North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Health

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(N.C. Economic Recovery)

List of ARRA Award Recipients
EPA Web Conference Held Nov, 19, 2009
Conference Summary
Presentation
EPA Region 4 Workshops in North Carolina held September 30 and October 1
Buy American Presentation
Davis-Bacon Presentation
Sign in Sheet (for those who need documentation for Professional Development Hours)

Archived EPA webcasts

Reporting

Requirements for ARRA Funds in contract documents

EPA Information on ARRA

Final Intended Use Plan and Project Lists

Project Ready to Proceed Status as of 6/26/09 -- This is a ready to proceed progress checklist which is being updated as needed and is NOT the funding list.

Terms

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund monies from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will be awarded as loans, but the loans will be structured so that half of the principal will be “forgiven” and the other half of the loan will be repaid at  zero percent interest with up to a 20-year payback. The principle forgiveness means that half of each loan will not need to be repaid. The other half of the money will need to be repaid at a zero percent interest rate. If a project's actual costs are lower cost than originally projected or the scope of the project is reduced , the same 50-50 split will be maintained.
Application Process

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law on Feb. 17. This act provides funds available to water systems through the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds administered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Funds must be committed to projects within a very short period of time. The PWS Section is reviewing applications for drinking water projects. The PWSS has developed instructions for submitting projects, which may be updated as we learn more about how the Act will be implemented.

In order for PWSS to meet the EPA deadlines, water systems must submit abbreviated applications by Feb. 27. Additional application materials are due by March 31. The following items must be included in the abbreviated application due on Feb. 27:

The following items must be submitted by March 31, 2009:

  • Documentation of completed Environmental Review with a Categorical Exclusion or FONSI;
  • The date and serial number for the approval of plans and specifications and the Authorization to Construct;
  • Governing Board Resolution/Certification; and
  • LGC 108C (note – this is needed earlier than usual to meet accelerated deadlines).
Forms
News and Updates
March 30, 2009

For the ARRA, all water systems will have an opportunity to provide supplemental information for any project in the ARRA IUP until June 3, 2009. Applicants that met the Feb. 27 application deadline and are ready-to-proceed by March 30 will be eligible for the first round of funding conducted in mid-April. The first round will distribute between 50 to 65 percent of the funds. 

The remaining 35 to50 percent of funds will be held for a second round of allocation.  Any project in the IUP that has submitted a complete application and is ready-to-proceed by June 3 will be eligible for any remaining ARRA funding to be distributed through a second round.  Applications for projects not already included in the IUP will not be accepted.

North Carolina will apply a cap of $3 million per applicant.  This cap is not subject to normal bypassing procedures that would allow subsequent cycles through the funding list.  This cap may be lifted if necessary in order to award funds within federal time lines.

March 20, 2009 -- Categorical Exclusion Factsheet Addendum

If a project qualifies for multiple blanket comments per the PWS categorical exclusion factsheet, then you may combine blanket comments on one letter to PWSS per project. Note - If your project qualifies for blanket comment for an agency, you do not have to send a letter to that agency or confirm the blanket.

March 13, 2009

Categorical exclusion updates for Public Water Supply projects are available in a Word document.

March 2, 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Questions and Answers

Feb. 11 -- Second Update to Announcement on Preparations for the Economic Recovery Stimulus Bill

Click here to read the announcement from Jessica Miles.

Jan. 30 -- Update to Announcement on Preparations for the Economic Recovery Stimulus Bill

The PWS Section has been notified by EPA Region 4 that it must submit a draft Intended Use Plan (IUP) including a preliminary project list. All parties intending to submit an application for stimulus bill funding should send a letter of intent to apply no later than Wednesday, Feb. 4 to Sid Harrell, PWSS, 1634 MSC, Raleigh, NC 27699-1634; or .
e-mail to sid.harrell@ncdenr.gov.

The letter/email should contain the system name, PWSID# and population and for each project, including project title, project description, proposed category (consolidation, compliance, supply or treatment capacity, or other) and estimated project cost.

All interested eligible applicants should become familiar with the application package and other relevant information at the State Revolving Loan Fund Web site. It is anticipated that the application process will be streamlined by not requiring certain information, using one resolution for multiple water and wastewater projects, etc. The complete application will be due no later than 30 days after Congress authorizes funding, but timing constraints in the bill may require the deadline to be sooner.

Dec. 19, 2008 -- Announcement of Supplemental Application period for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund in Response to Expected National Economic Recovery Funding

In anticipation of additional funding being provided to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund as part of a national economic recovery funding package expected to pass congress in January, the Public Water Supply Section is announcing acceptance of supplemental applications during this loan cycle for funding of projects that are or can be ‘shovel ready’ within approximately six months of federal enactment of the ERF bill.

Supplemental applications will be ranked by first by priority category, then application receipt date, and then by readiness to proceed date. On the day of the state award from EPA, PWSS will commit funding in ranked priority order to each project that is ready to proceed based on completed and approved design and environmental review. All 0.0% ERF bill money will be awarded first, and then funding through the historical DWSRF process at standard interest rates will be offered to remaining projects.  

For more informaiton, visit the PWSS Drinking Water State Relvolving Loan Program.


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