Under section 106 of the clean water act (33 U.S. Code 1256), the environmental protection agency (EPA) provides financial assistance to states (including territories and the district of columbia),…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 awarded the Interstate Environmental Commission (IEC) a formula grant totaling $1,089,800 under the Water Pollution Control State, Interstate, and Tribal Program Support program (CFDA 66.419) for the period October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. This funding supports IEC's ongoing efforts to maintain, protect, and improve water quality across the tri-state region of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut by preventing degradation of unimpaired waterbodies and reducing the number of impaired waterbodies.

The grant funds IEC's comprehensive water quality management activities, including water pollution abatement assistance, environmental field and laboratory monitoring with associated quality assurance and quality control programs, coordinated compliance assistance programming, and expansion of water quality monitoring initiatives including volunteer monitoring coordination. Additionally, IEC will procure continuous monitoring equipment to expand in-situ monitoring capabilities throughout the interstate environmental district and partner with regional organizations to conduct water quality assessments. The funding also supports public information and education services directed toward both public and private sector audiences in the tri-state area.

Under section 106 of the clean water act (33 U.S. Code 1256), the environmental protection agency (EPA) provides financial assistance to states (including territories and the district of columbia), interstate agencies, and eligible tribal nations to establish, implement and administer ongoing water pollution control programs for the prevention, reduction, and elimination of pollution. 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. The environmental benefits of this program include preventing degradation of unimpaired waterbodies and reducing the number of impaired waterbodies in the TRI-state (NY, NJ, CT) area. Residents of the TRI-state area will benefit from the IEC's efforts. Funding under this agreement 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 water quality monitoring program; and provide public information and education services to those in both the public and private sectors. IEC will procure continuous monitoring equipment to expand in-situ monitoring of relevant parameters related to water quality throughout the interstate environmental district. Additionally, IEC will partner with regional organizations to preform water quality assessments of current and proposed restoration sites focusing on eelgrass, oyster and other habitat restoration activities. Semi-annual progress reports of activities will be submitted to EPA.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 water quality monitoring program; and provide public information and education services to those in both the public and private sectors. For the monitoring initiative, IEC will procure continuous monitoring equipment to expand in-situ monitoring of relevant parameters related to water quality throughout the interstate environmental district. Additionally, IEC will partner with regional organizations to preform water quality assessments of current and proposed restoration sites focusing on eelgrass, oyster and other habitat restoration activities. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:direct beneficiaries of this assistance agreement include residents of the TRI-state (NY, NJ, CT) area through IEC ongoing water pollution control program. The anticipated deliverables include semi-annual progress reports of activities and accomplishments. 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