Formula Grant 96247723

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE INTERSTATE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION (IEC) TO CARRY OUT ITS PROGRAM TO MAINTAIN, PROTECT, AND IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY OF ITS RIVERS, LAKES, STREAMS, GROUNDWATER, AND OTHER WATERBODIES. FUNDING WILL SUPPORT THE COMMISSION'S PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES, WATER QUALITY MONITORING INITIATIVE, AND WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT ACTIVATES IN THE TRI-STATE (NY,NJ,CT) AREA. THE IEC WILL USE THE AWARDED CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 106 FUNDS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE ON ISSUES RELATED TO WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT AND WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT; PERFORM ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES (LABORATORY AND FIELD MONITORING) SUPPORTED BY QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM TO ENSURE HIGH-QUALITY DATA; CONTINUE ITS COORDINATED COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; CONTINUE AND EXPAND ESTABLISHED WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMS INCLUDING COORDINATING A VOLUNTEER PATHOGEN MONITORING PROGRAM; AND PROVIDE PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION SERVICES TO THOSE IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS. FOR THE MONITORING INITIATIVE, IEC WILL SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF CONTINUOUS ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT OF SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT EMERGING CONTAMINANTS SUCH AS PFOA AND PFAS. SEMI-ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES WILL BE SUBMITTED TO EPA. THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE PREVENTING DEGRADATION OF UNIMPAIRED WATERBODIES AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF IMPAIRED WATERBODIES IN THE STATE. RESIDENTS OF THE TRI-STATE AREA WILL BENEFIT FROM THE IEC'S EFFORTS.ACTIVITIES:THE IEC WILL USE THE AWARDED CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 106 FUNDS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE ON ISSUES RELATED TO WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT AND WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT; PERFORM ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES (LABORATORY AND FIELD MONITORING) SUPPORTED BY QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM TO ENSURE HIGH-QUALITY DATA; CONTINUE ITS COORDINATED COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; CONTINUE AND EXPAND ESTABLISHED WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMS INCLUDING COORDINATING A VOLUNTEER PATHOGEN MONITORING PROGRAM; AND PROVIDE PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION SERVICES TO THOSE IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS. FOR THE MONITORING INITIATIVE, IEC WILL SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF CONTINUOUS ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT OF SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, AND THE INSTALLATION OF AT LEAST ONE CONTINUOUS MONITORING STATION FOR COLLECTION OF WATER QUALITY DATA IN JURISDICTIONAL WATERS.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:RESIDENTS OF THE TRI-STATE AREA WILL BENEFIT FROM THE IEC'S EFFORTS. SEMI-ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES WILL BE SUBMITTED TO EPA. SOME SPECIFIC OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE: 1) SHARED INFORMATION, EXPERIENCES AND APPROACHES RELATED TO WATER QUALITY, WHICH RESULTS IN IMPROVED WATER QUALITY PROGRAMS; 2) COORDINATED WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT EFFORTS AND IDENTIFICATION OF PRIORITIES ON AN INTERSTATE BASIS; 3) PLANNING, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT ACROSS SHARED WATERS; 4) MONITOR REGIONAL NOTIFICATIONS AND ASSIST, WHERE APPROPRIATE, IN RESPONDING TO PLANNED AND UNPLANNED SEWAGE BYPASSES; 4) PRODUCE SCIENTIFICALLY VALID INFORMATION TO SUPPORT MANAGEMENT DECISIONS RELATED TO WATER QUALITY; 5) EXPANDED REGIONAL LABORATORY ANALYTICAL AND MONITORING CAPABILITIES BASED ON REGIONALLY IDENTIFIED NEEDS; 6) ENSURE COORDINATED, INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND ASSISTANCE RELATED TO WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS ACROSS STATE BORDERS AND AMONG SHARED WATERWAYS; 7) EXPAND MONITORING DATA IN NEAR-SHORE, UNDER-MONITORED AND UNDER-REPRESENTED COMMUNITIES; 8) ENSURE EQUITABLE RECREATIONAL WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENTS; 9) PLAN MONITORING DATA THAT FILLS SPECIFIC REGIONAL GAPS IN WATER QUALITY INFORMATION; 10) PROVIDE RAPID AND 'REAL-TIME' INFORMATION RELATED TO RECREATIONAL WATER QUALITY TO INFORM STAKEHOLDERS AND USERS; 11) EDUCATE AND INFORM INDIVIDUALS AT ALL LEVELS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR OF IEC ACTIVITIES AND RELATED WATER ISSUES. ADDIT