Water Pollution Control (Clean Water) Revolving Loan Fund (WPCRLF) Program
The Federal Water Quality Act of 1987 required all states to begin the transition from the federal EPA grants program to a new State Revolving Fund loan program no later than FY 1989. Federal funds previously appropriated for the grants program were instead targeted to the SRF loan program in FY 1989 and after. These funds are being used for funding basically the same types of wastewater projects that were funded under the grants program. Loans awarded for these wastewater projects are being repaid to the SRF at an interest rate that is at or below market interest rates, and the fund is to be maintained in perpetuity. The states must provide at least a 20% match to the federal funds. The funding authorization for the SRF program expired at the end of FY-94 along with the Clean Water Act. However, Congress has continued to appropriate funds on a year-to-year basis. State legislation to establish the SRF was enacted during the 1988 legislative session and implementation was begun in FY 1989.
How To Get Started
Municipalities, public sewer districts or other eligible recipients who are interested in obtaining low interest loan funding for water pollution control projects should do the following:
- Hire a consulting engineer registered in Mississippi
- Click here to view the Construction Branch Staff Directory
- Arrange a pre-planning conference with Department staff
- Submit a Ranking Form requesting placement on the Priority List
- Develop and submit a Facilities Plan by the deadline established each year
Documents
Green Project Reserve (GPR) Funding
“Green Project Reserve” (GPR) is a term coined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to language Congress began including in the annual CWSRF appropriations language beginning in 2010. Basically, this language requires that, “to the extent there are sufficient eligible applications,” a certain percentage of the appropriated funds must be used by the State to make loans for projects to address green infrastructure, water or energy efficiency improvements, or other environmentally innovative activities. The percentages have ranged from 10% to 30% in the various appropriations acts since FY-2010. In 2014 the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) amended the Clean Water Act to, among other significant changes to the CWSRF, make the GPR a permanent part of the Program.
Attached below is the latest (2012) version of the EPA published GPR Guidance document, which provides details regarding 1) what types of projects qualify as GPR projects, 2) which of those qualify categorically, 3) which must be further justified using a “business case” to qualify, and 4) how to prepare a business case. [Note that EPA has since made a determination that the business case information is no longer required, and indicated that new GPR guidance will be forthcoming. That new guidance will be posted below if/when it becomes available.]
In addition to reserving this funding as required, MS’s CWSRF, the WPCRLF Program, gives top priority for that funding, to WPCRLF-eligible projects for which at least 25% of the project scope/cost qualifies as GPR eligible. Also, if the applicant qualifies as a WPCRLF “Small/Low-income Community” [Population of 4,000 or less AND Median Household Income (MHI) of 40,000 or less] they may be able to receive subsidy funding of 75% of the loan amount (up to a $2 million maximum subsidy).
WPCRLF-eligible applicants interested in such funding for upcoming projects which may qualify as GPR eligible, should complete and submit a WPCRLF Ranking Request Form for the project. An MDEQ project manager will then be assigned to the project, and will transmit information to assist the applicant and their consulting engineer in the planning and loan application processes.
