Nonpoint Source Pollution
Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution is pollution that comes from diffuse
sources, or sources that do not start at one specific location. NPS Pollution
is, generally, a lot of small amounts of pollutants from several or more
sources that are not major sources alone, but when they are combined they can
cause large pollution issues.
- NPS Pollution differs from and does not include point sources (PS)
that are regulated through the Clean Water Act’s National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). PS are ones that flow from pipes
and have permits issued by states or EPA specifying what can be
discharged. Construction storm water pollution is also now regulated as a
point source, except for those who have been exempted, including
construction disturbing under 1 acre of land and
any development by the oil and gas industry.
- NPS pollution is addressed by Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.
Section 319 describes the process for qualifying for EPA funding to reduce
NPS pollution and how the federal government will dispense that funding.
For States and Tribes to qualify, they must first write an assessment of NPS
of pollution in their watersheds and a management plan for how they in
tend to reduce that pollution. The EPA must then approve these documents
as being appropriate and comprehensive. Once that is complete, States and
Tribes can apply for competitive project funding and non-competitive
program base funding.
- The UMUT has an EPA-approved NPS Assessment Report and Management
Program Plan. They are available to read on the EPA website.
- The UMUT is in the process of developing a watershed plan and
project proposals for various watersheds, and new projects to mitigate NPS
pollution are likely to begin in Fiscal Year 2007.
- Many projects have already been undertaken by the Tribe to mitigate
NPS of water pollution. Read about these in the documents described above.
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Nonpoint
Source Management Program Plan
The UMUT is pursuing activities that
will result in clean water for the Tribe. The purpose of this management
plan is to outline the Tribe’s program for addressing the nonpoint sources
of pollution that were identified in the UMUT NPS Source Assessment.
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