Take action: state revolving funds

Obtain copies of:

• Title VI of the Clean Water Act.

• The regulations supporting it at 40CFR35, Subpart K.

• Your state’s SRF capitalization grant agreement with the EPA.

• Your state’s rules regarding the administration of the SRF program.

• The guidelines for your state’s “NEPA-like process” and the letter from the EPA Regional Administrator that approved it.

• The most recent SRF program Annual Report for your state.

• The current Intended Use Plan for SRF funds in the coming year.

Review these documents — especially your state’s environmental review process and minimum federal requirements — for consistency.

Bring any inconsistencies and their potential consequences to the attention of the state, the EPA and statewide public interest organizations.

Get a copy of your state’s nonpoint source pollution management plan (Chapter 6). Encourage your state to prioritize SRF projects that implement the plan.

Find out whether your state required any assessment of environmental and economic consequences of SRF projects in the past year.

Find out what criteria your state uses in determining whether a SRF project requires an official examination of environmental impacts.

Find out what SRF projects are currently proposed for your area. Take advantage of the public involvement procedures in your state’s “NEPA-like process” to advocate for environmentally sound, cost-effective SRF projects that address important problems in your watershed.

Find out when the public comment period regarding the next Intended Use Plan will occur.

During that period, submit written comments and/or appear at the public hearing to support good SRF projects in your watershed and offer alternatives to questionable SRF projects.