Ohio EPA schedules meeting on 2016 Water Pollution Control Loan Fund

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) recently announced a November 23 public meeting on the draft management plan for its 2016 Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF).

At the meeting, interested parties can submit public comments.

The WPCLF provides low- and no-interest loans to Ohio communities and organizations operating within the state for projects that benefit its waterways. The program is funded through bond issues, loan repayments and federal grants. The Ohio EPA is considering issuing revenue bonds to match the 2016 funding demands.

The public meeting will cover changes to the 2016 program, such a maximum of $23.5 million principal forgiveness. Of that figure, $13.3 million will go toward home sewage improvements across 57 local health districts.

The Ohio EPA will also be awarding no-interest loans to promote back-up power and specialized planning in community wastewater treatment plants. In a continuation from 2015, the agency will offer $100 million in no-interest loans for equipment and facilities that will reduce runoff pollution, such as phosphorus.

Organizations seeking loans for planning and nutrient reduction can still be nominated, but the submission deadline for all other projects was August 31.

The public meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and will be conducted in Columbus at the Ohio EPA’s Center for Excellence in the Lazarus Government Center.