EPA awards $936K grant to state.
Staff Report CONCORD — The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $936,308 grant to the N.H. Department of Environmental Services to fund projects aimed at reducing air and water pollution, improving waste management and promoting pollution prevention.
DES will use a portion of the funding for public drinking water maintenance and testing at wells and public beaches, according to state officials.
“We continue to rely heavily upon the funding provided through the EPA to support many of our core programs and activities,” said N.H. DES Commissioner Robert Scott.
“The consolidation of several grant programs into a single award allows us to reduce administrative costs and direct federal funds to meet the environmental priorities of both the EPA and New Hampshire.” Federal law allows the EPA to delegate authority to the states or local governments to implement and enforce environmental regulations based on the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
States can develop their own regulations as long as they are more stringent than federal requirements.
“EPA is providing funds directly to New Hampshire so that the state may determine how best to address its unique and critical environmental challenges,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
“EPA grants to our partners like N.H. DES give states the flexibility to protect their resources and grow their economy while solving real environmental problems in local communities.”