$18 Million Targeted For Water Quality Monitoring
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to allocate a FY 2006 increase of $18 million for national water quality monitoring. 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) which dispenses funds through a prescribed allotment formula.
Under the revised process, EPA will be better able to target the additional funds to help carry out priority areas that include monitoring for pollutants.
The process requires the agency to consult with states and interstate agencies prior to finalizing the allocation formula. The action was taken in response to President Bush’s FY 2006 budget calling for an increase in funding of water-quality monitoring nationwide.