This agreement provides funding to montana department of environmental quality (mdeq)

This $23,160,500 Formula Grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (CFDA 66.468) program capitalizes Montana's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The DWSRF funding will be used by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to provide low-interest loans and other authorized financial assistance to public water systems for projects that improve drinking water treatment, water distribution, source water supply, and finished water storage. The DEQ may also use a portion of the funding for technical assistance to small systems, program administration, and other allowable state program management activities. This grant award, valid from August 4, 2023 through July 31, 2028, aims to enhance the technical, financial, and managerial capacity of public water systems in Montana and ensure a cleaner, safer drinking water supply for the state.

Section 1452 of the safe drinking water act (sdwa) and infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) PL 117-58 authorizes the state to utilize funds to further the health protection objectives of sdwa. This agreement will provide funds to capitalize the recipient's drinking water state revolving fund (dwsrf). As part of this agreement, the state ensures compliance with federal and state regulations, which are designed to protect public health. Activities:the bulk of the state revolving fund (SRF) will be used for loans and other authorized assistance to public water systems for eligible projects, including improving drinking water treatment, water distribution, improving source of water supply, replacing or constructing finished water storage tanks, and other infrastructure projects needed to protect public health. 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:this grant agreement capitalizes the state SRF program, allowing the state SRF program to make loans (subawards) to communities for infrastructure improvements.outcomes:the benefits of this grant will be to capitalize the recipient's dwsrf. 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.