Clean Water Integrated Management Plan Grant - PUB3053

The Integrated Management Plan Grant is designed to assist small and medium communities with planning and engineering costs in developing an integrated management plan for both municipal wastewater and stormwater management, and may include drinking water management. Integrated management plans maximize the effectiveness of a community’s available funds through analyzing alternatives and sequencing actions necessary to address legal requirements, human health and water quality-related challenges.

Integrated management plans assist permittees in achieving the objectives of the Missouri Clean Water Law and the federal Clean Water Act by identifying efficiencies in implementing requirements that arise from distinct wastewater and stormwater programs. If a drinking water system is included, the integrated management plan must also meet the obligations of the Missouri Safe Drinking Water Law Sections 640.100-640.140, RSMo. Integrated planning does not remove obligations to comply with the Missouri Clean Water Law, Clean Water Act or the Missouri Safe Drinking Water Law, nor does it lower existing regulatory or permitting standards. However, it does recognize that there are flexibilities in the laws.

Integrated management plans developed with this funding must follow the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Planning Approach Framework and Missouri Integrated Planning Framework - PUB2684.

Authority

Funding comes from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund capitalization grant’s additional subsidization allocation. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources determines the allocation each year based on federal appropriation and Missouri’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program needs. The department documents the annual additional subsidization amount in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan and the Clean Water Commission approves the plan.

Eligible Applicants

The grant is available for municipalities, counties, public sewer or water districts, political subdivisions or instrumentalities of the state that: 1) operate a permitted wastewater treatment facility serving a population of less than 20,000; and 2) own/operate a permitted Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4), as defined in 10 CSR 20-6.200, or has significant stormwater challenges (unrelated to inflow and infiltration) that require capital planning. If the community has a public drinking water system, this utility may be included in the integrated management plan’s development.

To be eligible, the applicant must:

1. Submit a complete application
2. Have no outstanding fees due to the department
3. Not already have an integrated management plan
4. Agree to make a good-faith effort to pursue recommendations contained in the approved integrated management plan
5. If a co-permitted MS4, submit the application with a letter of support from other permittees to assure appropriate coordination in the preparation of the integrated management plan

Financial Assistance Amount

Eligible applicants may receive an 80% grant, not to exceed a maximum grant amount of $80,000, with a 20% recipient match. Eligible applicants meeting affordability criteria may receive a 100% grant, not to exceed a maximum grant amount of $100,000.

Timeframes

Early communication with both the department’s Financial Assistance Center and Water Protection Program, Operating Permits Section on each step is imperative to ensure the project meets all state and federal funding and technical requirements.

Once awarded the grant, the recipient has 24 months to complete the final integrated management plan. The recipient must submit the complete draft integrated management plan to the department no later than 90 days before the end of the grant budget period. The department does not expect the plan to have Operating Permits Section staff concurrence or a memorandum of understanding signed within the 24-month timeframe. The Financial Assistance Center will hold the final 10% of the grant funds for cost reimbursement until: 1) the recipient submits the plan to the Operating Permits Section for regulatory review; and 2) the Financial Assistance Center accepts the plan for final payment.

Grant funds provide reimbursement of plan development expenses incurred during the project’s budget period. Therefore, to ensure that all costs incurred are reimbursable, do not proceed with plan development until the Financial Assistance Center notifies you to initiate work funded through this grant. Conversely, the department will not make grant payments after budget period expiration without an approved grant amendment.

Cost Eligibility

Eligible costs are contracted professional services directly attributable to the development of an integrated management plan consistent with both EPA’s and department’s frameworks, associated laws and implementing regulations. For additional information, visit the department's State Revolving Fund Plans and Reports webpage and review Appendix 8 of the most current Intended Use Plan.

How to Apply

The department accepts applications by March 1 of each year. The Clean Water Integrated Management Plan Grant Application MO 780-2956 and instructions are available online.

Selection Process

The department prioritizes complete applications based on SRF priority point ranking as long as funds are available, with a maximum of two grants allocated per Intended Use Plan year.

Legal Authority

40 C.F.R. Part 35 and section 644.123, RSMo