SACRAMENTO – Secretary for Natural Resources Mike Chrisman has announced that applications are currently being accepted for the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEMP) 2009-10 grant cycle.

The program offers grants to local, state, and federal governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations for projects to mitigate environmental impacts caused by new or modified state transportation facilities.

Grants, which generally will be limited to $350,000 per project, will be given in three categories:

• Highway landscape and urban forestry: Projects designed to offset vehicular emissions of carbon dioxide through the planting of trees and other suitable plants.

• Resource lands: Projects for the acquisition, restoration, or enhancement of watersheds, wildlife habitat, wetlands, forests, or other significant natural areas within or near the right of way for transportation improvements.

• Roadside recreation: Projects for the acquisition and/or development of roadside recreational opportunities.

Applications for the 2009-10 grant cycle must be received by the Natural Resources Agency no later than 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16.

The Natural Resources Agency will submit recommended projects to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) for funding consideration in early 2010. It is anticipated that the CTC will give preliminary approval to projects to be funded in late spring 2010.

Two technical assistance workshops will be held to help applicants in preparing grant applications. The Northern California meeting will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, in Sacramento at the Veteran's Building, 1227 O St., fifth floor, room 518.

Please RSVP to reserve your space by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

To access the EEMP Guidelines and Application and learn more about evaluation criteria and requirements, visit http://www.resources.ca.gov/eem/ .

For more information about EEMP project administration, visit the Caltrans Web site at http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/EEM/homepage.htm .

Hardcopies of the application are also available from the Natural Resources Agency, 1416 Ninth St., Suite 1311, Sacramento, CA 95814, or by contacting the EEMP Coordinator at (916) 651-7593 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .