1999-04-22_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINNES®TA P®I.I.LTTI®N C®NTR®I~ AGENCY' GIJII~ANCE F'®R I)EVEI~®PI1~1G 319 GRANT PR®P®SAI,S Ii~Iarch 1999 13ack~round Congress enacted section 319 of the Clean Water Act in 1987, establishing a national program to control nonpoint sources of water pollution. Nonpoint source pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground and carrying natural and human-made pollutants into lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, estuaries, other coastal waters, and ground water. Atmospheric deposition and hydrologic modification area also sources of nonpoint pollution. Purpose of Program The 319 Grant Prograrri offers funds for nonpoint source implementation projects under section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The goal of this grant funding is to protect and improve the quality of Minnesota's water resources by implementing nonpoint source pollution controi measures that have been identified in the 1994 Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides the funds, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) administers the program, and a team of staff from state, federal and local resource agencies reviews the projects and ._.ukes the final decisions on funding. Local units of government, Tribal nations, state agencies, soil and water conservation districts, lake associations, nonprofit organizations, universities and colleges, and other public and private entities are eligible to apply for these funds. Application Period The application period opens IVlarch 17, 1999, and proposals are due to the MPCA by April 28, 1999. Proposals will be prioritized and projects will be notified in late summer or early fall. A grant application is made to EPA for the funds and the grant becomes available to projects some time during the following year. Level of F'undin~ This year, approximately $3,000,000 will be available for this program. The funding is dependent on the federal budget and is based on the Federal Fiscal Year, which is from October 1 to September 30. Projects are required to provide 50 percent nonfederal matching funds. This means, if the total project cost is $20,000, the grant request of $ i G,000 trust be matched with at least $10,000 of local and state funds, either cash or inkind. Program Requirements Projects eligible to compete for available funds are those that address a nonpoint source pollution issue and offer a means of moving toward resolution of the problem. Flanning, program development or diagnostic studies are not eligible. Projects designed for monitoring purposes only, or point source projects that involve storm sewers or pipes are not eligible. More information on program requirements and the proposal format are also available electronically from the MPCA's web site located at www.pca.state.nut.us.