF A CLEANER AND SAFER POTABLE WATER SUPPLY BY FUNDING IMPROVEMENTS TO MULTIPLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THESE PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS WILL BE STATEWIDE.