PA DEP ANNOUNCES APPLICATION PERIOD FOR FEDERAL COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT GRANTS

Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger today announced that DEP’s Water Planning Office will begin accepting applications for federal fiscal year 2010 coastal zone grants. The grants are funded by the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA), and will finance projects within the Delaware Estuary and Lake Erie coastal zones that support the program’s mission to protect and enhance Pennsylvania’s coastal resources. Applications must be received by Oct. 23. Applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements, (e.g. be a political subdivision, an authority, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization or an educational institution). DEP and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have launched an electronic grant application system - Environmental eGrants - which standardizes the application process and provides an environmentally friendly way to submit a grant application through a secure Internet connection.

All applications for coastal zone management program grants must be submitted electronically through the eGrants system at: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/grants. The Environmental eGrants program will guide users through the process of completing the electronic grant application.

Public information sessions on the new electronic grants system will be held in both coastal zones. The first session will be held on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. in Room 108 of the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie. The second session will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 9:30 a.m. in the Betsy Ross Room 6069 at the Philadelphia State Office Building, 801 Market St., Philadelphia. To submit an application or to obtain more information concerning coastal zone grants, visit DEP’s website at www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: “Coastal Zone,” or contact DEP’s Water Planning Office, Second Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market St., P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, phone (717) 772-4785.