The nationwide Section 219 program provides design and construction assistance for water related environmental infrastructure projects, to include water supply, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management, in specifically authorized local communities. Work is cost shared 75 percent federal and 25 percent non-federal.
Criteria for assistance: The purpose of the program is to provide Federal assistance to State and local governments in carrying out water-related infrastructure projects. While should judgment and prudent analytical approaches should be employed in any planning assistance provided, the specific requirement for conducting and reporting on economic and environmental procedures as outlined in Principles and Guidelines (P&G) and Corp regulations based on P&G will not be required. Federal assistance is subject to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental laws. Available environmental analysis prepared by non-Federal interests to meet Federal and State loan and grant and permitting requirements should be used to the extent possible.
Cost Sharing: Not less than 25 percent non-Federal cost share will be required for all projects. The 25 percent non-Federal share will take the form of cash and credits for lands, easements, rights of way, relocations and dredged material disposal areas (LERRD). No work-in kind is authorized for projects under the Section 219 program. Up to $25,000 of the Federal amount appropriated may be used to prepare a letter report and negotiate a cost share agreement. These pre-agreement costs will be 100 percent Federal. The non-Federal sponsor is responsible for 100 percent of the operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and replacement (OMRR&R) costs of the project after construction.
Letter Report: A letter report should support each agreement. The letter report describes the proposed infrastructure assistance and the non-Federal infrastructure project it supports; identifies the non-Federal sponsor; addresses the implementation responsibilities of the parties; addresses the financial capability of the non-Federal sponsor to meet the cost sharing requirements; describes the status of environmental compliance; and presents information on the cost (including LERRD value) of the environmental infrastructure assistance.
Design and Engineering Assistance: Design or engineering assistance provided by the Government must be obtained by procurement from private sources, unless the service would require the use of a new technology unavailable in the private sector, or a solicitation or request for proposal has failed to attract two or more bids or proposals. This limitation does not apply to analysis and documentation to address NEPA requirements.