Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

The principal objective of the program is to enable water systems serving small or disadvantaged communities to effectively address emerging contaminants in drinking and/or source water, and to minimize potential public health risks from emerging contaminants in the future. Illinois EPA’s program is testing for PFAS and Manganese to gain a better understanding of the occurrence of these emerging contaminants in drinking water and source water. This funding will also help improve public health in SDCs by remediating high levels of PFAS and Manganese in their drinking water. Illinois EPA is making $40,249,646 available to projects already enrolled in the Public Water Supply Loan Program (PWSLP) which are addressing PFAS or Manganese in disadvantaged communities or in communities with a population less than 10,000.

SDWA 1459A

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This program will also help ensure clean and safe water for all communities, in accordance with EPA Goal 5 of their Strategic Plan. Illinois EPA will use this funding to reduce PFAS and Manganese exposure via drinking water in small and disadvantaged communities that otherwise may not have had the ability to address them. An additional objective of the program is to promote environmental justice and resilience in accordance with Goal 2 of EPA’s Strategic Plan “Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice”. Testing and remediating for emerging contaminants will reduce burden and increase public health in small and disadvantaged communities, many of which have environmental justice concerns or a legacy of civil rights inequalities. By focusing specifically on these communities, this program will advance IEPA’s goal of reducing exposures to harmful substances and creating better health outcomes in disadvantaged communities.

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The amount allowable under this agreement is for costs incurred for the completion of a construction project where at least 50% of the total project cost or level of effort is addressing PFAS or manganese in drinking and/or source water. Eligible activities include construction, construction oversight, and costs of reporting efforts related to any reporting requirements of the grant agreement. Any costs related to project planning, design, or future development must be paid for by other funds. Construction of all Project facilities must be in accordance with the requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 653 and a construction permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Outcome: the project will eliminate or reduce the exposure of the public to PFAS or manganese in drinking and/or source water.

Government Organizations;

Applicants must be in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State pursuant to 44 Ill. Am. Code 7000.70 (f)(3) and 30 ILCS 708/25(6)(E). Applicants must have submitted a complete funding nomination form (FNF) to the Illinois EPA PWSLP, have received approval of a Project Plan meeting the requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 662.320 by March 31st, 2024, and be listed on the PWSLP FY2025 Emerging Contaminant Intended Funding List. Applicants must also have a service population below 10,000 or be disadvantaged communities as defined by 35 Ill. Adm. Code 662.110.

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Project Grants

Public Safety

Applicants must have submitted a complete funding nomination form (FNF) to the Illinois EPA PWSLP, have received approval of a Project Plan meeting the requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 662.320 by March 31st, 2024, and be listed on the PWSLP FY2025 Emerging Contaminant Intended Funding List.

All applicants must be prequalified in the GATA portal and also have an account in Amplifund.

A complete ED-SDC grant application shall include the following and be submitted in Amplifund: A: Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance B: Emerging Contaminant Project Summary Worksheet identifying the need for a project within Amplifund. The worksheet shall provide enough information for the Illinois EPA to evaluate and score the project in accordance to the Notice of Funding Opportunity. C: Programmatic Risk Assessment Questionnaire (PRAQ). This Risk Assessment evaluates the applicant’s ability to successfully carry out the terms of EC-SDC Grant Program and assesses four risk categories: 1) quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards; 2) history of performance; 3) reports and findings from audits performed on prior awards; and 4) the applicant’s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on a grantee. Applicant must also provide a copy of their Statement of Activities from their most recent financial audit as part of this review. Instructions for completing the PRAQ are provided in Amplifund. D:Certifications and Acknowledgment Form. This form is to assure the applicant’s acknowledgment of the program requirements that will be listed within the executed UGA. E: Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure. This form is to be completed, signed, and submitted upon application submittal. Applicants must disclose in writing any actual or potential conflict of interest as soon as it becomes known, in accordance with 30 ILCS 708/35, 30 ILCS 708/60(a)(5), 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.330(f) and the executed UGA. F: Executive Compensation Data (5 Officer Form). This form is to document/report the five most highly compensated officers of the applicant dependent upon the three conditions discussed on the form. G: Uniform Grant Budget Template. H: GATA PORTAL: The Fiscal and Administrative Risk Assessment Questionnaire must be completed prior to the application submittal. This Questionnaire is located within the GATA Portal. The applicant must complete the most recent Fiscal and Administrative Risk Assessment Questionnaire in the GATA Portal.

All EC-SDC Grant Program applications shall be reviewed for completeness, technical merit, cost effectiveness, and adherence to the eligibility criteria described in the EC-SDC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Applications found to be complete and meet ALL eligibility criteria outlined in the NOFO will be prioritized and funded on a first come first served basis.

Once all the final requirements have been completed, the Grant Agreement between the Illinois EPA and the applicant will be sent for the applicant to sign and return. Once the agreement is fully executed by the Agency, a copy will be returned to the applicant. Any expenses incurred before the posting of this NOFO and after the Grant Agreement has expired are at the applicant’s risk and are not eligible either as match or for reimbursement related to the grant unless a waiver has been previously issued.

Applications will be accepted until funds are exhausted but not beyond 1:00 PM (CST) August 31st, 2025 .

30 Days

An appeal process is available to applicants and other interested parties; however, appeals are limited to the Illinois EPA evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the following address: Illinois EPA, Attn: Infrastructure Financial Assistance Section, Bureau of Water, 1021 N. Grand Avenue, Mail Code #15, P.O. Box 19276, Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276 and must be received within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published by the Illinois EPA on Grants.Illinois.gov. The written appeal shall include, at a minimum, the following: the name and address of the appealing party, identification of the grant, and a statement of reasons for the appeal. Illinois EPA shall acknowledge receipt of an appeal within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the appeal was received. When an appeal is received, the execution of all grant agreements that Illinois EPA intends to make under this NOFO shall be stayed until the appeal is resolved, unless the Illinois EPA determines the needs of the State require moving forward with execution of the remaining grant agreements. The State need determination and rational shall be documented in writing. Illinois EPA shall respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by Illinois EPA within the time period set in the request. The Director of the Illinois EPA may appoint one or more Appeal Review Officers (ARO) to consider the grant-related appeal and make a recommendation to the Director of the Illinois EPA or designee for resolution. The ARO shall make a recommendation to the Director of the Illinois EPA or designee as expeditiously as possible after receiving all relevant, requested information. In determining the appropriate recommendation, the ARO shall consider the integrity of the competitive grant process and the impact of the recommendation on the Illinois EPA. The Illinois EPA shall resolve the appeal by means of written determination, which shall include, but not be limited to: review of the appeal, appeal determination, and rationale for the determination.

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This grant will be used to fund the completion of a construction project where at least 50% of the total project costs or level of effort will eliminate or reduce the exposure of the public to PFAS or manganese in drinking and/or source water. Eligible costs include construction, construction oversight, and reporting requirements. Ineligible costs include planning and design engineering, projects who do not address emerging contaminants, remediation of contaminated groundwater or underlying aquifers, operation and maintenance costs, lead service line replacement, replacement of premise plumbing, construction or rehabilitation of dams, activities needed primarily for fire protection, activities need primarily for future service population growth, and costs that are unallowable under 2 CFR 200 subpart E - Cost Principles.

The Periodic Performance Report (PPR) and Periodic Financial Report (PFR) will be required annually at minimum. Specific reporting requirements for the PPR and PFR, and any other program specific reports will be indicated in the grant agreement.

Illinois Administrative Code 7000.90

Grantee shall maintain for three (3) years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report, adequate books, all financial records and, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to this Award, adequate to comply with 2 CFR 200.334, unless a different retention period is specified in 2 CFR 200.334, 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.430(a) and (b) or PART TWO or PART THREE. If any litigation, claim or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken.

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Varies; an individual grant award amount will be based on the estimated project cost listed on the applicant’s most recent Funding Nomination Form submitted prior to March 31, 2024, minus the amount of Emerging Contaminant loan principal forgiveness the applicant qualifies for as listed in the PWSLP’s FY2025 Intended Use Plan. Grant funds, if available, may also be awarded to PWSLP Emerging Contaminant projects whose bids come in over the total estimated project cost.

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https://www.epa.gov/dwcapacity/emerging-contaminants-ec-small-or-disadvantaged-communities-grant-sdc

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2520 West Iles Avenue, Springfield, IL 62704

https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/grants-loans/ec-sdc-grant.html

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1/17/2025

FY 2025 : $40,249,646