With an extra $18 million for national water quality monitoring in fiscal year 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to allocate funds differently. The funds supplement an existing allocation of approximately $200 million annually to support state, interstate agency and tribal programs to combat water pollution.
The agency is changing the way it allocates funds under the water pollution control grant program (known as Section 106 of the Clean Water Act). The agency allocates the funds through a prescribed allotment formula. Under the revised process, EPA will be able to target these additional funds to help address priorities that include monitoring for pollutants.
The process requires the agency to consult with states and interstate agencies prior to finalizing the allocation formula. This action was taken in response to President Bush's fiscal year 2006 budget calling for an increase in funding of water quality monitoring nationwide.
Source: Water Quality Association
