What is the Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program?
Congress amended the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 1987 to establish the section 319 Nonpoint Point Source (NPS) Management Program because it recognized the need for greater federal leadership to help focus state and local NPS control efforts. Under section 319, States, Territories and Indian Tribes (hereinafter referred to as just “States”) follow a two-step process to qualify for grant money under section 319(h). First, States must complete a NPS assessment report, identifying NPS water quality problems. Second, States are to develop NPS management programs describing what they are going to do about their nonpoint water quality problems over the next 4 years. As of Nov. 1994, all States, as well as six Tribal governments and six Territories, have completed assessments and management programs. Since 1990, EPA Regional offices have funded projects under section 319(h) to supplement States’ ongoing NPS management programs. As of the end of fiscal year 1996, EPA has awarded about $470 millio
