April 19, 2005

Approximately $6 million for water quality improvement projects is available through a grant application package under the Clean Water Fund, which is a portion of the Clean Michigan Initiative. This is the third and final round of grants that will be available for water pollution control activities under the Clean Water Fund.

Applications are being accepted for the activities listed below and are summarized in one grant application package. Grant applications are due to the Department of Environmental Quality Lansing office or post marked by Tuesday, May 31, 2005, to be eligible. Grant applications are available at the DEQ, Environmental Science and Services Division, Constitution Hall, 1st Floor North, 525 West Allegan Street, and can also be viewed at www.michigan.gov/deqnonpointsourcepollution, then click on “grant applicant information.”

Funding for the CMI Clean Water Fund is anticipated to be available before June 2005. Local matching funds are required for each grant, ranging from 25 to 50 percent of the grant award. In-kind services are eligible for consideration as a local match. For more information contact Robert Sweet, DEQ, at (517) 335-6967, or by e-mail at sweetr@michigan.gov.

Proposals will be accepted for the following:

• Implementing approved watershed management plans developed under
  a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System watershed-based
  municipal storm water permit.

• Implementing water quality protection or improvement activities in
  approved watershed management plans which emphasize protecting
  high quality waters.

• Implementing water quality recommendations in Remedial Action Plans
  and Lakewide Management Plans.

• Implementing programs to identify and require the elimination of illicit
  connections to municipal separate storm sewer systems.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised April 19, 2005 by Pat Watson