Time Reduced to Apply for Water Quality
Funding
For Immediate Release
July 29, 1996 |
Contact: Rick Mollahan
217-782-3362
TDD: 217-782-9143 |
Springfield, Ill. -- Organizations and governmental
units seeking funding for nonpoint source water pollution
projects will have less time to apply for Section 319 grants next
year, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
announced. To comply with new federal schedules, applications
must be received by Feb. 1, 1997, the Illinois EPA said. The
previous deadline had been May 1, 1997.
Illinois receives funds through Section 319 of the Clean Water
Act for the state's Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Management
Program. The funds support a 60/40 division of costs (60 percent
federal and 40 percent local or non-federal) for programs to
increase awareness of NPS pollution and implement programs to
reduce it. Nonpoint source pollution is the runoff of pollutants
from sources such as agricultural areas, construction sites,
urban runoff, resource extraction activities like mining, and
hydrologic modifications such as stream channelization.
Precipitation moving over and through the ground in these areas
picks up pollutants and carries them into rivers, lakes and
groundwater.
The 319 program works cooperatively with local units of
government and organizations to protect the state's water quality
by controlling NPS pollution. The program includes funding for
demonstrating cost-effective corrective and preventive best
management practices on a watershed-wide scale.
Project categories eligible for funding under the Section 319
program include information/education, agriculture, construction,
groundwater, hydrologic modification, resource extraction,
toxicants, urban runoff, and wetlands.
Additional information or 319 applications can be obtained by
writing the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of
Water Planning Section, P.O. Box 19276, Springfield, Ill
62794-9276, or by calling 217-782-3362.
|
