Formula Grant 00A00899

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT IS TO FUND THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS' WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLANNING PROGRAM TO IMPROVE IMPAIRED WATER AND PROTECT UNIMPAIRED WATERS ACROSS THE STATE BY CONDUCTING PLANNING THAT INFORMS AND SUPPORTS IMPLEMENTATION OF CLEAN WATER ACT PROGRAMS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 205(J)(3), UNLESS A WAIVER REQUEST IS APPROVED BY EPA, THE RECIPIENT WILL JOINTLY DEVELOP WORKPLANS WITH AND PROVIDE AT LEAST 40% OF THIS AWARD TO REGIONAL OR INTERSTATE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANNING AGENCIES. THIS AGREEMENT IS SUPPORTED BY FUNDING PROVIDED UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA) (PL 117-58). ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLANNING ACTIVITIES: (1) DEVELOPMENT OF WATERSHED-BASED PLANS (WBPS) FOR LOCAL WATERSHED PLANNING AND TO SUPPORT FUTURE SECTION 319 GRANT PROJECTS; (2) DEVELOPMENT OF WBPS FOR SECTION 319 GRANT HEALTHY WATERBODY PROJECTS TO BE USED TO GUIDE WATERSHED PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES; (3) DETERMINATION OF THE NATURE, EXTENT AND CAUSES OF WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS AND DETERMINATION OF POLLUTANT LOAD REDUCTIONS NECESSARY TO MEET THE MASSACHUSETTS SURFACE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS; (4) DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT MANAGE WET WEATHER TO MAINTAIN OR RESTORE NATURAL HYDROLOGY; AND (5) DEVELOPMENT OF PRELIMINARY DESIGNS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANS THAT WILL ADDRESS WATER QUALITY IN IMPAIRED WATERSHEDS.SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARDS WILL BE SELECTED VIA OPEN COMPETITION (REQUEST FOR RESPONSES) DURING THE GRANT PERIOD. AS SUCH, THE SUBAWARDEE ENTITIES ARE NOT YET KNOWN. SUBAWARDEE ACTIVITIES WILL SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.OUTCOMES:DELIVERABLES FROM THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDE (1) ANNUAL UPDATES ON ALL PASS-THROUGH GRANT FUNDED PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND STATE ACTIVITIES, (2) ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS FOR ALL PASS-THROUGH FUNDED ACTIVITIES, (3) ANNUAL SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES COMPLETED BY MASSDEP STAFF FUNDED THROUGH THIS AGREEMENT, (4) UPDATED 604(B) PROJECT SUMMARIES REPORT, AND (5) FINAL REPORTS FOR PASS-THROUGH PROJECTS. THE PROJECTS WILL BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE IN THE AREAS, AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE AREA, WHERE PROJECTS ARE DONE.