Grants Available to Communities for Stormwater Management

October 16, 1995
Contact: Anne Donovan
(617) 727-9530 , x 411

Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management (CZM) announces that grants are now available through the Coastal Pollutant Remediation (CPR) Program, which was created under the 1994 Transportation Bond. Through CPR, up to $4 million will go to municipalities within Massachusetts coastal watersheds over the next five years. These funds will be used to reduce transportation-related nonpoint pollution sources, specifically stormwater runoff from roadways and sewage from boats. The area covered under the CPR program includes all of the watersheds that flow into and consequently impact Massachusetts coastal waters.

"The Coastal Pollutant Remediation Program underscores the state's commitment to improve coastal water quality and to increase local economic opportunities," explained Trudy Coxe, Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. "Cleaner coastal waters means shellfish beds can be opened, which will allow more commercial and recreational diggers to harvest these resources. Clean water also improves prospects for aquaculture throughout the Commonwealth."

"Transportation agencies need to work in cooperation with towns and the environmental community to reduce the devastating consequences of pollution in our coastal waters," emphasized Representative Thomas Cahir (D-from the 3rd Barnstable District and Chairman of the Transportation Committee) who was instrumental in establishing the CPR program. "I am pleased to be associated with this effort."

A primary goal of the CPR program is to complement other state initiatives aimed at restoring water quality in order to open shellfish beds for recreational and commercial use. More than 40,000 acres of shellfish beds have been opened over the last year thanks to the Shellfish Bed Restoration Program and efforts by the Division of Marine Fisheries to conduct current sanitary surveys to assess water quality and verify the safety of shellfisheries for public use.

For the first grant round, $275,000 will be available to communities that have already identified stormwater pollution problem areas and can implement projects now. Approximately $1,000,000 will be available in the second grant round and applications for these funds will be accepted in the spring of 1996.

Any town that is located within the Massachusetts Coastal Watershed is eligible for the CPR program. The Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and CZM will work with communities to help them develop grant proposals. Proposals for the first grant round are due to CZM by December 8, 1995. Proposals should be sent to: Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, 100 Cambridge Street, 20th Floor, Boston, MA 02202, ATTN: Steve Barrett.

"CZM recognizes the importance of helping communities deal with road runoff and other stormwater issues," explained Peg Brady, Director of CZM. "I am excited that we are administering the CPR grants, which will allow communities to improve their coastal water quality."

To find out if your municipality is eligible, obtain a copy of the program application, or ask specific questions about the program, call CZM's Steve Barrett, CPR Grants Coordinator, at (617) 727-9530, ext. 413.