Interested in Being a CVA Partner?

Clean Vessel Act Program

Does your public or private entity own or operate a recreational boating facility such as a marina or dock? If so, you could be eligible for grant funding to renovate, build, operate and maintain a vessel sewage disposal system. Grants are available through the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Program via flow through funding from the USFW to SCDNR to you.

What does CVA pay for?

CVA grants will reimburse up to 75% of the following through either a Subrecipient Equipment Agreement or Operation and Maintenance Agreement:

  • Costs for staff time operation of boat-mounted and fixed pumpout systems.
  • Pumpout equipment, including hoses, connectors, meters, and other accessories directly related to the pumpout unit itself;
  • Dock space, platforms, or other solid structure sufficient to place the pumpout equipment and allow for typical recreational vessels to access the pumpout equipment;
  • Equipment and materials needed to transport, store, and dispose of septic waste removed by the pumpout equipment, such as piping, connectors, holding tanks, and associated construction and labor. This does not include costs for dockage solely for the purpose of hanging pipe.
  • Pumps and other equipment needed to transport waste due to distance or elevation; and
  • Equipment or structures required by local laws or codes if it is necessary and reasonable for the operation of the CVA-funded facility and the sole purpose is not to provide septic waste treatment.
  • Costs for fuel, oil, and routine maintenance for a pumpout boat.
  • Any equipment purchased by or furnished to the Subrecipient by the SCDNR under this Agreement is provided on a loan basis only.

What is not eligible for CVA grant funding?

The following activities are ineligible for funding under CVA:

  1. Acquiring land or an interest in land;
  2. Enforcing laws, orders, and regulations;
  3. Engaging in formal processes for establishing State regulations;
  4. Constructing, renovating, maintaining, or operating land-based restroom facilities
  5. Constructing, renovating, maintaining, or operating primary or secondary treatment plants, such as package plants and septic systems;
  6. Land-based infrastructure such as parking lots, roads, paths, gangways, or boat launches;
  7. Activities that do not provide public access and/or public benefits; and
  8. Activities that significantly restrict or reduce recreational boater access to CVA-funded facilities or divert CVA funding from its primary purposes.

Marinas wishing to participate in the CVA reimbursement program are to submit the following forms every year to the CVA team at SCDNR regardless of previous participation in the CVA program:

Step 1:
Do not purchase any equipment or proceed with the project until you have written approval from SCDNR. Submit completed CVA Letter of Intent and Proposal to DNR for the project. This document includes the following:

  • Brief written description of the project including justification for the needed equipment
  • Equipment to be purchased (including quotes from multiple vendors)

Step 2:
Complete the following forms and submit to SCDNR CVA Program Coordinator

  1. PreAward Subrecipient Risk Assessment
  2. SAM.Gov UEI Check
  3. Become an approved SC Vendor

Step 3:
Once you have been notified by SCDNR staff of your approval for request for funding, you may purchase and install the equipment according to the approved proposal. You must notify SCDNR of any changes to the project that may come up during installation. Notify SCDNR when the project is complete. Marinas must pay for the equipment up-front and can immediately submit paperwork for partial reimbursement on the equipment itself. Any equipment purchased by or furnished to the Subrecipient by the SCDNR under this Agreement is provided on a loan basis only. SCDNR may conduct an inspection of the equipment after installation and at any time during its use to ensure compliance with the Agreement.

Step 4:
To request for reimbursement of funds, subrecipients will fill out Subrecipient Request For Funds form and email them to the CVA SCDNR staff quarterly along with supporting documents of invoices, pump out log, maintenance log, and hours staff has worked on CVA related activities.

Step 5:
Once SCDNR staff has approved your request for funds reimbursement your entity will receive their reimbursement.

Deadlines

2024-2025 Grant Timelines

Submit a request for reimbursement after the end of each quarter to grantsubmissions@dnr.sc.gov.

  • July 1st 2024 - Beginning of fiscal year 2025.
  • July 1st-September 30th 2024 - 1st Quarter
  • October 1st-December 31st 2024 - 2nd Quarter
  • January 1st- March 31st 2025 – 3rd Quarter
  • April 1st- June 30th 2025- 4th Quarter
  • June 30th 2025 - End of fiscal year 2024.
  • July 15th 2025 - Final Request for reimbursement accepted for fiscal year 2025.