Coastal communities can get state grants to halt stormwater pollution

LYNN – The state has $400,000 in grants available to help shoreline communities improve coastal water quality by halting pollution runoff from roads and constructing or upgrading boat waste pump-out stations.The grants were announced this week by Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Ian Bowles and could prove vital to North Shore towns and cities that are part of the newly designated No Discharge Area along the coast. “The Massachusetts coastline is a haven for residents and tourists,” said Bowles, noting the funds were meant to help coastal communities keep tidal rivers, harbors and beaches clean for fishermen, families and boaters.Under the Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grant Program of EEA’s Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), municipalities located within the Massachusetts coastal watershed are eligible for grant support. Municipalities may request up to $125,000, with a 25 percent local match required.Since 1996, the program has provided more than $5.5 million in grants to help communities improve water quality. Funding for this round of grants comes from the Energy and Environment Bond Bill signed by Gov. Deval Patrick in August.”These funds help seaside communities keep the coastal waters safe for recreation and fishing by combating water pollution caused by boat waste, stormwater runoff and other sources,” said Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Coastal Zone Management Deerin Babb-Brott.Grants may be used to reduce stormwater pollution and for the design, installation and upgrade of boat waste pump-out facilities, which are prerequisites for communities to apply for No Discharge Area (NDA) designation.NDAs are areas where the discharge of boat sewage, whether treated or not, is prohibited. A body of water can be designated an NDA if local, state and federal authorities “determine the area is ecologically and recreationally important enough to merit protection above and beyond that provided by state and federal laws,” Babb-Brott said.Massachusetts has 12 NDAs, including the coastal waters of Plymouth, Kingston, Duxbury and Harwich; Buzzards Bay; Waquoit Bay in Falmouth; Three Bays/Centerville Harbor in Barnstable; Chatham’s Stage Harbor; coastal waters of Nantucket from Muskeget Island to Great Point; Cape Cod Bay; Boston Harbor; Salem Sound; the Lower North Shore and the Upper South Shore. CZM is currently working with communities and other partners to plan NDAs in Nantucket Sound, Mt. Hope Bay and the Upper North Shore, with the ultimate goal of making all Massachusetts coastal waters an NDA.In addition to funding for pump-out facilities, municipalities can use grants for the design and construction of stormwater management projects along roadways, parking lots or other paved surfaces. Stormwater contamination is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground, picking up pollutants and depositing them into coastal waters, rivers, wetlands and groundwater.Grant applications are due on Dec. 4 and eligible projects must be completed by June 30, 2010. For more information and to obtain an application, visit www.mass.gov/czm/cprgp.htm.