U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that under the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) grant program, $12.8 million will be granted to 31 states this year. The grants will be used to fund the construction and installation of sewage pumpout facilities and floating restrooms, to purchase pumpout boats and to provide educational programs for recreational boaters.

The program, which began in the early 1990s, has awarded more than $172 million to states to install thousands of sewage pumpout stations. In addition, many states now rely on mobile sewage pumpout boats to make the sewage collection process more efficient and convenient for boaters. A number of states have begun installing floating restrooms and pumpout stations in high-use areas of lakes and coastal waters.

“Clean Vessel Act funding supports the construction of facilities in communities that depend largely on recreational boating for their economy—and depend on clean water for their health and the health of their environment,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acting Director Rowan Gould said in a statement. “In a time of economic uncertainty, these grants also provide an immediate investment in construction jobs and infrastructure that provide lasting value for recreational boaters, state agencies and local communities.”

Funding for the CVA program comes from the Sport Fishing and Boating Trust Fund, formerly known as the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, which is supported by excise taxes levied on certain fishing and boating equipment and boat fuels.

For a complete list of all 31 states receiving grants and their programs, visit www.fws.gov.