PennVEST Inviting Comments On Clean Water Procurement Program Guidelines

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority is inviting comments on draft guidance to implement the Clean Water Procurement Program established by Act 54 in 2022.  Public comments are due by March 7.

The Clean Water Procurement Program is part of the Clean Streams Fund, with $22 million available from COVID-ARPA to invest in a “pay for performance” program. 

Eligible projects include Best Management Practices that can be quantified using the Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Tracking Tool (CBNTT) found on the PA DEP Nutrient Trading Program website.

A verified nutrient or sediment reduction funded entirely by a local, state or federal public funding source shall not be eligible to be purchased under the PennVEST Clean Water Procurement Program.

Verified nutrient or sediment reduction resulting from annual Best Management Practices that have been implemented prior to October 1, 2023 shall not be eligible to be purchased.

Verified nutrient reduction that is sold or traded as part of DEP’s Nutrient Trading Program shall not be eligible to be purchased.

See the guidelines for other project eligibility and ineligibility requirements.

The guidelines were developed based on the language in the 2022-2023 Fiscal Code (Act 54) as well as in consultation with DEP and the State Conservation Commission.

Click Here for a copy of the draft guidance.  Questions and comments should be directed to Rob Boos at rboos@pa.gov. 

Visit the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority website to learn more about clean water funding opportunities.

(Reprinted from DEP’s Healthy Waters PA Partnership Progress newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

[Posted: February 28, 2023]  PA Environment Digest