DNREC Announced Changes to the Community Environmental Project Fund (CEPF) Grants

Environmental Consulting

09/19/2024

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On August 14th, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) announced changes to the Community Environmental Project Fund (CEPF) grants for projects in 2025 to focus on equity.
The CEPF was established in 2004 and is funded by withholding 25% of the funds paid as penalties to DNREC for violations of environmental regulations. These funds are returned to the communities where the violations happened to support community environmental projects. DNREC will be awarding up to six (6) CEPF grants worth $25,000 for projects in 2025.
To ensure the funds are being used to their greatest effect towards equity, DNREC is introducing the CEPF Tool to inform funding decisions and focus the grants on communities impacted by pollution and contaminants. Using a the federal Justice40 Initiative as a guide, the mapping tool identifies the state’s Equity Focus Areas based on median household income, language isolation, percentage of population in poverty, and minority population percentages. In addition to Equity Focus Areas, the tool shows areas of past CEPF investments and facilities that have paid penalties that contributed to CEPF funding.

Moderate and Significant Equity Focus Areas are defined by the following situations:
- Moderate Equity Focus Area
- Percentage of population in poverty is greater than the state average AND at least one (1) racial and ethnic minority group is greater than 3x the state average, OR
- Combined population percentage of racial and ethnic minority groups is greater than 2x the state average, OR
- Percentage of population in poverty is greater than 2x the state average, OR
- Median household income (MHHI) is less than $45,958 (65.49% of MHHI), OR
- Language isolation is greater than 15% and less than 25%.
Significant Equity Focus Area
- Percentage of population in poverty is greater than 2x the state average AND at least one (1) racial and ethnic minority group is greater than 3x the state average, OR
- Combined population percentage of racial and ethnic minority groups is greater than 90%, OR
- Percentage of population in poverty is greater than 3x the state average, OR
- Median household income (MHHI) is less than $28,070 (40.0% of MHHI), OR
- Language isolation is greater than 25%.

Applications for projects in 2025 will be accepted through September 17, 2024, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants selected for the award will be notified in early October. The following types of projects are eligible for CEPF grants:

Pollution mitigation: Projects to eliminate or minimis pollution and reduce risk to human health and the environment.
Environmental enhancement: Projects to improve the quality of natural habitats and ecosystems.
Recreational opportunities: Projects to create new or increase access to new recreational opportunities.

If you would like to discuss these new changes and how they may impact your facility, please contact Trinity’s Philadelphia office or call 610.280.3902.

I joined Trinity Consultants because I wanted to take my experience as an engineering student and apply it to a job that was people-oriented and allowed me to explore a wide range of industries. In my time at Trinity, I’ve had the opportunity to both work on a variety of projects and develop my own areas of expertise. As someone who was interested in air dispersion modeling early on, I’ve had the opportunity to grow my experience in that subject area without sacrificing opportunities to try new projects and work with great people. As a Senior Consultant, I now support clients in a variety of industries including data centers, surface coating, Portland cement, lime manufacturing, oil and gas, and more. My project work covers a broad range as well, including air dispersion modeling, routine compliance support, new construction permitting, and stack testing support.

Sam Najmolhoda

Senior Consultant