10/22/2007: "MRC Wants DOE Funds: Education For Businesses"

Ecology will award funds to local governments to prevent pollution through education, and the SJ Marine Resources Committee (MRC) has asked the Town of Friday Harbor Council to give their blessing to an application by the MRC for the funds.

The new Ecology program will make funds available to twelve local governments to hire “on-site technical-assistance providers to work with small businesses to keep the Sound clean”. About $2.5 million is available through interagency agreements with towns and county governments. The MRC is part of San Juan County government

Mary Knackstedt, Coordinator for the MRC, told the town of Friday Harbor Council on Thursday, that the program “is not regulatory; it is strictly voluntary”. The role of the new program is to “provide resources, training, recognition, and other incentives for businesses that adopt best management practices to reduce hazardous waste.”

Knackstedt gave as examples that some of the funding could be used to “provide technical assistance to building contractors to help them reduce stormwater runoff from construction sites through better site management and where applicable, low impact development practices.”

Ecology expects to award 8-12 interagency agreements, ranging from $200,000 - $400,000 over the biennium, depending on the response and available funds. Ecology anticipates continued funding opportunities beyond Fiscal Year 2008-2009.

Cities, counties, public health districts/departments, and other local government entities may apply for these funds . Other local governments (Clallam, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, King, Mason, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom) are eligible. The awards of money will be based on evaluation of Letters of Interest and Proposals; and are due by October 29, 2007.

According to County records, the MRC primary funding comes from grant writing, and this year had received over 3 million dollars to aid the MRC on their work on a clean water campaign, and “the relationship of upland activities to the health of the marine environment.”