Section 319 NPS Grant Program

The USEPA Clean Water Act Section 319(h) funds are provided only to designated state and tribal agencies to implement their approved nonpoint source management programs. State and tribal nonpoint source programs include a variety of components, including technical assistance, financial assistance, education, training, technology transfer, demonstration projects, and regulatory programs. Each year, EPA awards Section 319(h) funds to states in accordance with a state-by-state allocation formula that EPA has developed in consultation with the states.

Selection of projects for the Section 319 NPS Grant Program in North Carolina is a competitive process. Originally, the grant program was developed to fund innovative nonpoint source (NPS) management strategies intended to be used as demonstrations to others. The USEPA, the granting agency, allocates approximately $5 million for Section 319 in North Carolina; three quarters of which the state designates to competitively-selected projects.

The lead NPS agency for North Carolina is the Division of Water Quality (DWQ). State and local governments, interstate and intrastate agencies, public and private nonprofit organizations and institutions are eligible to apply for Section 319 monies through DWQ.

Non-federal match of 40% of total request - a simplified method to calculate match is to multiply the federal portion of the request by 2 and divide that product by 3, that is take 2/3 of the federal request (the matching funds do not equal forty percent of the federal contribution).
Monitoring for watershed-scale projects and an accompanying quality assurance/control plan.
Reports: quarterly reports and final/closeout.
Project abstract upon selection of project.
Invoices to DWQ in order to receive reimbursement for expenditures (in other words, you pay bills associated with your project and submit an invoice with proof of expenditures and matching funds to DWQ requesting repayment).

Demonstration of innovative Best Management Practices (BMPs).
TMDL Development and Implementation - working hand in hand with DWQ's Modeling and TMDL Unit
Environmental education and technology transfer.
Monitoring Indices of Biologic Integrity as a method to measure biologic impairment
Restoration-on 303(d) listed waterbodies impaired due to NPS pollution

Activity required by a NPDES permit.
Water quantity projects such as dredging.
Purchase of equipment and vehicles.
Cost share unless part of a demonstration project.

A selection committee known as the NPS Workgroup ranks and chooses projects for funding. The NPS Workgroup is a group representing the major NPS agencies in the state. The Workgroup convenes at least twice each year to rank and select appropriate projects based on funds provided by the USEPA Region IV. For requests for proprosals (RFPs), applications, and other supporting documents and forms click on the "Applications & more" link above. Higher priority will be given to projects that address one or more of the following areas:

Demonstrate innovative management practices (structural or nonstructural) and/or new technologies for addressing nonpoint source pollution (preferably initiated in impaired and/or sensitive watersheds like those listed on the 303(d) list).
Educate general public, students, and local elected officials on: causes and impacts of nonpoint source pollution and appropriate management practices (structural or nonstructural) for addressing nonpoint source pollution.
Address watershed-scale issues in a hydrologic unit selected for the Unified Watershed Assessment