As is commonly experienced, environmental contamination issues and deficiencies in water systems are not always discovered at the most fiscally opportune time. What’s more, many smaller public municipalities and private parties can become burdened when working to maintain human health and safety, and also stay in regulatory compliance. With this in mind, Weber, Hayes and Associates recommends and is prepared to interface with the following state funding sources.
Fuel and Chemical Release Investigation and Corrective Action Funding Sources
Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund (USTCF)
The USTCF was established as a state-wide insurance funding program to support the expedient cleanup of chemical releases from underground storage tanks. This program draws its revenue from a relatively small tax on fuel sold within the State of California.Â
Site Cleanup Subaccount Program (SCAP)
The Site Cleanup Subaccount Program (SCAP) is a funding program that allows the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) to issue grants for reasonable and necessary costs associated with projects that investigate the source of surface or groundwater contamination and/or remediate the harm or threat of harm to human health, safety, or the environment caused by existing or threatened surface or groundwater contamination. There are no funding limit requests for eligible projects.
Brownfields and Land Revitalization Grants and Funding
The EPA’s Brownfields Program provides direct funding for brownfields assessment, cleanup, revolving loans, and environmental job training. The focus of this program is on former industrial or commercial properties that have been abandoned (limited use) and contain amounts of contamination inhibiting redevelopment. To motivate the redevelopment of these sites, the US EPA works with the property owner to cover a portion of the cost to remediate.
CalRecycle Household Hazardous Waste Grants
CalRecycle’s Household Hazardous Waste Grant Program assists local governments to implement safe waste programs. The funding focuses on public education, source reduction, recycling, facility improvements, and re-use.
Drinking Water Related Funding Sources
Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SDWSRF)
The SDWSRF provides a pathway to remedy deficiencies with public water systems, whether they be associated with health risks, compliance issues with the Safe Drinking Water Act, or outdated water systems for communities unable to raise the necessary funds to replace. While this is a prioritized funding system, there is a large amount of funding available. In addition, the relative ease of applying to the SDWSRF can make a little effort up-front highly worthwhile by protecting a community’s drinking water quality for future generations
Domestic Water Wells and State Small Water System Programs
The State Water Resources Control Board offers funding for disadvantaged individuals or households served by a domestic well or small water system with a water quality issue. Funding includes resources for well testing, emergency bottled water for drinking, water treatment installations, repairs and more.
Drinking Water Treatment and Research Fund
Supplies funding for research and correction of fuel oxygenate contaminated drinking water, most chiefly for the former gasoline additive methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Funding is eligible for the installation and operation of remediation systems to remove MTBE, acquisition of alternate drinking water supplies, and investigations to determine the source of MTBE contamination in groundwater.
