The Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Grant for the fiscal year 2024-2025 is administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, commonly known as CalRecycle. This grant program aims to provide funding for the cleanup of illegal disposal sites located on farm and ranch properties throughout California. The program is designed to address environmental concerns and public health threats posed by illegally dumped materials on agricultural lands.
The primary purpose of this grant is to facilitate the cleanup of sites that have been identified as illegal disposal areas, which may pose a nuisance or a threat to public health and safety. Eligible projects must involve parcels of land that are zoned or authorized for agricultural or rangeland use, as defined in California regulations. The grant supports efforts to remediate sites where solid waste has been disposed of without authorization, and where the responsible party cannot be identified or located.
Funding for this grant totals $1,000,000 for the fiscal year, with individual grant awards ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. Each site is limited to a maximum of $50,000 for cleanup efforts. Additionally, two or more departments or agencies within a specific city or county can apply for a combined total of $200,000 per fiscal year. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, resource conservation districts, and federally recognized tribes.
To qualify for the grant, applicants must demonstrate that the site in question has been used or could be used for agricultural or rangeland activities. The application must also confirm that neither the applicant nor any associated parties brought the solid waste onto the property or authorized its disposal. The site must be in need of cleanup to mitigate a public health threat or environmental hazard.
Submission requirements for the grant include a completed application form, which must be submitted by the deadline of October 8, 2024. The application will require detailed information about the proposed cleanup project, including the location, the nature of the waste, and the anticipated costs. Applicants should be prepared to answer specific questions regarding the eligibility of the site and the intended use of the property post-cleanup.
Evaluation criteria for the grant will focus on the urgency of the cleanup, the potential environmental impact, and the overall feasibility of the proposed project. Applications will be assessed based on how well they meet the program's objectives and the clarity of the proposed plan.
Important dates to note include the application deadline of October 8, 2024. Interested parties are encouraged to visit the CalRecycle website for further details and to access the application materials. For any inquiries, applicants can reach out to CalRecycle via email at grantassistance@calrecycle.ca.gov.
