The bipartisan infrastructure law (P.L. 117-58), also known as the 'infrastructure investment and jobs act of 2021' (IIJA) or 'BIL.' provided five years of funding for the acceleration of…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $1,819,600 project grant to the Hudson River Foundation For Science & Environmental Research Inc. under the National Estuary Program (CFDA #66.456) to accelerate implementation of the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2025.

Under this award, the Hudson River Foundation and its subawardees will support 13 activities that advance the goals of the Harbor Estuary Program's 2017-2025 Action Agenda. Key activities include supporting green infrastructure in disadvantaged communities to improve water quality, monitoring pathogens, providing resilience grants, increasing conservation and restoration investments, and expanding waterfront access. Subawardees will undertake shallow water habitat assessments, public access improvements, pathogen monitoring, climate monitoring in disadvantaged areas, and wetlands management on the Hackensack River.

Description

The bipartisan infrastructure law (P.L. 117-58), also known as the 'infrastructure investment and jobs act of 2021' (IIJA) or 'BIL.' provided five years of funding for the acceleration of environmental and community restoration goals by each of the national estuary programs. A core emphasis of the NEP BIL funding is the acceleration of environmental and community restoration goals within the ccmps. This cooperative agreement is provided to hudson river foundation for science and environmental research, INC. To support and accelerate implementation of the NY/NJ harbor and estuary' program's comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp) and accompanying action plan prepared by hudson river foundation and stakeholders to improve the water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses of the new york-new jersey harbor and estuary. This agreement also supports the urban waters federal partnership which aims to stimulate regional and local economies, assist disadvantaged communities, create local jobs, improve quality of life, and protect americans' health by revitalizing urban waterways in under-served communities across the country. Activities:the activities to be performed are specified within the NY-NJ harbor and estuary program's BIL planning framework and annual work plan and budget for FY 2022 and FY 2023. The BIL planning framework and annual work plan and budget for FY 2022 and FY 2023 is attached to this funding recommendation, and supports the nynj harbor and estuary programs 2017 - 2025 action agenda. Actions included in the workplan include supporting green infrastructure in disadvantaged communities to improve water quality, monitor pathogens in the estuary, provide grants to support community resilience, increase investment in conservation and restoration projects, increase access to the waterfront for disadvantaged communities, fund the urban water partnership ambassadors in disadvantaged communities, and provide an important platform for communication between federal, state, local and non-governmental organization partners to support the health of the estuary.subrecipient:subaward activities to be funded under this cooperative agreement include: 1) assess and interpret shoreline and shallow water habitat condition and value through enhancement and creating structured oyster reefs. 2) increase support for monitoring, assessment and interpretation of shallow water habitat condition value in the bronx and harlem river areas. 3) advance opportunities for increasing public access, particularly in areas of higher need. 4) support stewardship activities and public programming in higher need areas through small grants in disadvantaged communities. 5) increase understanding of the safety and risks associated with direct contact with estuary waters by supporting the creation of a white paper that provides clear, consistent and consensus driven language. 6) advance improvements to the lower passaic river shoreline to improve public access and habitat values. 7) support implementation of green infrastructure opportunities in CSO and MS4 communities. 8) design and intensive pathogen monitoring and notification plan on the arthur kill 9) identify parameters and potential for establishing a long term monitoring program to assess climate change impacts in disadvantaged communities. 10) provide grants to disadvantaged communities to support engagement in climate resiliency initiatives to address water quality issues. 11) increase investment in conservation and restoration by assessment of road stream crossings such as culvers and bridges for aquatic passage and climate readiness prioritizing those in disadvantaged communities. 12) increase investment in conservation by supporting management and protection of wetlands on the hackensack river 13) increase investment in conservation and restoration to support enhancement of on