00A01059

Description:
The purpose of this agreement is to provide assistance to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission to implement its project to support the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. The goal is to protect and restore Long Island Sound by providing coordination and technical assistance in the following key areas:

1. Outreach and education coordination
2. Program management and participant support
3. New York State habitat restoration and stewardship coordinator
4. New York State regional coordination
5. Science coordination
6. Long Island Sound nitrogen reduction coordination
7. Long Island Sound nutrient bioextraction coordination

Activities:
Specifically, under this cooperative agreement, the recipient will:

1. Assist with the development, coordination, and implementation of bi-state public involvement, education, outreach, and communication activities for the Long Island Sound study.
2. Support logistics coordination (meeting facilities, catering, etc.) for in-person meetings of the Long Island Sound Study Management Conference and Citizen Advisory Committee. Process participant support requests (provided via reimbursement) for Citizen Advisory Committee and Management Conference members, Connecticut and New York State staff, and other Long Island Sound study partners to attend programmatic meetings, National Estuary Program meetings, and other relevant meetings.
3. Facilitate and conduct activities associated with the Long Island Sound Study Habitat Restoration Initiative. This includes preparing, assisting, and evaluating project applications for habitat restoration, assessment, monitoring, and research funding. Develop partnerships to restore Long Island Sound habitats and promote stewardship. Work with regional staff to help partners prepare project work plans that are compatible with state regulations. Assist the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation with activities associated with the Long Island Sound Study Habitat Workgroup.
4. Supplement and increase the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's participation and involvement in all aspects of the Long Island Sound Study. This includes acting as a coordinator around water quality and community sustainability/resilience, participating in workgroups and meetings, participating in nitrogen reduction plan/measure evaluation, revision, and implementation. Provide technical support and participate in the stakeholder group for the nitrogen reduction strategy. Facilitate and provide technical support for New York municipalities, provide grant oversight and management, build municipal partnerships, and evaluate/assess local policy and program alignment with the comprehensive conservation and management plan. Assist municipalities to leverage the Long Island Sound Futures Fund to implement water quality improvement projects.
5. Develop and maintain professional scientific and technical contacts among the Long Island Sound Study partners and local/regional/national/international scientific communities. Manage the scientific resources of the Long Island Sound Study. Organize and conduct conferences, meetings, symposia, or other web-based discussions on topics of relevance or concern to the science of the Long Island Sound ecosystem.
6. Organize and support the Long Island Sound Study nitrogen reduction coordination efforts. Involve tributary states in management committee activities. Schedule and facilitate calls. Gather and summarize technical and policy information on topics related to various nitrogen reduction strategies and activities.
7. Remove excess nitrogen through the cultivation and harvest of seaweed and shellfish. Assess the efficacy of (and potential challenges involved in) advancing seaweed and shellfish aquaculture to remove excess nitrogen loads. Review and report on literature a

New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission

66.437 - Long Island Sound Program

EPA Region 1: Boston [EPA - RO]

New Haven, Connecticut United States

County-Wide

EPA-CEP-01

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 09/30/25 to 09/30/26 and the total obligations have increased 139% from $2,008,167 to $4,801,906.