Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program
In terms of water quality, what happens on the land is just as important as what happens in the water. Nonpoint source pollution, or polluted runoff, is thought to be the greatest threat to coastal waters, which is why Congress mandated shared responsibilities for this issue between land use decision makers and water quality agencies.
The Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program, which was established in 1990 by Section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments, is jointly administered by NOAA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The goal is to reduce polluted runoff to coastal waters.
The program establishes a set of management measures for states to use in controlling runoff from six main sources: agriculture, forestry, urban areas, marinas, hydromodification (shoreline and stream channel modification), wetlands, and riparian and vegetated treatment systems. State authorities ensure implementation. All coastal and Great Lakes states and territories that participate in the National Coastal Zone Management Program are required to develop coastal nonpoint pollution control programs.
Some of the land use practices recommended to reduce runoff include preserving natural vegetation, avoiding development within sensitive habitats and erosion-prone areas, and limiting impervious surfaces such as pavement, decking, and roof tops as much as possible.
Guidance Documents
- Guidance Specifying Management Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters (EPA 1993)
- Program Development and Approval Guidance (NOAA and EPA 1993)
- Funding Guidance for State/Territory Expenditure of Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program Implementation Funds (NOAA 2006)
Policy Memos
- Flexibility for State Coastal Nonpoint Programs (NOAA and EPA 1995)
- Final Administrative Changes to the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program Guidance (NOAA and EPA 1998)
- Enforceable Policies and Mechanisms for State Coastal Nonpoint Source Programs (NOAA and EPA 2001)
- Policy Clarification on Overlap of 6217 Coastal Nonpoint Programs with Phase I and II Storm Water Regulations (NOAA and EPA 2002)
Decision Memos for State Programs
NOAA and EPA review coastal nonpoint programs. All states were initially approved, with conditions (see “conditional approval findings” under each state link below). States receive full approval for their programs after they satisfy all conditions (see “full approval decision memo” under each state link). Note: If a state or territory does not have an active link to its full approval decision document, it has yet to receive full approval.
- Conditional Approval Findings (6/30/1998)
- Full Approval Decision Document (Pending)
- Conditional Approval Findings (10/3/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (7/24/2003)
- Conditional Approval Findings (6/30/1998)
- Full Approval Decision Document (7/17/2000)
- Conditional Approval Findings (6/3/1998)
- Full Approval Decision Document (11/28/2003)
- Conditional Approval Findings (10/3/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (2/12/2002)
- Conditional Approval Findings (11/18/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (3/27/2008)
- Conditional Approval Findings (6/4/2002)
- Full Approval Decision Document (Pending)
- Conditional Approval Findings (10/3/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (9/26/2007)
- Conditional Approval Findings (6/30/1998)
- Full Approval Decision Document (Pending)
- Conditional Approval Findings (8/23/16)
- Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the State of Illinois Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program and Finding of No Significant Impact (8/22/16)
- Conditional Approval Findings (1/15/2008)
- Full Approval Decision Document (Pending)
- Conditional Approval Findings (6/30/1998)
- Full Approval Decision Document (Pending)
- Conditional Approval Findings (2/23/1998)
- Full Approval Decision Document (7/8/2003)
- Conditional Approval Findings (10/3/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (12/13/1999)
- Conditional Approval Findings (9/24/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (10/3/2001)
- Conditional Approval Findings (9/24/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (Pending)
- Conditional Approval Findings (3/11/2003)
- Full Approval Decision Document (7/27/2006)
- Conditional Approval Findings (11/18/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (Pending)
- Conditional Approval Findings (11/18/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (10/4/2001)
- Conditional Approval Findings (11/18/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (1/28/2010)
- Conditional Approval Findings (11/18/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (12/5/2006)
- Conditional Approval Findings (2/23/1998)
- Full Approval Decision Document (5/5/2003)
- Conditional Approval Findings (10/3/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (8/20/2003)
- Conditional Approval Findings (6/4/2002)
- Full Approval Decision Document (Pending)
- Conditional Approval Findings (1/13/1998)
- Proposed Finding that Oregon Has Not Submitted a Fully Approvable Program (12/20/2013)
- Public Comments Received on Proposed Findings
- Oregon's Response to Proposed Findings (3/20/2014)
- Cover Letter for January 30, 2015 Findings Document (1/30/2015)
- Finding that Oregon Has Not Submitted a Fully Approvable Program (1/30/2015)
- Response to Comments on Proposed Finding (1/30/2015)
- Docket for Finding that Oregon Has Not Submitted a Fully Approvable Program (1/30/2015)
- Conditional Approval Findings (10/3/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (5/16/2001)
- Conditional Approval Findings (11/18/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (10/19/2000)
- Conditional Approval Findings (9/24/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (4/20/2000)
- Conditional Approval Findings (2/23/1998)
- Full Approval Decision Document (3/27/2008)
- Conditional Approval Findings (3/31/2003)
- Full Approval Decision Document (Pending)
- Conditional Approval Findings (11/18/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (2/12/2002)
- Conditional Approval Findings (2/23/1998)
- Full Approval Decision Document (5/16/2001)
- Conditional Approval Findings (6/30/1998)
- Full Approval Decision Document (Pending)
- Conditional Approval Findings (9/24/1997)
- Full Approval Decision Document (1/30/2003)
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