Formula Grant 02F68601

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA) TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA TO IMPLEMENT RESOURCES AND PRIORITIES TO HELP ADDRESS PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) AND EMERGING CONTAMINANT (EC) CHALLENGES; TARGET RESOURCES TO COMMUNITIES MOST IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT NO COMMUNITY IS LEFT BEHIND WITH UNSAFE, INADEQUATE WATER; AND ADVANCE THE PRIORITIES OF EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. LOUISIANA WILL IMPLEMENT PROJECTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SAMPLING, PLANNING AND DESIGN TO ADDRESS ECS, TREATMENT OF ECS, SOURCE WATER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO ECS AND SALT WATER INTRUSION, WATER SYSTEM RESTRUCTURING, PROVIDING HOUSEHOLDS ACCESS TO DRINKING WATER SERVICES, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND TRAINING SUPPORT TO PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS IN ADDRESSING ECS WITH THE USE OF THIS AWARD FUNDING. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES TO ADDRESS EMERGING CONTAMINANTS IN SMALL OR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO RESEARCH AND TESTING; PLANNING AND DESIGN TO ADDRESS EMERGING CONTAMINATES; TREATMENT OF EMERGING CONTAMINANTS; SOURCE WATER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO EMERGING CONTAMINANTS; STORAGE; WATER SYSTEM RESTRUCTURING; PROVIDING HOUSEHOLDS ACCESS TO DRINKING WATER SERVICES; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; OUTREACH AND EDUCATION; AND WORKFORCE OR TRAINING SUPPORT TO PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS IN ADDRESSING EMERGING CONTAMINANTS.SUBRECIPIENT:LOANS WILL BE MADE TO SUBRECIPIENTS TO MITIGATE EMERGING CONTAMINANTS IN SYSTEMS. LOANS ISSUED TO MUNICIPALITIES WITH THIS GRANT ARE CONSIDERED SUBAWARDS.OUTCOMES:THIS AGREEMENT IS TO AN ELIGIBLE STATE OR TERRITORY TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS EMERGING CONTAMINANTS IN DRINKING WATER TO SMALL OR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. FUNDS ARE TO CARRY OUT PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES NEEDED FOR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS TO COMPLY WITH THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT, PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE HOUSEHOLD WATER QUALITY TESTING, ACTIVITIES FOR A STATE TO RESPOND TO A DRINKING WATER CONTAMINANTS, AND ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT THE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES. THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE DETERMINING WHAT PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS (PWSS) MEET DISADVANTAGED CRITERIA; PROCURE SAMPLES OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) AND EMERGING CONTAMINANT (EC) FOR PWSS; CONTACT SYSTEMS THAT MEET CRITERIA FOR PERMISSION TO SAMPLE FOR PFAS/EC; HOST QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH LOUISIANA OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE (OCD-LGA); BEGIN SAMPLING ONCE APPROVED TO SAMPLE IN AREAS CURRENTLY KNOWN TO HAVE PFAS/EC; TRACK AND REPORT SAMPLING LOCATIONS AND COMMUNITIES WITH DETECTIONS; CREATE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH MATERIALS FOR PWS'S TO PROVIDE TO CUSTOMERS; TRACK PUBLIC OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES CREATED AND MEETINGS/WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED; PROCURE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR PLANNING AND DESIGN; CREATE A LOUISIANA STATE STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF SMALL OR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY (SDC) WATER SYSTEMS. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE ESTABLISHING A BASELINE OF PFAS/EC IN SDC IN LOUISIANA; AWARENESS OF IMPACTS OF PFAS/EC TO HUMAN HEALTH AND TREATMENT OPTIONS; IMPROVED PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THREATS POSED BY EMERGING AND REGULATED CONTAMINANTS; EDUCATION OF COMMUNITIES ON REMEDIATION AND ASSISTANCE OPTIONS; INCREASED IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND TRUST AMONG SMALL AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES; ESTABLISH A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES IN FOLLOWING YEARS OF GRANT. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE SMALL OR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE ALL STATE RESIDENTS AND OCCUPANTS, BOTH PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY.