Clean Vessel Act Grant

The Clean Vessel Act Grant Program, initiated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, provides essential funding for constructing and maintaining sewage pumpout stations for recreational boaters. With 75% of project costs covered, the program aims to improve environmental protection by preventing sewage discharge into waterways. Grant recipients must ensure facilities are accessible and operational during reasonable hours, promoting public awareness and use of these crucial waste management systems.

Background
The Clean Vessel Act (CVA) of 1992 was signed into law to reduce pollution from vessel sewage discharges, prohibiting the discharge of raw sewage into fresh water or within coastal salt-water limits. The act established a federal grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which to date has awarded nearly $150 million for states to install thousands of sewage pumpout stations.
The Clean Vessel Act Grant Program was established to provide funding to States to construct, renovate, operate, and maintain pumpout stations and waste reception facilities for recreational boaters and to inform boaters about the use, benefits, and availability of pumpout stations and waste reception facilities. The grant program funds 75% of the project costs. This includes the cost of new equipment, or the renovation or upgrading of existing equipment, as well as necessary pumps, piping, fitting, lift stations, on-site holding tanks, pier or dock modifications, signs, permits and other miscellaneous equipment needed for a complete and efficient station. As a grant recipient, you are responsible for at least 25% of the installed costs and this 25% match can be cash, the fair market value of any labor or materials provided, or a combination thereof.
Funding for grants is through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. The fund accumulates revenue through excise taxes on sport fishing equipment, electric trolling motors, and sonar equipment; import duties on fishing tackle, yachts and pleasure craft; gasoline tax attributable to motorboats and small engines; and interest on the fund.
Grant Funding Requirements
Funded facilities must be open to the public where users have full and reasonable access.
Signage to direct boaters to a pumpout must be visible from the water.
Pumpouts should be located to allow easy access and use by all boats typical to that marina.
Default maximum charge of $5 per pumpout is mandated unless the need for a higher fee has been proven and approved by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in writing.
Facilities must be open during reasonable hours.
Pumpout facilities shall be operated, maintained, and continue to be reasonably accessible to all recreational vessels for their useful life.

Eligibility

Eligible Activities:Education/information programs to educate/inform recreational boaters about the environmental pollution problems resulting from sewage discharges from vessels and to inform them of the location of pumpout and dump stations available to boaters.Construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of pumpout and dump stations, including floating restrooms, not connected to land or structures connected to the land, used solely by boaters.Activity necessary to hold and transport sewage to sewage treatment plants, such as holding tanks, piping, haulage costs, and any activity necessary to get sewage treatment plants to accept sewage, such as installing bleed-in facilities.

Ineligibility

Ineligible Activities:Activities that do not provide public benefits.Enforcement activities.Construction/renovation of upland restroom facilities.Construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of on-site sewage treatment plants, such as package treatment plants and septic systems, and of municipal sewage treatment plants for primary and secondary treatment.