Clean Vessel Assistance Program Construction and Upgrade Grants

The Clean Vessel Assistance Program Construction and Upgrade Grants provide financial assistance for projects that help recreational marine vessels properly dispose of sewage. The program supports marinas, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations seeking to install new pumpout and dump station facilities or replace, repair, or renovate existing facilities. The central purpose is to maintain and expand sewage collection infrastructure serving recreational boaters. Projects must focus on recreational boaters, who are identified as the primary users under the applicable federal rule, and facilities cannot be funded for commercial use. Construction and Upgrade Grants provide funding for up to 75 percent of eligible project costs. Funding is available up to $40,000 for a new stationary unit or for the replacement, repair, or renovation of an eligible facility, and up to $80,000 for a pumpout boat. Eligible costs include construction, replacement, repair, or renovation of stationary and portable pumpout or dump station units and associated attachments, remote units, docks, and platforms. Mobile pumpout vessels are eligible when their sole purpose is pumping out Type III marine sanitation devices. Floating restrooms that are in the water, are not connected to land or land-connected structures, and are used solely by boaters are also eligible. Additional eligible expenditures include equipment associated with an eligible facility, including equipment for rinsing boat holding tanks and attachments such as wands used for pumping out portable toilets. Activities and equipment needed to hold and transport marine vessel sewage to sewage treatment plants may also be supported, including holding tanks, piping, pumps, and bleed-in facilities. Engineering expenses associated with eligible facilities can include planning, design, construction supervision, and inspection. Other costs directly associated with an eligible facility can include administrative and legal expenses and the use of in-house labor. When a facility serves purposes beyond those eligible under the program, costs are to be prorated equitably among the various purposes at EFC's sole discretion, and assistance funds may be used only for the portion of the activity related to the Clean Vessel Assistance Program. Funded projects are subject to operational and public access requirements. All projects must provide access to the general public and cannot limit access exclusively to members or residents. Rinse water must be available close to the pumpout for boaters to rinse holding tanks or address other pumpout needs. Pumpout facilities must remain accessible to boaters during their hours of operation, with the pumpout area kept clear, open, and free from other permanent or long-term uses. Temporary shared services, such as refueling, are acceptable. Facilities must operate during reasonable hours and provide the attachments necessary for boaters to use the pumpout facility. A location with a pumpout but no dump station for portable toilets must provide a potty wand for disposal of septic waste. Facilities must also comply with signage, flag, and user fee requirements. Required signs must credit the grant funding source and provide applicable information such as hours of operation, user fees, restrictions, operating instructions, and a contact for operational problems. EFC provides signs that applicants can complete and post at their facilities. Large orange flags are provided to Clean Vessel Assistance Program pumpout facilities and should be displayed near pumpout stations so boaters can readily recognize them from the water. User fees are permitted but, under the stated federal regulation, may not exceed $5.00 per pumpout. Operation and Maintenance Grants are separately available to assist with routine costs, and facilities are encouraged to offer pumpout services free of charge. Applicants must submit a Construction and Upgrade Grant application to EFC. Before applying, applicants are directed to review the eligibility criteria and program requirements and then complete the application. The application requests basic information, a project description and scope, project costs and requested funding information, and information demonstrating compliance with program and permit requirements. The application must contain sufficient information to identify the project's scope as well as any auxiliary uses or other on-site impacts affecting the pumpout equipment or its usage. The source also identifies an Application for the Construction and Upgrade Grant and Application Instructions for the Construction and Upgrade Grant as downloadable PDF resources, but no complete direct PDF URLs are provided in the supplied material. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and no fixed opening date, final application deadline, pre-application deadline, award notification date, or performance period is stated in the supplied information. No named individual contact or telephone number is provided. Applicants and prospective applicants may contact the Clean Vessel Assistance Program at cvap@efc.ny.gov, including when they are uncertain whether their facility can provide reasonable operating hours. Because applications are accepted on a rolling basis, the opportunity is treated as currently accepting applications based on the supplied program information rather than as a recurring deadline-based competition.

Confirm that the project serves recreational boaters and provides general public access; clearly separate eligible CVA costs from any other facility purposes because mixed-use costs may be prorated by EFC; document compliance with operational requirements including rinse water, signage, reasonable hours, attachments, and accessible pumpout space.