Clean Vessel Assistance Program Operation and Maintenance Grant

The Clean Vessel Assistance Program Operation and Maintenance Grant provides assistance for routine annual costs associated with operating and maintaining eligible pumpout facilities and pumpout boats. The program is administered through EFC and is focused on routine replacement items and costs incurred annually rather than major repairs, replacements, or facility upgrades. Applicants needing a major replacement or upgrade are directed to the separate Construction and Upgrade grant program. Operation and Maintenance applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and applicants begin the process by reviewing program eligibility and requirements and submitting a Letter of Intent to EFC. Grant assistance is provided for up to 75 percent of eligible costs. Land-based pumpout facilities may receive up to $2,000, while pumpout boats may receive up to $7,500. A stationary land-based facility that supports a pumpout boat may request an additional $2,250 when it has a holding tank for waste disposal and incurs additional waste-disposal expenses from accepting offloaded pumpout-boat waste, or when it has other costs directly associated with supporting pumpout-boat operations. Eligible land-based costs include pumpout waste hauling, seasonal startup and winterization, and routine maintenance directly related to the pumpout unit, including hoses and less costly plumbing, electrical, and replacement parts. Up to $500 may be reimbursed when a marina provides an attendant available to assist with pumpout use for at least 120 hours per year. For pumpout boats, eligible expenses include fuel, oil, routine maintenance, seasonal unwrapping and winter shrink wrapping, dock fees when required, waste offloading, hepatitis shots for pumpout boat personnel, and pumpout boat insurance. Personnel costs for providing pumpout boat service may be reimbursed without a separate personnel sublimit, but total reimbursable funding remains subject to the $7,500 pumpout boat amount. Either type of facility may also receive a flat $250 administration reimbursement when completed Pumpout Usage Log forms are submitted to EFC with the funding request. Facilities charging a pumpout fee must track fees collected and report those fees with their costs. The Pumpout Usage Log may be used for this purpose and accepted as proof of receipts. The grant excludes travel expenses, general dock-hand costs at land-based facilities except qualifying pumpout assistance, and operation or maintenance expenses unrelated to the pumpout facility or that cannot be clearly separated from other expenses. Direct charges for electricity, water, or similar routine marina operating costs supplied to other equipment and operations are also ineligible. Eligible facilities must satisfy Clean Vessel Act requirements. The maximum user fee is $5 per pumpout unless EFC provides written approval for a higher fee. Facilities must be accessible to the general public and maintain reasonable hours, defined as at least business hours five days per week. Rinse water must be available near the pumpout, and facilities without a dump station must provide a potty wand. Funded facilities must display signs and flags crediting the CVAP Program, comply with applicable New York State and local permitting and environmental requirements, and remain accessible and operational for reasonable periods throughout the boating season. EFC retains the right to inspect facilities at any reasonable time. Funding will not be provided when a facility is determined to be out of compliance with applicable Federal, State, or local mandates. Operators are recommended to contact EFC when the facility experiences more than two days of downtime during the boating season. EFC may deny funding when a pumpout has been out of service for an extended period and the operator has not made reasonable efforts to resolve the problem. Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent to EFC to obtain Operation and Maintenance grant funding. The Letter of Intent should be a one-page document indicating the applicant's interest in applying for costs incurred during the year, and applicants are directed to use EFC's Letter of Intent Form. No fixed application closing date is stated because applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The source does not provide a separate award notification date or performance-period date. Program questions may be directed to CVAP@efc.ny.gov. The source also identifies a Letter of Intent for the Operation and Maintenance Grant, Funding Examples for the Operation and Maintenance Grant, and a Pumpout Station Sign as application or program resources.

Request only routine annual operation and maintenance costs rather than major repairs or upgrades; ensure claimed costs are directly related to the pumpout operation and can be clearly separated from other marina expenses; document fees collected when charging for pumpout use; submit completed Pumpout Usage Logs to qualify for the flat $250 administration reimbursement; use the Construction and Upgrade grant program when major replacement or facility upgrades are necessary