The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) finances projects to protect, maintain and improve water quality in accordance with the Clean Water Act.  Remediation of contamination to surface and ground waters is critical to improve and protect water quality. 

In general, site remediation projects, or components of projects that address the following, may be eligible for CWSRF financing: 

• Abatement of polluted runoff; 
• Correction of surface or ground water contamination; 
• Stormwater management; and Remediation of sites with the immediate potential to cause contamination of water. Abatement of polluted runoff and correction of surface or ground water contamination may include removal of sources of contamination such as contaminated soils and treatment of contaminated surface and ground water. 

Note: For more information on stormwater management, please click here.

The following CWSRF-eligible practices also may be used in a site remediation project to correct secondary water quality impacts and restore the site: 

• Sediment and erosion control; 
• Restoration of aquatic habitat; and 
• Re-vegetation of stream banks and other areas.

Every site remediation project is unique.  The existing or potential water quality contamination and the appropriate remedial measures must be evaluated for each site.  CWSRF staff will work with applicants to determine the water quality components of each project that may be eligible for CWSRF financing.

Example Site Remediation Projects and CWSRF-Eligible Project Components

The following examples are intended to be illustrative and not all-inclusive.  To be eligible for CWSRF financing, applicants must meet the financial and regulatory requirements of the CWSRF program.  Please contact CWSRF staff for application information.  Please note that for point source projects, as defined by the Clean Water Act Section 212, the project must be municipally-owned.

1. Brownfields, Petroleum Spills, Inactive Hazardous Waste Sites
   Site remediation or mitigation projects sites are eligible for CWSRF financing for the portions of a project that correct or prevent water quality impacts. The assessment of these sites, including Phase I, II and III assessments of brownfields, may be eligible or partially eligible for CWSRF financing.  
2. Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
   Many of the costs related to petroleum and chemical tank closure projects such as remediation of leaking petroleum storage tanks are eligible for CWSRF financing.  The elements of a tank replacement or closure project that may be financed by the CWSRF include:
   • Characterization and disposal of wastes;  
   • Groundwater monitoring wells; 
   • Pumping and disposal of tank content; deteriorated tanks and pipelines or in-place tank closure; 
   • Remediation of contaminated soils and backfill of excavation with clean soils; and Pumping and treatment of contaminated groundwater.
   • Notes: Petroleum products may include gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, hydraulic fluid, antifreeze, and waste oils.  For a remediation project, the cost of any replacement tank and certain related equipment is not eligible for CWSRF financing. However, a tank system installed as part of the construction of a new or upgraded wastewater treatment plant is eligible.
3. Municipal Vehicle Maintenance Facilities
   Municipal vehicle maintenance facilities that discharge oil, fuel, grease, antifreeze and other waste products to inadequate treatment systems may cause contamination of groundwater or surface waters. CWSRF eligible project elements include:
   • Development of an acceptable closure plan; 
   • Testing and disposal of contaminated soils and sludges;
   • Installation of oil/water separation equipment to handle future vehicle maintenance wastes; and 
   • On-site treatment systems.
4. Abandoned Resource Extraction Sites
   The remediation of water quality impacts from resource extraction sites may be financed by the CWSRF if the site was never issued a permit or is abandoned and the actions to be taken to implement the project are included in the New York State Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Cleanup of abandoned resource extraction sites may be undertaken at the abandoned mine or wellhead, or further downstream. Methods to remediate sources of contamination may include:
   • Closure of wells; 
   • Removal of mine tailings; 
   • Construction of dikes around production tanks; 
   • Closure of and control of runoff and leakage from drilling pits;  
   • Recycling of process waters; 
   • Installation of injection wells for brine disposal; and 
   • Reclamation of water impoundments.