Dear Water Monitoring Professionals,
I hope this email finds you well and that you and your families are staying safe and healthy. This email is to let you know that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 is now accepting applications from all New England non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for the 2022 EPA Region 1 Stormwater Toolbox Equipment Loan Program.
Introduction
Each year, EPA Region 1 offers NGOs the opportunity to obtain equipment and instrumentation for stormwater monitoring in their communities, free of charge. We do this through an equipment loan program, whereby NGOs in any New England state can apply and, if selected, receive a stormwater toolbox to use during the annual field season. Loaned equipment consists of a water quality meter and several field-ready test kits for screening-level water quality analysis of municipal storm sewer systems and receiving waters. For more information about the application of this toolbox, please refer to Attachment B (EPA NE Bacterial Source Tracking Protocol 2012).
Vision and Goal
The ultimate goal of the equipment loan program is to provide the tools and a framework to enable groups to take an active role in their community and watershed. This can allow groups to enhance environmental stewardship, create healthy, sustainable communities and to collaborate with government at all levels in protecting the environment. The equipment loan program will give groups access to uniform monitoring equipment and methodologies to collect data that can have a meaningful impact in their communities.
Eligibility
Any NGO is eligible to apply (universities, watershed associations, planning commissions, tribes, etc.). Any interested applicant must have a Quality Assurance Program or Project Plan (QAPP) currently in place OR be willing to develop one, in order to be eligible for the program. Municipalities and other members of the regulated community that are subject to NPDES monitoring requirements are not eligible to apply.
Building Equitable Partnerships
EPA is committed to being intentional in its efforts to protect the health and environment of all Americans, including those historically marginalized, overburdened, underserved, and living with the legacy of structural racism. Region 1 is actively working to deploy technical tools and resources to incorporate environmental justice (EJ) considerations into our activities. We need your help to accomplish this task. So, in order to reach the largest number of eligible NGOS throughout New England possible, we are asking that you please forward along this information to those you know who work with NGOS or any of your NGO contacts that would be interested in or benefit from this opportunity, including groups in watersheds with EJ concerns. Thank you to all for your assistance in getting the word out.
Program Details and Application
A detailed description of the program, including available equipment, organization eligibility, selection process and criteria, and conditions of the equipment loan agreement can be found in the program plan attached to this email (Attachment A). The application form is included in this document as Appendix A. In order to apply, applicants must be familiar with all the items in the plan, as well as the EPA New England Bacterial Source Tracking Protocol (Attachment B), which is the EPA scientific framework behind the toolbox.
Deadlines
Applications will be accepted through close of business on Friday, March 18, 2022, with selections to be announced by April 1, 2022. We will not respond to applicants that we do not select.
Attachment A – EPA New England Region 1 Stormwater Toolbox Equipment Loan Program – Program Plan (application form is Appendix A)
Attachment B – EPA NE Bacterial Source Tracking Protocol 2012
For questions or further information, please do not hesitate to contact me using the contact information below.
Thank you,
Michelle Coombs (she/her)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 1
Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division
Field Services Branch | Investigations Team
11 Technology Drive (Mail Code: LFSB)
North Chelmsford, MA 01863-2431
e: coombs.michelle@epa.gov | p: (617) 918-8665