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Clean Waters Act Section 319:
Laws, Regulations, Treaties
Laws, Regulations, Treaties
Related Links: General Water Laws | Wetlands | Oceans, Coasts, & Estuaries | Watersheds
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Nonpoint Source Management Program - Clean Water Section 319
Congress amended the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 1987 to establish the section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program because it recognized the need for greater federal leadership to help focus State and local nonpoint source efforts. Under section 319, State, Territories, and Indian Tribes receive grant money which support a wide variety of activities including technical assistance, financial assistance, education, training, technology transfer, demonstration projects, and monitoring to assess the success of specific nonpoint source implementation projects.
- Section 319 of the Clean Water Act
Text of section 319 from the CWA. - Process for Applying for 319(h) Funds
- Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Grant Funding History
- Applying for and Administering CWA Section 319 Grants: A Guide for State Nonpoint
Source Agencies
This manual provides an overview of federal grant requirements that will guide state and territory nonpoint source agency staff when applying for and administering grants awarded under the Clean Water Act Section 319. - Section 319 Final Project Reports (PDF) (101 pp, 3.3MB)
This document describes the purpose of section 319 final reports, the information that should be included in the report, examples of especially effective elements from 319 reports, and ways to expand the final report to be used for outreach and education, building partnerships, and many other uses. - Tribal Information
- Section 319 National Monitoring Program
The Section 319 National Monitoring Program projects comprise a small subset of NPS pollution control projects funded under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act as amended in 1987. The goal of the program is to support 20 to 30 watershed projects nationwide that meet a minimum set of project planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation requirements designed to lead to successful documentation of project effectiveness with respect to water quality protection or improvement. -
Section 319 Nonpoint Source National Monitoring Program Successes and Recommendations (November 2000 -- pre-print) (PDF)
The Section 319 National Monitoring Program projects have quantified water quality improvements from nonpoint source controls and strengthened strategies for effective future watershed programs. Highlights are given from each of the 23 Section 319 National Monitoring Program projects. - Section 319 Nonpoint Source Success Stories
This Web site includes the most up-to-date examples of water bodies that have achieved documented water quality improvements that have received Section 319 funding. -
Section 319 Nonpoint Source Success Stories, Volume I
This 1994 document demonstrates the successful implementation of the section 319 Clean Water Act Nonpoint Source program. The report provides examples of successful solutions to a variety of water quality problems caused by nonpoint source pollution. - Section 319 Success Stories: Volume II
This 1997 document is the second volume of Section 319 Success Stories. The document gives examples of success stories that have come with the maturation of state nonpoint source programs. - Section 319 Success Stories: Volume III
This 2002 document is the third volume of Section 319 Success Stories. It contains approximately two new stories per state, highlighting some of the additional successes achieved since the 1997 publication. These stories demonstrate better-defined water quality improvements, as well as growing partnerships and funding sources, as state 319 programs expand and states learn increasingly more from past 319 demonstration projects.
EPA Guidance
- Section 319 Tribal Grants Guidelines
- Nonpoint Source Program and Grants Guidelines for States and Territories |
PDF Version (22 pp, 133K)
(Oct. 23, 2003)
EPA has developed guidelines for States´ implementation of nonpoint source management programs under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act and for the award of Section 319 grants to States to implement those programs. These guidelines apply to grants appropriated by Congress in Fiscal Year 2004 and in subsequent years. The guidelines continue EPA´s policy of focusing a significant portion of Section 319 funds ($100 million annually) to address watersheds where nonpoint source pollution has resulted in impairment of water quality. The remaining funds are to be used by States to assist in their implementation of their broad array of programs and authorities to address all of the water quality threats and impairments caused by nonpoint source pollution. - Supplemental Guidelines for the Award of Section 319 Nonpoint Source
Grants to States and Territories in FY 2003.
EPA has developed guidelines that describe the process and criteria to be used to award Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 nonpoint source grants to States and Territories (hereinafter referred to collectively as "States") in FY 2003. The process and criteria for FY 2003 are similar to those established for FY 2002, but are modified as described in the guidelines. The guidelines continue to emphasize a concentrated focus on the implementation of projects that are designed to improve waters that have been listed as impaired under Section 303(d) of the CWA. - Modifications to Nonpoint Source Reporting Requirements for Section 319 Grants EPA has modified the reporting requirements for the Clean Water Act Section 319 progam, effective for fiscal year 2002. This memorandum, signed September 27, 2001, specifies in detail what these modifications are.
- Supplemental Guidelines for the Award of Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grants to States and
Territories in FY 2002 and Subsequent Years.
EPA has developed guidelines for the award of Clean Water Act Section 319 nonpoint source grants in FY 2002 and subsequent years. The guidelines are intended to assist States and Territories in identifying the process and criteria to be used in distributing Section 319 grants in FY 2002 and subsequent years. The process and criteria for FY 2002 are generally the same as for FY 2001, with only slight modifications. The process and criteria for FY 2003 and beyond provide for a more concentrated focus on the implementation of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) related to NPS pollution. - Supplemental Guidelines for the Award of Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grants in FY 2001
EPA has developed guidelines for the award of Clean Water Act Section 319 nonpoint source grants in FY 2001. The guidelines are intended to assist States, Territories, and Tribes in identifying the process and criteria to be used in distributing FY 2001 319 grants. The process and criteria are generally the same as were used in FY 2000, which are provided in four documents: Nonpoint Source Program and Grants Guidance for Fiscal Years 1997 and Future Years (May 1996); Process and Criteria for Funding State and Territorial Nonpoint Source Management Programs in FY 1999 (August 18, 1998); Funding the Development and Implementation of Watershed Restoration Action Strategies under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act (December 4, 1998); and Supplemental Guidance for the Award of Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grants in FY 2000 (December 21, 1999). The guidance provided by each of these four documents remains fully in effect except to the extent that they are specifically modified in these guidelines. - Supplemental Guidance for the Award of Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grants in FY 2000
- Nonpoint Source Program and Grants Guidance for Fiscal Year 1997 and Future Years
This guidance promotes a new generation of strong partnerships between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State lead nonpoint source agencies. - Process and Criteria for Funding State and Territorial Nonpoint Source Management Programs in
FY 1999
This guidance provides updated information to the Nonpoint Source Program Grants Guidance (link immediately above). The previous guidance remains in effect except for the modifications listed within this link. - Funding the Development and Implementation of Watershed Restoration Action Strategies under Section 319 of
the Clean Water Act
Congress has appropriated an extra $100 million for the development and implementation of Watershed Restoration Action Strategies under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act for fiscal year 1999. This document provides guidance for the allocation and use of those funds. - Process for Approval of Upgraded State and Territorial Nonpoint Source Management Programs and Formal
Recognition of Enhanced Benefit Status
This memorandum reviews the specific process that EPA is using to approve upgraded State and Territorial Nonpoint Source Management Programs and to formally recognize Enhanced Benefits Status, as described in the Nonpoint Source Program and Grants Guidance for Fiscal Years 1997 and Future Years (May 1996--link above). - The Draft Proposed Strategy for Strengthening Nonpoint Source Management
The Draft Proposed Strategy for Strengthening Nonpoint Source Management was presented by EPA, at the Wye River Conference Center, to stakeholders in the National Nonpoint Source Program on October 14, 1997 - Guidance on the Use of Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Authorities to Address Management Needs for
Lakes and Reserviors
This guidance, issued on July 9, 1998, provides information on the eligibility of lake and reservoir restoration and protection activities under section 319 of the CWA. It also encourages the use of other CWA and SDWA authorities for restoring and protec ting lakes and reservoirs. - Questions and Answers on the Relationship Between the Sec. 319 Nonpoint Source Program and the Sec.
314 Clean Lakes Program
This guidance clarifies the relationship between the Clean Water Act section 319 Nonpoint Source Program and the section 314 Clean Lakes Program.
