CWA §319 Grant Guidance Update

Note: This page reflects the process and reference documents for the guidelines update process. The updated 2024 NPS Grants Guidance was released on June 24, 2024. The new guidelines document and information can be found here. This page will be retired 1 year after publication, but reference documents will be available in the Federal Register Docket, found here. 

2023/2024 Guidelines Update Process Reference Documents:

In 2023, EPA engaged state and territorial grantees, as well as the broader NPS community, to better integrate equity and climate resilience in the CWA §319 guidelines. EPA convened EPA/Grantee workgroups to discuss themes identified by equity workgroups in 2022, as well as climate change and resiliency considerations as they relate to the guidelines. Reports from the Guidelines Workgroups are as follows:

• National Elements Workgroup Report (pdf) (331.54 KB, July 2023)
• NPS Management Plan and Watershed-based Plan Workgroup Report (pdf) (320.52 KB, July 2023)
• Basic Grant Elements Workgroup Report (pdf) (297.97 KB, July 2023)
• Workplan Elements Workgroup Report (pdf) (434.76 KB, July 2023)

A public comment period was open in 2023 for review of Draft Revision for Public Comment: Nonpoint Source Program and Grants Guidelines for States and Territories (pdf) (2.23 MB, October 30, 2023) . Note that this version of the document is for historical reference and process documentation only; please see the finalized new guidelines on the CWA §319 Current Guidance page. Responses to comments are as follows:

• Response to Comments in the 2024 Updated Nonpoint Source Program and Grants Guidelines for States and Territories (pdf) (351.32 KB, May 4, 2024, EPA 841-R-24-008)
  This document provides the EPA’s response to public comments on The Draft Revision for Public Comment of the Nonpoint Source Program Guidelines for States and Territories (referred to as the “Draft Revision for Public Comment”) provided during October 30, 2023 through December 31, 2023. The EPA received responses from 19 states, one tribe, three national water organizations, and three state or local organizations.

Questions and Answers related to the updated guidelines and other programmatic or administrative procedures are updated periodically.

If you have questions about the proceedings of this process, please reach out to Cyd Curtis (curtis.cynthia@epa.gov).