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

This $1,646,000.00 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Formula Grant, awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on October 1, 2024, will provide low-interest financing to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP) to fund projects that address emerging contaminants in water quality. The grant's primary purpose is to finance the planning, design, and construction of eligible water quality improvement and protection initiatives, with an emphasis on addressing emerging contaminants such as certain compounds from personal care products, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and microplastics. The expected outcomes are to improve and protect water quality across the state of Maine, with the intended beneficiaries being citizens throughout the state. No sub-awards are included in this assistance agreement.

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:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.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.