| Background
Congress passed the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) in 1992 to help reduce pollution from vessel sewage discharges. The act established a five-year federal grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and authorized $40 million from the Sport Fish Restoration account of the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund for use by the states. Reauthorized in 1998, Congress extended the pumpout grant program through 2003 providing $50 million to continue to provide alternatives to overboard disposal of recreational boater sewage.
Funds are awarded through a competitive application process to ensure grants address the highest national priorities. The Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Federal Assistance assembles a ranking panel of federal employees who review, rank and make funding recommendations to the Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife. These panel employees represent the Service’s Washington Office of the Division of Federal Assistance, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Eligible Applicants
Clean Vessel Act grant funds are available as pass-through grants from the Department to both public and private sector entities that own and/or operate boating facilities open to the general public.
Eligible Projects
Grant participants are reimbursed up to 75% of the total cost of projects that assist in the prevention of recreational boater’s waste or vessel sewage discharge into public waterways and other waters. Projects may include the construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of pump-out and dump stations including floating restrooms not connected to land, or structures connected to land used solely by boaters; education and information to recreational boaters about sewage disposal and pump-out and dump station locations; the purchase of pump-out boats; and any activity necessary to hold and transport sewage to treatment plants such as holding tanks, piping, hauling costs, and any activity necessary to get sewage treatment plants to accept sewage, such as the installation of bleed-in facilities.
Funding Requirements
Grant participants are responsible for at least 25% of the total project cost. These funds must be non-federal, and can be cash, the fair market value of any labor or materials provided, or a combination thereof.
For more information, or alternate formats of application forms, please contact:
Ron Christofferson, Boating Facilities Program Manager, (623) 236-7481. |
