Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Chemicals and Toxics
    • Climate Change
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Environmental Justice
    • Greener Living
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Pesticides
    • Radon
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Guidance
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • EPA Administrator
    • Organization Chart
    • Staff Directory
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Jobs and Internships
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Lab and Research Centers
Polluted Runoff: Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution
Contact Us

Tribal Nonpoint Source Program

  • Overview
  • Current Grant Info
  • Historic Grant Info
  • Program Highlights
  • Resources and Training

On this page:

  • Overview
  • Tribal 319 Eligibility
  • EPA Tribal NPS Contacts 

Overview

Federally recognized tribal lands cover over 110,000 square miles of the United States. Unlike a single state these lands are held by more than 570 distinct Indian tribes, each with a unique set of water resources used for recreation, transportation, fishing, aquaculture, drinking water, ceremonial purposes, and more. Each tribe faces a unique set of challenges in protecting these resources. Together, Indian tribes are responsible for protecting and restoring tens of thousands of square miles of rivers, streams, and lakes, as well as ground water. Tribes across the country are using Clean Water Act Section 319 grants to assess and manage nonpoint source (NPS) pollution.

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and ground waters.   For more information on types and categories of nonpoint source pollution  go to the Learn section to the Types of Nonpoint Source water pollution. 

Under CWA §319, EPA provides grants and technical assistance to support tribal environmental programs in assessing and managing NPS pollution problems and threats. A wide range of activities are eligible for funding under §319, including but not limited to: NPS training for tribal staff, developing watershed-based plans, riparian planting, livestock exclusion fencing, lake protection and restoration activities, NPS ordinance development, outreach and education, and many more. 

Tribal Eligibility Under CWA Section 319

Tribes and intertribal consortia must meet the following four conditions to be eligible to apply for CWA section 319 funding:

  1. Be federally recognized by the Secretary of the Interior
  2. Have an approved NPS assessment report in accordance with CWA section 319(a)
  3. Have an approved NPS management program in accordance with CWA section 319(b)
  4. Be approved for treatment in a similar manner as a state (TAS) in accordance with CWA section 518(e)

Of the 574 federally recognized tribes, approximately 330 meet the requirements above to apply for TAS. As of federal fiscal year 2022, a total of 210 tribes and intertribal consortia are eligible to apply for §319 grants. Tribes interested in developing NPS pollution management programs using Section 319 funds should contact their EPA regional office for information on how to apply for TAS. More information about the Tribal NPS Program can be found in EPA's Handbook for Developing and Managing Tribal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program (PDF) (182 pp, 8.6MB).

There are currently 210 federally recognized tribes with EPA-approved nonpoint source programs under Clean Water Act Section 319.

EPA Tribal NPS Contacts

  • EPA Region 1 -- Boston (serving CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT)
    Bessie Wright (wright.elizabeth@epa.gov)
    (617) 918-1679

  • EPA Region 2 -- New York City (serving NJ, NY, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
    Aimee Boucher (boucher.aimee@epa.gov)
    (212) 637-3837

  • EPA Region 3 -- Philadelphia (serving DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, and WV)
    *There are currently no §319-eligible tribes in EPA Region 3.

  • EPA Region 4 -- Atlanta (serving AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, and TN)
    Sharon Brown (brown.sharon@epa.gov)
    (404) 562-9269

  • EPA Region 5 -- Chicago (serving IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI)
    Janette Marsh (marsh.janette@epa.gov)
    (312) 886-4856
  • EPA Region 6 -- Dallas (serving AR, LA, NM, OK, and TX)
    Nikole Witt (witt.nikole@epa.gov)
    (214) 665-2781

  • EPA Region 7 -- Kansas City (serving IA, KS, MO, and NE)
    Kimberly Hill (hill.kimberly@epa.gov)
    (913) 551-7841

  • EPA Region 8 -- Denver (serving CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, and WY)
    Peter Monahan (monahan.peter@epa.gov)
    (303) 312-6946

  • EPA Region 9 -- San Francisco (serving AZ, CA, HI, NV, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau)
    Howard Kahan (kahan.howard@epa.gov)
    (415) 972-3143

  • EPA Region 10 -- Seattle (serving AK, ID, OR, and WA)
    Krista Mendelman (mendelman.krista@epa.gov)
    (206) 553-1571
  • EPA Headquarters  -- Washington, DC
    Steve Epting (epting.steve@epa.gov)
    (202) 566-1074

Tribal NPS Highlights Report

Tribal NPS Highlights Report Cover
Tribal Nonpoint Source Programs: Working to Solve Water Quality Problems (August 2019)
  • Polluted Runoff: NPS Pollution Home
  • Basic Information
  • Types of NPS Pollution
  • Success Stories
  • Using a Watershed Approach
  • Webinars
  • Technical Guidance and Tools
  • Nonpoint Source News-Notes
  • NPSINFO Discussion Forum
  • National NPS Monitoring Program
  • Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA)
  • Grants Reporting and Tracking System (GRTS)
  • 319 Grant program for States and Territories
  • Tribal 319 Grant Program
  • Contacts for NPS Programs
  • Resources for Students and Educators
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on February 25, 2022
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data.gov
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Open Government
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions

Follow.