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<, N c.o N ~ FACT SHEET ;!t':i;';;t";:;!1,;:IIIIII;11JIIII;II,ililr;lll':!;;I, :.~tit;::':;:. ;'!:f~i!!i!!;~~ :;!;;I~lili.IIII;IIIIII,t:;::i:;li,lll,::II'I':II;;,11:'!~i'li!':i,liil!Il:~I~!:li,:I~~;~ WHAT IS 319? Many references are made to "319," What it refers to is Section 319 of the Water Quality Act of 1m, which amended the original Clean Water Act. Section 319 is a new addition to the Act For the first time, Congress specifically established a nonpoint source (NPS) control program. Nonpoint sources of pollution are thoSe which are diffuse in nature; there usually is no specific point of discharge, such as a pipe outlet. Generally, pollutants are carried by water over the ground surface into water bodies or, are leached into the ground water. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS OF 319? Section 319 requires each state to prepare two documents: an assessment report wliich describes the condition of the waters in th~ state, and a management program which describes how the water quality problems will be addressed. Colorado has prepared both documents, and both have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agen- cy(EPA).' WHAT DOES 319 PROVIDE? The Wate~ Quality Act provides for a grant program to be established, which mayallOC!lte funds to states with approved assessment reports and management prograDIS. Thegraut may provide up to 60 percent ofthe cost of implementing the managment program. The remaining 4Q percent must come from non-federal sources, generally state and local , funds~ The 40 percell.t also does not need to be cash; it may be in the form of in-kind ser- vices, Authorization is given in Section 319 to fund demonstration projects which improve or protect water quality from nonpoint source pollution. In 1990, for the first time since the Act was approved, Congress appropriated funds for carrying out the provisions of the sec- tion. The grant may be used for implementing enforcement, regulatory and ground water ac- tivities, education, training, technical assistance, demonstration projects and technology, transfer programs. Administrative costs of a project are limited to no more than 10 per- cent ofthegraut. WHATPROJECTSARE ELIGIBLE FOR 319 GRANTS? In order to be eligible for a 319 grant, a potential project must first specifically affect a stream or water body listed in the state assessment report. The prqject must then be listed as a priority in the state management program, This ensures that the grant money will be directed to those situations which are priorites of the state to receive treatment. I ~