§300h–8 State ground water protection grants

Summary

The Administrator can give money to a State to set up and run a program that coordinates and fully protects the State’s ground water. Not later than 1 year after August 6, 1996, and each year after that, the Administrator must publish guidance on how States apply and what key program parts should include. Grants go to States with approved applications. The Administrator decides grant size by looking at how much ground water the State has and how likely the grant will lead to lasting protection. Grants may fund new prevention ideas but may not pay to clean up contaminated ground water. Each fiscal year at least 1 percent of the program funds must go to each State with an approved application. A grant can cover no more than 50 percent of eligible program costs for one year; the State must pay at least 50 percent. The Administrator must evaluate the funded State programs and report to Congress not later than 3 years after August 6, 1996, and every 3 years after that on ground water quality and program effectiveness. There is authority to spend $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1997 through 2003.