SB20-218 PFAS Grant Program

PFAS are man-made chemicals with chemical properties that make them useful for consumer and industrial use. But those properties also make them persistent in the environment. PFAS chemicals from firefighting foam, personal products, and other substances are toxic and may get into the groundwater and surface water, potentially contaminating Colorado’s drinking water supplies. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects including low infant birth weights, cancer and negative effects on the immune system. 

The state continues to address PFAS issues through Senate Bill 20-218. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Hazardous Substances Response Act (SB20-218) was signed into law on June 29, 2020 ( C.R.S. 8-20-206.5(7)). 

The act created fees on the transportation of fuel products and those fees are to be collected between September 1, 2020, through September 30, 2026, when the available balance in the fund is less than eight million dollars. The collected fees that are placed in  the PFAS Cash Fund established by SB20-218. The funding can be used for the PFAS grant program, PFAS takeback program, and PFAS technical assistance.

The PFAS Grant Program, provides funding opportunities to eligible entities through three (3) primary project categories: 

1. Sampling - standard sampling and Independent Environmental Studies;
2. Emergency Assistance - to communities and water systems affected by PFAS; and 
3. Infrastructure -water system infrastructure for the treatment of PFAS and prevention strategies for upstream sources of PFAS.

The sampling category will fund eligible participating entities to work with a state contractor or work independently to develop sampling plans to sample for PFAS. Drinking water providers can also utilize this funding opportunity to test their treated drinking water and source waters. 

The general eligible entities for the PFAS grant program are listed below:

• Governmental agencies
• Tribes
• Public water systems
• Private not-for-profit public water systems
• Counties or local health departments
• Fire Departments
• Not-for-profit Non-governmental organizations
• Domestic Wastewater Treatment Works
• Non-profit educational institutions

Each PFAS grant program category has different criteria and eligible entities must review the request for proposals material and complete the required documents located on the following website PFAS Projects webpage under the PFAS grant program heading. 

The application period for the sampling category of the PFAS Grant Program opened in early December 2021. The application period will end on April 1st, 2022 and all applicants will be notified by April 29th, 2022. A potential rolling application for any remaining funds will begin in May, 2022. 

Any questions may be directed towards the cdphe_wqcd_pfas_grant@state.co.us email. Please use the subject line “Grant Program Questions.”

Click here for more information about the PFAS Grant Program.

➽ Sierra Mitchell, PFAS Program Coordinator