Oversight remedial action grants & loans
Local governments can apply for a grant or loan to help clean up hazardous waste sites supervised by Ecology or EPA under a legal order or decree.
Every even-numbered year, we work with local governments to understand the 10-year cost of critical cleanup work in Washington. Their responses inform our biennial budget request to the governor and Legislature. Our grant managers coordinate applications for grants and loans that receive funding every two years in the approved biennial budget.
Funding cycle
- Amount of funding available: Established with each enacted capital budget
- Grant award limit: None
- Amount of matching funds required: 10%–50%, but we may not fund all the eligible project costs
Applications are not being accepted at this time.
The next solicitation will occur in the first quarter of 2026 for potential funding in the 2027–2029 biennium. Guidance and instructions will be published no later than January 2026.
Funding is available for the following entities:
- Local governments conducting cleanup actions under an order or decree. For more details, see WAC 173‑322A‑320(2).
- Interim actions
- Remedial investigations
- Feasibility studies and remedy selection
- Engineering design and remedy construction
- Operation and maintenance, or monitoring of constructed remedy for up to one year
- Landfill closures, if required as remedial actions
More information about this funding program
ORAG Updates
The Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) Capital Account is facing a significant shortfall. There is little to no capacity for new investments from the MTCA Capital Account beginning in 2027-29. While cleanup funding is decreasing, demand for ORAGs remains high. Due to limited funding, need to align with legislative expectations, and to support the maximum number of cleanups possible statewide, Ecology is updating several policies and criteria regarding this grant type.
Updates to this grant type include:
- Refining substantial progress review, especially regarding requests for construction phase funding to ensure the timeliness of the request.
- Standardizing and limiting recipient staff time to 10% of the grant or $100,000, whichever is less to fund the maximum number of projects.
- Providing an Eastern Washington option to ensure a statewide program to the extent possible.
- Scored criteria updates for time sensitive construction windows, funding gaps, Site Hazard Assessment and Ranking Process (SHARP), highly impacted community considerations, and general clarity.
Additional ORAG related links:
- 2025–2027 Remedial Action Grant Funding Program Guidelines
- Economically Disadvantaged Cities, Towns, and Counties in Washington State (2025–2027 Biennium)
- Past opportunities
Cultural resource review
For ground-disturbing remedial actions to be eligible for grant or loan funding, Ecology or another state or federal agency must consult with the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and affected Tribes before cleanup actions begin. Read more about our cultural resource review requirement.
Funded Oversight Remedial Action Grants
See lists of Oversight Remedial Action Grants funded in the current and previous biennium.
Related links
Contact information
Laurie Dahmen
Competitive Grant Program Supervisor
laurie.dahmen@ecy.wa.gov
360-628-7499