EPA's fiscal year 1991
budget included $51 million
for grants to states to imple-
ment nonpoint source pollu-
tion control programs under
Section 319 of the Clean Water
Act. This represented an increase
of $11 million over fiscal year 1990.
319 Funding in Region 10 (FY 1990)
#of %of
Category Projects Funding
Program Implementation 17 42
BMP - Development & Evaluation 10 18
Public Information & Education 7 19
Monitoring 3 8
Inventory 4 8
Nonpoint Source Pollution Controls 8 5
Among the projects initiated with 319 funds in
Region 10:
• Implementation of new statewide management
strategies for prevention of groundwater contami-
nation by agricultural chemicals in Idaho.
• Design and implementation of cooperative
monitoring, evaluation and research projects
related to sediment, chemical application and
temperature of aquatic resources on Washington's
forest lands.
• Improvement of riparian areas, control
stormwater and educate and involve the public in
water quality protection in several urban water-
sheds in Oregon.
For more information on the 319 Program, contact
the NPS Program Coordinator...
in Alaska
Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation
Division of Environmental Quality
Water Quality Management Section
PO Box O
Juneau.AK 99611-1800
(907) 465-2653
in Idaho
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Division of Environmental Quality
Water Quality Bureau
1410 North Hilton
Boise, ID 83720
(208) 334-5867
in Oregon
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
811 SW Sixth Avenue
Portland, OR 97204-1309
(503) 229-6893
in Washington
Washington Department of Ecology
Water Quality Program
Mail Stop PV-11
Olympia,WA 98504-8711
(206) 438-7528
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 10
Mail Stop WD-139
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
1-800-424-4-EPA
doc# EPA 910/9-91-044
Region 10
1 200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle WA 981 01
Alaska
Idaho
Oregon
Washington
MASTER
STRATEGIES
For Clean Water
The 319 Program
mm „
1
-------
Controlling nonpoint pollution is like
playing a game of chess. It takes solid
strategies, the right pieces and some
good moves to win.
The Strategy
Federal policy first called
for strategies to control
"point" sources of water
pollution— sewer pipes or
industrial waste outlets— where a single
discharge point could be identified and actions
taken to reduce contamination of water. But with
the passage of the federal Water Quality Act
(WQA) of 1987, new strategies for controlling
nonpoint sources of pollution were sought.
Section 319 of the Water Quality Act autho-
rizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to administer federal grants for developing
and implementing control strategies. Each year,
funds are made available to state and local govern-
ment (including conservation districts, Indian
tribes and non-profit groups) to assist in applying
nonpoint source pollution controls.
• What are nonpoint sources of pollution?
Nonpoint sources are diverse, diffuse and often
difficult to identify and control. Most stem from
everyday human activities such as agriculture,
silviculture and boating. Failing on-site sewage
disposal systems, the improper use and disposal of
pesticides and other common household chemicals,
and erosion at construction sites— these are just a
few of the activities that can generate significant
amounts of nonpoint source pollution.
The Pieces
Like chess, nonpoint
source pollution control relies
on a few basic pieces, used
singly and in combination, to
win the game. Pieces used in the
319 Program are:
• Public Awareness. Raising the level of public
awareness about how nonpoint pollution affects
water quality and people's daily lives. Providing
information and tools to educate and inform people
about the causes and seriousness of nonpoint
pollution.
• Successful Solutions. Sharing information
with states and local governments about practical,
feasible solutions to prevent or control nonpoint
pollution now.
• Financial Forces and Incentives. Helping
examine the economic forces that drive the
behaviors that cause nonpoint pollution problems.
Offering financial incentives that encourage people
to install pollution controls or change land use
practices.
• Regulatory Programs. Assisting states in
taking advantage of federal regulatory programs.
Working to improve the capability of states and
local governments to develop their own regulatory
solutions.
• Good Science. Developing the "tools" states
and local governments need to establish sound
water quality-based programs for nonpoint pollu-
tion control.
The Moves
Through the 319 program,
states and local governments
now design and implement
nonpoint source control
programs that are integrated with
the source control programs of other states.
States are encouraged to develop programs that
build upon related programs such as Clean Lakes,
Estuaries, Wetlands, Ground Water, Toxic Con-
trols and State Revolving Funds and that comple-
ment and increase the effectiveness of state and
local pollution control programs already underway.
EPA also encourages states to coordinate their
programs with those of other federal agencies. For
example, U.S. Department of Agriculture's pro-
grams play an important role in the implementa-
tion of best management practices to reduce
nonpoint source pollution from agriculture.
EPA's specific objectives in awarding 319
grants are to:
• Support state activities that have the
greatest potential of producing early, demonstrable
water quality results
• Award and manage funds in a manner that
encourages and rewards effective performance
• Assist in building the long-term capacity
of states and local governments to address nonpoint
source pollution problems
• Encourage strong interagency coordina-
tion and public involvement to create long-term
program effectiveness
"Through the 319 program, we've developed strategies
for control/ing nonpoint source pollution. Now we must
apply these strategies through watershed-specific non-
point source pollution control projects. We must monitor
the effectiveness of these projects in restoring and protect-
ing water quality throughout the Region 10 states."
Dana Rasmussen, Regional Administrator
EPA, Region 10
------- |