Ohio Regulators Propose 2018 Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Program Management Plan
The Ohio EPA will hold a meeting on Nov. 20 to discuss the agency’s draft 2018 Program Management Plan for the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF). The fund provides financial and technical assistance for projects that improve the quality of Ohio’s rivers, streams, lakes and other water bodies.
The meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. in Ohio EPA’s Conference Center – Autumn Room, sixth floor, Lazarus Government Center, 50 West Town Street, Columbus. Attendees wanting to testify may do so verbally or in writing. Written comments also are being accepted by mail and should be addressed to Ohio EPA, Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049, or emailed to defamail@epa.ohio.gov. All comments must be received by the close of business on Nov. 20, 2017.
Since 2011, Ohio has invested more than $3.7 billion in key infrastructure and other projects to improve water quality statewide. For this coming year, Ohio EPA received project nominations which total more than $1.4 billion, and will make loan funds available to all applicants that meet program requirements. Additionally, up to $29.8 million will be available in 2018 for principal forgiveness (the portion of a loan that a borrower does not have to repay).
Other highlights of the proposed program for 2018 include:
- As a part of the ongoing effort to manage harmful algal blooms, Ohio EPA is offering an additional $50 million (interest-free) for nutrient reduction projects that include equipment and facilities to reduce phosphorus and other pollutants that contribute to blooms
- An additional $50 million (interest-free) to promote regional approaches to managing wastewater infrastructure
- $10 million to fund projects under the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program in which borrowers divert a portion of a loan’s estimated interest payment toward projects that help counter the loss of ecological function and biological diversity of Ohio’s water resources.
Except for planning, design and nutrient reduction loans, all projects eligible to receive 2018 funding must have been nominated by Aug. 31, 2017. The primary sources of WPCLF assistance are proceeds from bond issues, available loan repayments and federal capitalization grants. The Ohio EPA may issue revenue bonds to help in meeting the coming year’s funding requests.
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