Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§300j–2 Grants for State Programs
Title 42 › CHAPTER 6A — PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER XII — SAFETY OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS › Part E — General Provisions › § 300j–2
Summary
The federal government gives money to States to run and enforce programs that protect drinking water and underground water. States must apply in the form the Administrator requires. For a State’s first drinking-water grant, the State must create the program and take main enforcement responsibility within one year. Grants pay up to 75% of a State’s costs for the first year. Each year the Administrator divides the money among States by population, area, number of water systems, and similar factors, and no State gets less than 1% of the yearly grant money (with some exceptions). The Administrator must tell a State whether its application is approved within 90 days or by the start of the fiscal year, whichever is later. The Administrator may hold back or reserve funds if the federal government takes over enforcement in a State, and may, in some cases, take from State loan funds to make up shortfalls and then carry out the program activities itself. There was a limited waiver option through fiscal year 1979 that let States get grants before fully taking enforcement if they were making good progress and were likely to meet the October 1, 1979 deadline; special rules determined how that money was paid out. The law also allows grants for underground water source protection under similar rules (States must take primary enforcement within two years after EPA creates the rules; grants cover up to 75% of first-year costs). It authorizes $125,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021 for drinking-water grants. For underground water grants the law lists past authorized amounts (for example, $5,000,000 for 1976, $7,500,000 for 1977, $10,000,000 for 1978–1979, $7,795,000 for 1980, $18,000,000 for 1981, $21,000,000 for 1982, $19,700,000 for 1987–1988, $20,850,000 for 1989–1991, and $15,000,000 for 1992–2003). The Administrator may also give New York money for watershed demonstration projects, paying up to 50% of project costs, with a required State report within five years and up to $15,000,000 available each fiscal year from 2003 through 2010. Definitions: public water system supervision program — a State program to adopt and enforce drinking-water rules and keep required records; underground water source protection program — a State program to adopt and enforce underground injection control rules and keep required records.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §300j–2
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Public water systems supervision programs; applications for grants; allotment of sums; waiver of grant restrictions; notice of approval or disapproval of application; authorization of appropriations
(1)From allotments made pursuant to paragraph (4), the Administrator may make grants to States to carry out public water system supervision programs.
(2)No grant may be made under paragraph (1) unless an application therefor has been submitted to the Administrator in such form and manner as he may require. The Administrator may not approve an application of a State for its first grant under paragraph (1) unless he determines that the State—
(A)has established or will establish within one year from the date of such grant a public water system supervision program, and
(B)will, within that one year, assume primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems within the State.
No grant may be made to a State under paragraph (1) for any period beginning more than one year after the date of the State’s first grant unless the State has assumed and maintains primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems within the State. The prohibitions contained in the preceding two sentences shall not apply to such grants when made to Indian Tribes.
(3)A grant under paragraph (1) shall be made to cover not more than 75 per centum of the grant recipient’s costs (as determined under regulations of the Administrator) in carrying out, during the one-year period beginning on the date the grant is made, a public water system supervision program.
(4)In each fiscal year the Administrator shall, in accordance, with regulations, allot the sums appropriated for such year under paragraph (5) among the States on the basis of population, geographical area, number of public water systems, and other relevant factors. No State shall receive less than 1 per centum of the annual appropriation for grants under paragraph (1): Provided, That the Administrator may, by regulation, reduce such percentage in accordance with the criteria specified in this paragraph: And provided further, That such percentage shall not apply to grants allotted to Guam, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands.
(5)The prohibition contained in the last sentence of paragraph (2) may be waived by the Administrator with respect to a grant to a State through fiscal year 1979 but such prohibition may only be waived if, in the judgment of the Administrator—
(A)the State is making a diligent effort to assume and maintain primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems within the State;
(B)the State has made significant progress toward assuming and maintaining such primary enforcement responsibility; and
(C)there is reason to believe the State will assume such primary enforcement responsibility by October 1, 1979.
The amount of any grant awarded for the fiscal years 1978 and 1979 pursuant to a waiver under this paragraph may not exceed 75 per centum of the allotment which the State would have received for such fiscal year if it had assumed and maintained such primary enforcement responsibility. The remaining 25 per centum of the amount allotted to such State for such fiscal year shall be retained by the Administrator, and the Administrator may award such amount to such State at such time as the State assumes such responsibility before the beginning of fiscal year 1980. At the beginning of each fiscal years 1979 and 1980 the amounts retained by the Administrator for any preceding fiscal year and not awarded by the beginning of fiscal year 1979 or 1980 to the States to which such amounts were originally allotted may be removed from the original allotment and reallotted for fiscal year 1979 or 1980 (as the case may be) to States which have assumed primary enforcement responsibility by the beginning of such fiscal year.
(6)The Administrator shall notify the State of the approval or disapproval of any application for a grant under this section—
(A)within ninety days after receipt of such application, or
(B)not later than the first day of the fiscal year for which the grant application is made,
whichever is later.
(7)Authorization.—
For the purpose of making grants under paragraph (1), there are authorized to be appropriated $125,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
(8)Reservation of funds by the administrator.— (9) State loan funds.—
If the Administrator assumes the primary enforcement responsibility of a State public water system supervision program, the Administrator may reserve from funds made available pursuant to this subsection an amount equal to the amount that would otherwise have been provided to the State pursuant to this subsection. The Administrator shall use the funds reserved pursuant to this paragraph to ensure the full and effective administration of a public water system supervision program in the State.
(b)Underground water source protection programs; applications for grants; allotment of sums; authorization of appropriations
(1)From allotments made pursuant to paragraph (4), the Administrator may make grants to States to carry out underground water source protection programs.
(2)No grant may be made under paragraph (1) unless an application therefor has been submitted to the Administrator in such form and manner as he may require. No grant may be made to any State under paragraph (1) unless the State has assumed primary enforcement responsibility within two years after the date the Administrator promulgates regulations for State underground injection control programs under section 300h of this title. The prohibition contained in the preceding sentence shall not apply to such grants when made to Indian Tribes.
(3)A grant under paragraph (1) shall be made to cover not more than 75 per centum of the grant recipient’s cost (as determined under regulations of the Administrator) in carrying out, during the one-year period beginning on the date the grant is made, and underground water source protection program.
(4)In each fiscal year the Administrator shall, in accordance with regulations, allot the sums appropriated for such year under paragraph (5) among the States on the basis of population, geographical area, and other relevant factors.
(5)For purposes of making grants under paragraph (1) there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, $7,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1977, $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1978 and 1979, $7,795,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, $18,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1981, and $21,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1982. For the purpose of making grants under paragraph (1) there are authorized to be appropriated not more than the following amounts:
Fiscal year: | Amount
1987 | $19,700,000
1988 | 19,700,000
1989 | 20,850,000
1990 | 20,850,000
1991 | 20,850,000
1992–2003 | 15,000,000.
(c)Definitions
For purposes of this section: (1)
(2)The term “underground water source protection program” means a program for the adoption and enforcement of a program which meets the requirements of regulations under section 300h of this title, and for keeping records and making reports required by section 300h–1(b)(1)(A)(ii) of this title. Such term includes, where applicable, a program which meets the requirements of section 300h–4 of this title.
(d)New York City watershed protection program
(1)In general
The Administrator is authorized to provide financial assistance to the State of New York for demonstration projects implemented as part of the watershed program for the protection and enhancement of the quality of source waters of the New York City water supply system, including projects that demonstrate, assess, or provide for comprehensive monitoring and surveillance and projects necessary to comply with the criteria for avoiding filtration contained in 40 CFR 141.71. Demonstration projects which shall be eligible for financial assistance shall be certified to the Administrator by the State of New York as satisfying the purposes of this subsection. In certifying projects to the Administrator, the State of New York shall give priority to monitoring projects that have undergone peer review.
(2)Report
Not later than 5 years after the date on which the Administrator first provides assistance pursuant to this paragraph, the Governor of the State of New York shall submit a report to the Administrator on the results of projects assisted.
(3)Matching requirements
Federal assistance provided under this subsection shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the protection program being carried out for any particular watershed or ground water recharge area.
(4)Authorization
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this subsection for each of fiscal years 2003 through 2010, $15,000,000 for the purpose of providing assistance to the State of New York to carry out paragraph (1).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2018—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 115–270 substituted “$125,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021” for “$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1997 through 2003”. 2004—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 108–328 substituted “2003 through 2010” for “1997 through 2003”. 1996—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 104–182, § 124(1), inserted heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “For purposes of making grants under paragraph (1) there are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1976, $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1977, $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1978, $45,000,000 for fiscal year 1979, $29,450,000 for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1980, $32,000,000 for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1981, and $34,000,000 for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1982. For the purposes of making grants under paragraph (1) there are authorized to be appropriated not more than the following amounts: “Fiscal year:Amount 1987$37,200,000 198837,200,000 198940,150,000 199040,150,000 199140,150,000”. Subsec. (a)(8), (9). Pub. L. 104–182, § 124(2), added pars. (8) and (9). Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 104–182, § 120(c), inserted table item relating to fiscal years 1992 through 2003. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–182, § 128, added subsec. (d). 1986—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 99–339, § 302(d)(1), inserted provision that prohibitions contained in preceding two sentences not apply to such grants when made to Indian Tribes. Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 99–339, § 301(b), authorized appropriations for grants under par. (1) of not more than $37,200,000 for fiscal years 1987 and 1988 and of not more than $40,150,000 for fiscal years 1989 to 1991. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 99–339, § 302(d)(2), inserted provision that prohibition contained in preceding sentence not apply to such grants when made to Indian Tribes. Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 99–339, § 301(c), authorized appropriations for grants under par. (1) of not more than $19,700,000 for fiscal years 1987 and 1988 and of not more than $20,850,000 for fiscal years 1989 to 1991. 1980—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 96–502, § 4(d), substituted provisions that no grant may be made to any State under par. (1) unless the State has assumed primary
Enforcement
responsibility within two years after the date the Administrator promulgates
Regulations
for State underground injection control programs under section 300h of this title for provisions that the Administrator may not approve an application of a State for its first grant under par. (1) unless he determines that the State has established or will establish within two years from the date of such grant an underground water source protection, and will, within such two years, assume primary
Enforcement
responsibility for underground water sources within the State and that no grant may be made to a State under par. (1) for any period beginning more than two years after the date of the State’s first grant unless the State has assumed and maintains primary
Enforcement
responsibility for underground water sources within the State. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 96–502, § 2(c), inserted provision that such term includes, where applicable, a program which meets requirements of section 300h–4 of this title. 1979—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 96–63, § 2(a), authorized appropriation of $29,450,000, $32,000,000, and $34,000,000 for fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 1980, through 1982, respectively. Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 96–63, § 2(b), authorized appropriation of $7,795,000, $18,000,000, and $21,000,000 for fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 1980, through 1982, respectively. 1977—Subsec. (a)(5), (6). Pub. L. 95–190, § 5(a), added pars. (5) and (6). Former par. (5) redesignated (7). Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 95–190, §§ 2(b), 5(a), redesignated former par. (5) as (7) and authorized appropriations for fiscal years 1978 and 1979. Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 95–190, § 2(c), inserted provisions authorizing appropriations for fiscal years 1978 and 1979.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 300j–2
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110