Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA I R1 SNEP 2023A
The 2023 Request for Applications for the Rhode Island Decentralized Wastewater Improvement Grant is a competitive EPA funding opportunity under the Southeast New England Program (SNEP) designed to strengthen how Rhode Island communities manage decentralized wastewater systems such as septic systems and cesspools. The overall purpose is to advance SNEP's Strategic Plan goals of healthier waters and more resilient communities by reducing pollution that ultimately reaches coastal waters and by preparing wastewater infrastructure for climate-driven stresses. Projects do not have to be located directly on the coast, but applicants are expected to clearly describe the connection to coastal water quality, such as being located upstream in a watershed that drains to coastal areas.
This opportunity focuses on practical improvements to decentralized wastewater management at the community or regional scale, rather than one-off individual repairs. Priority project types include building, expanding, or improving Responsible Management Entities (RMEs), whether run by a municipality or a third party, that can oversee decentralized systems in a coordinated, accountable way. EPA is also looking for proposals that modernize or build data systems for decentralized wastewater, including tools for tracking system locations, monitoring performance, and managing operation and maintenance information. A strong theme across these topics is better decision-making through organized data, such as using information to target inspections, prioritize upgrades, or plan investments based on risk.
Another major emphasis is financing and affordability. The solicitation encourages proposals that create or expand innovative financial mechanisms that help residents and communities replace failing or outdated systems, especially where cost is a barrier. This includes programs that can support upgrades to Alternative/Experimental nitrogen-reducing systems in nitrogen-sensitive areas, as well as approaches that may extend beyond residential properties to address non-residential wastewater needs. The grant also supports planning efforts for commercial districts where decentralized wastewater issues may be concentrated and where coordinated planning could lead to better environmental outcomes and fewer public health and water quality impacts.
Climate resilience is woven throughout the solicitation. EPA is specifically seeking evaluations of how climate change may affect decentralized system performance over time, including the impacts of changing precipitation patterns, flooding, sea level rise, groundwater rise and salt intrusion, and increasing temperatures. Applicants can propose projects that assess risks, establish timelines for expected impacts, and develop actionable plans based on the findings. Related to this, the grant can support analysis of locations where sewering may need to replace decentralized systems due to climate pressures, recognizing that in some areas decentralized approaches may become unreliable or environmentally harmful under future conditions.
The opportunity also supports governance, planning, and policy upgrades that make decentralized wastewater management more consistent and enforceable. That includes creating or updating Onsite Wastewater Management Plans, carrying out decentralized wastewater actions already identified in existing Hazard Mitigation Plans, and developing or updating local ordinances aimed at protecting coastal water quality or ensuring systems can withstand projected hazards. In addition, SNEP is interested in proposals that build lasting municipal capacity, such as establishing fee systems or other sustainable funding sources, improving staffing and training, developing public education programs, and adopting efficiency tools that allow municipalities to manage decentralized wastewater more effectively over the long term.
Eligible projects may also include assessments that characterize the current decentralized wastewater landscape, such as evaluating the age, location, risk, and status of existing and planned systems. These kinds of inventories and risk-based assessments can support targeted investments and help communities identify hotspots where failing systems are most likely to affect groundwater, rivers, estuaries, and ultimately coastal waters.
Administratively, this is a discretionary EPA award using a cooperative agreement, meaning EPA may have more active involvement than in a standard pass-through grant. The assistance listing (CFDA) number is 66.129, and the funding is associated with environment and infrastructure priorities under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The opportunity anticipated making about three awards, with an award ceiling of $465,000. The funding opportunity number is EPA I R1 SNEP 2023A. The notice was created on November 18, 2022, and the original closing date listed was February 2, 2023, with applicants directed to confirm the exact deadline details in Section IV of the official funding opportunity notice.Apply for EPA I R1 SNEP 2023A
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment, infrastructure investment and jobs act (iija) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2023 Request for Applications for Rhode Island Decentralized Wastewater Improvement Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.129.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 18, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 02, 2023 See Section IV of the funding opportunity notice for close date information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $465,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Rhode Island Decentralized Wastewater Improvement Grant?
This is a competitive EPA funding opportunity under the Southeast New England Program (SNEP) focused on strengthening how Rhode Island communities manage decentralized wastewater systems such as septic systems and cesspools.
What is the overall purpose of this grant opportunity?
The overall purpose is to advance SNEP Strategic Plan goals of healthier waters and more resilient communities by reducing pollution that ultimately reaches coastal waters and by preparing wastewater infrastructure for climate-driven stresses.
Do projects have to be located on the coast?
No. Projects do not have to be located directly on the coast. Applicants are expected to clearly describe how the project connects to coastal water quality, such as being located upstream in a watershed that drains to coastal areas.
What types of wastewater systems are considered "decentralized" under this opportunity?
The opportunity specifically references septic systems and cesspools as examples of decentralized wastewater systems.
Is this grant intended to fund individual septic repairs for single properties?
The solicitation emphasizes practical improvements at the community or regional scale rather than one-off individual repairs.
What kinds of projects are prioritized?
Priority project types include community- or regional-scale improvements to decentralized wastewater management, especially projects that strengthen coordinated oversight, improve data systems, increase affordability through financing, and address climate resilience risks affecting decentralized systems.
What is a Responsible Management Entity (RME), and why is it important here?
An RME is an entity (run by a municipality or a third party) that can oversee decentralized systems in a coordinated and accountable way. The opportunity prioritizes proposals to build, expand, or improve RMEs.
Are projects to build or modernize decentralized wastewater data systems eligible?
Yes. EPA is looking for proposals that modernize or build data systems, including tools for tracking system locations, monitoring performance, and managing operation and maintenance information.
How does EPA expect data improvements to be used?
A core theme is better decision-making through organized data, such as using information to target inspections, prioritize upgrades, or plan investments based on risk.
Does the grant support financing and affordability programs?
Yes. The solicitation encourages proposals that create or expand innovative financial mechanisms that help residents and communities replace failing or outdated systems, especially where cost is a barrier.
Can the funding support upgrades to nitrogen-reducing systems?
Yes. The opportunity specifically mentions support for upgrades to Alternative/Experimental nitrogen-reducing systems in nitrogen-sensitive areas.
Are non-residential decentralized wastewater needs within scope?
They can be. The solicitation notes that financing and affordability approaches may extend beyond residential properties to address non-residential wastewater needs.
Does the grant support planning for commercial districts with concentrated decentralized wastewater issues?
Yes. The grant supports planning efforts for commercial districts where decentralized wastewater issues may be concentrated and where coordinated planning could reduce public health and water quality impacts.
How is climate resilience addressed in this funding opportunity?
Climate resilience is woven throughout the solicitation. EPA is seeking evaluations of how climate change may affect decentralized system performance over time and projects that turn those findings into actionable plans.
What climate-driven factors does EPA specifically mention?
The solicitation cites changing precipitation patterns, flooding, sea level rise, groundwater rise and salt intrusion, and increasing temperatures.
What kinds of climate resilience deliverables are expected or encouraged?
Applicants can propose projects that assess risks, establish timelines for expected impacts, and develop actionable plans based on the findings.
Can projects analyze where sewering may need to replace decentralized systems?
Yes. The opportunity can support analysis of locations where sewering may need to replace decentralized systems due to climate pressures, recognizing that decentralized approaches may become unreliable or environmentally harmful under future conditions in some areas.
Are governance, planning, and policy projects eligible?
Yes. The opportunity supports governance, planning, and policy upgrades that make decentralized wastewater management more consistent and enforceable.
Does this include Onsite Wastewater Management Plans?
Yes. Eligible activities include creating or updating Onsite Wastewater Management Plans.
Can applicants propose implementing decentralized wastewater actions already identified in Hazard Mitigation Plans?
Yes. The opportunity includes carrying out decentralized wastewater actions already identified in existing Hazard Mitigation Plans.
Are local ordinances an eligible focus area?
Yes. The grant can support developing or updating local ordinances aimed at protecting coastal water quality or ensuring systems can withstand projected hazards.
Does EPA want projects that build long-term municipal capacity?
Yes. SNEP is interested in proposals that build lasting municipal capacity, including establishing fee systems or other sustainable funding sources, improving staffing and training, developing public education programs, and adopting efficiency tools.
Are inventories and risk-based assessments of existing decentralized systems eligible?
Yes. Eligible projects may include assessments that characterize the current decentralized wastewater landscape, such as evaluating the age, location, risk, and status of existing and planned systems.
Why are inventories and risk-based assessments important in this solicitation?
These assessments can support targeted investments and help communities identify hotspots where failing systems are most likely to affect groundwater, rivers, estuaries, and ultimately coastal waters.
What type of federal award is this?
This is a discretionary EPA award using a cooperative agreement, meaning EPA may have more active involvement than in a standard pass-through grant.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 66.129.
Is this opportunity connected to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)?
Yes. The funding is associated with environment and infrastructure priorities under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
How many awards does EPA anticipate making, and what is the maximum award size?
The opportunity anticipated making about three awards, with an award ceiling of $465,000.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is EPA I R1 SNEP 2023A.
When was the notice created?
The notice was created on November 18, 2022.
What was the original closing date, and where should applicants confirm the deadline?
The original closing date listed was February 2, 2023. Applicants were directed to confirm the exact deadline details in Section IV of the official funding opportunity notice.
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