PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN BUILDING A BETTER AMERICA BUILD.GOV FACT SHEET: Rural Infrastructure Tour President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Empowers the Environmental Protection Agency to Deliver for Rural America President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will deliver billions of dollars to rural communities across the country to create economic opportunity. Supporting Americans living in rural areas remains a top priority for the Biden Administration, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers on the President's promises to provide high-speed internet, safe roads and bridges, modern wastewater systems, clean drinking water, reliable and affordable electricity, and good-paying jobs in small towns and rural communities. As part of this effort, the Biden Administration is also committed to working with communities to help them access federal resources while improving transparency and trust in the federal government. This fact sheet provides information for rural communities on the available resources under the infrastructure law, including how to apply or find more information. For further information, visit EPA's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law website. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is investing over $60 billion in programs that will protect human health and the environment through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Rural communities will benefit from every one of these programs, addressing longstanding gaps in water infrastructure, runoff pollution, replacing existing school buses with electric and lower emission models, investing in economic development, and creating good paying jobs across America. Ensuring Clean, Safe, Reliable, and Resilient Water for Rural America For too long, rural water infrastructure has suffered from underinvestment and neglect—putting communities at risk. Lead pipes, water main breaks, PFAS "forever chemical" contamination, and failing wastewater management systems threaten the safety and security of rural communities across the country. More than 2,000,000 people across the country—including many in rural areas—do not have the water and sanitation services that most Americans take for granted. The 1 ------- Bipartisan Infrastructure Law represents the most significant opportunity to invest in rural water infrastructure in the nation's history. • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund - $11.7 billion. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides EPA with $11.7 billion in supplemental funding for states, Tribes, and territories through the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. This revolving fund provides low interest loans and grants to water systems for eligible infrastructure projects including: expanding drinking water treatment plants and distribution systems; improving drinking water treatment; fixing leaky or old pipes; improving sources of water supply; replacing or constructing finished water storage tanks; other infrastructure projects needed to protect public health. Of these funds, 49% will be made available as forgivable grants and loans to underserved communities. Eligible applicants apply through their State Revolving Loan program and learn more on the EPA Drinking Water State Revolvir id fDWSRF) webpaqe. • Clean Water State Revolving Fund - $11.7 billion. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides EPA with $11.7 billion in supplemental funding for states, Tribes, and territories through the Clean Water State Revolving Funds. State Revolving Fund programs provide financial assistance to local communities and publicly owned treatment systems for construction of wastewater and stormwater treatment facilities and collection systems; nonpoint source pollution management; construction, repair, or replacement of decentralized wastewater treatment systems; construction of nature- based infrastructure solutions; and other uses associated with the management of wastewater and stormwater. Of these funds, 49% will be made available as forgivable grants and loans to underserved communities. Eligible applicants apply through their State Revolving Loan program and learn more on the EPA Clean Water State Revolvir ^ 5 k \\ - ' ' webpage. • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Replacement - $15 billion. EPA will provide $15 billion over five years to states, Tribes, and territories to identify and replace lead service lines. No state match is required for these funds, of which 49% will be made available as forgivable grants and loans to underserved communities. Eligible applicants apply through their State Revolving Loan program. • Small and Underserved Communities Emerging Contaminants - $5 billion. This investment provides $5 billion in grants over the next five years to public water systems in small, underserved communities addressing emerging contaminants, including PFAS. Eligible communities have fewer than 10,000 individuals and are determined to be underserved under the eligibility criteria established by the state. Applicants will apply through their state. In addition to nationwide funding that can support rural communities, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides place-based investments that recognize the 2 ------- importance of clean and safe water to rural America. Together, these efforts will help ensure that our drinking water is safe and our treasured waters support dynamic ecosystems; hunting, fishing, and recreation; and economic opportunity. • Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan - $60 million. EPA will provide $60 million in funding over five years to members of the 12 states of the sxico Hypoxia Task Force to implement plans to reduce nutrient-loading to the Gulf of Mexico from the basin by 20% by 2025, and a long-term goal of limiting the Gulf hypoxic zone to an average annual size of less than 5,000 square kilometers by 2035. • Geographic Programs - $1.7 billion. Geographic Program funding helps communities make on-the-ground improvements for clean and safe water, protected and restored habitat, thriving species, and a vibrant quality of life for all, while supporting local jobs. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $1,717 billion over five years to twelve geographic programs covering almost every part of the country. These include: o Chesapeake Bay Program o Columbia River Basin Restoration Program o Great Lakes Restoration Initiative o Gulf of Mexico o Lake Champlain o Lake Pontchartrain Restoration Program o Long Island Sound o Northwest Forest o PugetSound o San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund o South Florida Geographic Initiatives Program o Southeast New England Coastal Watershed Restoration Program Investing in Rural Economic Development The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to creating good-paying jobs in rural communities across the country and ensuring those communities are safe, high- quality places to live. Legacy pollution from industries that extracted natural resources from rural areas and left behind huge quantities of environmental degradation has held back the economic growth and success of rural communities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is creating good-paying jobs cleaning up these sites while helping small towns and rural communities throughout the United States find ways to strengthen their economies, provide better quality of life, and build on local assets. • Brownfields - $1.5 billion. EPA will invest an additional $1.5 billion over five years to clean up and invest in properties where the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential 3 ------- presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Research has found that cleaning up brownfields properties can increase nearby residential property values, significantly increase local government tax revenue, and generate significant local job growth. Additional competitive funding opportunities will be announced this fall. o The Brownfields Program commits to promoting the availability of the Infrastructure Law funds to all communities, including those in rural and underserved areas. In FY21, approximately 50% of selected recipients received EPA Brownfields Grant funding for the first time and more than 85% are in or serving small and underserved communities. EPA anticipates similar outcomes in FY22and beyond with both annual appropriations and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds. • Superfund - $3.5 billion. EPA's Superfund Program cleans up the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination at polluted sites. EPA will invest $3.5 billion in environmental remediation at Superfund National Priorities List sites. Superfund cleanups facilitate job creation and provide economic benefits to communities. In 2021, Superfund sites in reuse supported 10,230 businesses that provided more than 246,178 jobs and generated more than $18 billion in employment income. Cleanups have allowed communities to reuse previously blighted properties for a wide range of purposes, including retail businesses, office space, public parks, residences, warehouses and solar power generation. • Clean School Bus - $5 billion. The Clean School Bus Program will provide $5 billion over the next five years to replace existing school buses with electric and lower emissions models. In Spring 2022, EPA plans to announce a new Clean School Bus rebate program for applicants to replace existing school buses with low- or zero-emission school buses. This historic investment in school buses will transform fleets across the United States, especially communities that have been historically underserved. EPA may prioritize applications that replace school buses in high need local educational agencies, low-income and rural areas, Tribal schools, and applications that provide cost share. • Pollution Prevention (P2) - $100 million. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $100 million for P2 grants to provide technical assistance to businesses to help them develop and adopt source reduction practices to reduce or eliminate pollution. Applications for the first year of funding close on April 11th and will be awarded this summer. Additional competitions will be run annually. 4 ------- |