U S Government Accountability Office

Nonpoint Source Water Pollution U S Government Accountability Office

" Pollution from nonpoint sources-such as runoff from farms or construction sites-remains the leading cause of impairment to the nation's waters. Under section 319 of the Clean Water Act, each year EPA provides grants to states to implement programs and fund projects that address nonpoint source pollution; the program received $165 million in fiscal year 2012. Section 319 includes minimum conditions that states must meet to receive grants. By regulation, EPA's 10 regional offices oversee state programs and are to ensure that states' projects can be feasibly implemented. USDA also has programs to protect water resources. GAO examined (1) states' experiences in funding projects that address nonpoint source pollution, (2) the extent to which EPA oversees the section 319 program and measures its effectiveness, and (3) the extent to which key agricultural programs complement EPA efforts to control such pollution. GAO surveyed project managers, reviewed information from EPA's 10 regional offices on oversight of state programs, and analyzed USDA data. "