Project Grant 00E03275

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO SUPPORT AND ADVANCE THE GULF HYPOXIA ACTION PLAN (GHAP) THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S NUTRIENT REDUCTION STRATEGY. SPECIFICALLY, THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT REDUCES NUTRIENTS FROM HOME SEPTIC TREATMENT SYSTEMS FROM DISADVANTAGES COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHEAST OR SOUTHERN OHIO. THIS PROJECT TARGETS LOW INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SEPTIC AND SEPTAGE DISPOSAL PROBLEMS IN SOUTHEAST OHIO. AS A RESULT, THIS PROJECT SHOULD INCREASE AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY OF MAINTENANCE ON SEPTIC SYSTEMS IN THAT LOCATION. ADDITIONALLY, THE OHIO EPA STAFF WILL BE EXAMINING WAYS OF INCREASING ACCESS TO NUTRIENT REDUCTION PROGRAMS AND NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION CONTROL GRANTS TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN TARGET WATERSHEDS. SOME WATERSHEDS MAY BE SELECTED BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE STATUS OF THE COMMUNITY AND NONPOINT SOURCE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES DEVELOPED FOR THEIR WATERSHED, THUS PREPARING PROJECTS FOR POTENTIAL FEDERAL SECTION 319 FUNDING. OHIO WILL USE A DEFINITION OF DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES THAT IS THOSE COMMUNITIES WITH MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOMES LESS THAN THE STATEWIDE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND COMMUNITIES WITH A POVERTY RATE GREATER THAN A STATEWIDE POVERTY RATE. OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER, PROXIMITY TO PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS SUCH AS WASTEWATER DISCHARGES, UNEMPLOYMENT, POPULATION GROWTH, AGE DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION, AND OTHER SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS MAY BE USED. 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: UPDATE OHIO'S NUTRIENT REDUCTION STRATEGY; INCREASE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; INCREASE CONSERVATION PRACTICE DESIGN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; INCREASE OHIO EPA STAFF SUPPORT FOR NUTRIENT REDUCTION ACTIVITIES AND EVALUATION TO SUPPORT HTF GOALS; SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL HUC12 NONPOINT SOURCE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES (NPSIS); DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT REDUCES NUTRIENTS FROM HOME SEPTIC TREATMENT SYSTEMS (HSTS) OR SEPTAGE FROM DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHEAST OR SOUTHERN OHIO; MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NEW INNOVATIVE PRACTICES; SUPPORT THE CONTINUED MAINTENANCE OF USGS GAGE WATER QUALITY MONITORING AT THREE MONITORING POINTS IN THE OHIO RIVER BASIN. SUBRECIPIENT:SPECIFIC SUBAWARDS ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WILL BE ADDING A FULLTIME NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST THAT WILL BE PROVIDING TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO COUNTRY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT PERSONNEL, FARM AND CROP ADVISORS AND FARM PRODUCERS. OHIO LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY WILL UPDATE OHIO'S NUTRIENT REDUCTION STRATEGY WITH RELEVANT STRATEGIES THAT CAN BE EVALUATED AND MEASURES PROGRESS THAT CAN BE TRACKED. US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WILL CONTINUE MAINTENANCE OF GAGES IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO COLLECT WATER QUALITY DATA (SPECIFICALLY NUTRIENT LOAD, CONCENTRATIONS AD FLOW) INDEFINITELY. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND NON-PROFIT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS FOR NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION MANAGEMENT PROJECTS.OUTCOMES:THE DELIVERABLES TO BE PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT ARE EXPECTED TO DECREASE NUTRIENT DELIVERY IN THE OHIO RIVER BASIN, ALTHOUGH INDIRECTLY. THESE PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT CHANGES ARE NOT SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION PRACTICES THAT HAVE MEASURABLE POLLUTION LOAD REDUCTIONS. THEREFORE, NO POLLUTION LOAD REDUCTION IS GIVEN. THESE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS WILL BE DESCRIBED IN OHIO'S ANNUAL NONPOINT SOURCE PROGRAM REPORT AND MADE AVAILABLE ON OHIO EPA'S WEBSITE. LESSONS LEARNED AND PROGRESS THAT IS TRANSFERABLE WILL BE SHARED VIA THE HYPOXIA TASK FORCE COORDINATING COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING STRUCTURE AND THE NEWSLETTER CREATED TO DESCRIBE HYPOXIA TASK FORCE OR NOTABLE STATE ACTIVITIES AND NEWS. ACCESS TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ANY NEW HSTS OR SEPTAGE RESOURCES WILL BE SHARED THROUGH MEDIA RELEV