6217 Program Guidance

FOREWORD

As part of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990, Congress enacted a new
Section 6217 entitled "Protecting Coastal Waters". This provision requires states with coastal zone
management programs that have received Federal approval under section 306 of the Coastal Zone
Management Act (CZMA), to develop and implement Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control
Programs. These coastal nonpoint programs are to be used to control sources of nonpoint pollution
which impact coastal water quality.
Section 6217 requires coastal states to submit their coastal nonpoint programs to the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) for approval. Failure to submit an approvable program will result in a state losing a portion
of its Federal funding under section 306 of the CZMA and section 319 of the Clean Water Act.
This document, developed by NOAA and EPA, contains guidance for states in developing and
implementing their coastal nonpoint programs. It describes the requirements that must be met,
including: the geographic scope of the program; the pollutant sources to be addressed; the types of
management measures used; the establishment of critical areas; technical assistance, public
participation, and administrative coordination; and, the process for program submission and Federal
approval. The document also contains the criteria by which NOAA and EPA will review the states'
submissions.
This document should be used in conjunction with the Guidance Specifying Management Measures
for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters published by EPA in January 1993. Copies of
that document can be obtained from EPA, 401 M ST, SW, Washington D.C. 20460.

_________________________
Trudy Coxe
Director

Office of Ocean and

Coastal Resource Management

NOAA

________________________
Robert H. Wayland, III
Director
Office of Wetlands, Oceans
and Watersheds
EPA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

I.

PURPOSE AND INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

II.

OVERVIEW OF STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRAM

PROGRAM APPROVA L PROCESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

III.

A.

Statutory Requirem ents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

B.

Section 6217(g) Management Measures Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

C.

Procedures for Program Development and Ap proval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

D.

Federal Support for Coastal Nonpoint Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

SPECIFIC COASTAL NONPOINT PROGRA M REQUIREM ENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

A.

Coordination with Existing Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

B.

Coastal Zone Boundaries and 6217 Management A rea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

C.

Implementation of Management Measures In

Conformity With Section 6217(g) Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

1. Identification of Sources to be Addressed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2. Identification of Management Measures to be Implemented . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

3. Description of the Implementation Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

D.

Requirements fo r Implementation o f Additional

Management Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

1. Identification of Coastal Waters Not Maintaining

or Attaining Water Quality Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Identification of Land Uses Causing or

Threatening Water Q uality Impairments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Identification of Critical Coastal Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Process to Implement Additional Management Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. Selection of Additional Management Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6. Using Innovative Pollutant Trading Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

23

24

25

27

28

30

E.

Technical Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

F.

Public Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

G.

Administrative Coordination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

H.

Enforceable Policies and Mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

1. Regulatory Approaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

2. Non-regulatory Approaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

IV.

PROGRAM SUBMISSION, APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

A. Program Submission and NO AA/EPA Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

iii

B. Threshold Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
C. Conditional Ap provals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
D. Schedule for Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
E. Final Program Approval Standards and Penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

APPENDIX A:
Section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990
APPENDIX B:
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
APPENDIX C:
List of Section 6217(g) Management Measures
APPENDIX D:
List of States and Territories with Approved Coastal Zone Management Programs
APPENDIX E:
Overview of Existing National Efforts to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution
APPENDIX F:
Designa ted Uses and Su pport L evels
APPENDIX G:
State Coastal Nonpoint Program Submission
APPENDIX H:
Demonstrated Benefits of Trading

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Program Development and Approval Guidance

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This document is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) and the

Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program: Program

Development and Approval Guidance for state Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs

(coastal nonpoint programs) developed under section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization

Amendments of 1990 (CZARA). This document should be read in conjunction with EPA's Guidance

Specifying Management Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters, which is

discussed below.

Section 6217 requires states to establish coastal nonpoint programs, which must be approved by both

NOAA and EPA. Once approved, the coastal nonpoint programs will be implemented through

changes to the state nonpoint source pollution program approved by EPA under section 319 of the

Clean Water Act (CWA) and through changes to the state coastal zone management program

approved by NOAA under section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). Beginning in

fiscal year 1996, states that fail to submit an approvable coastal nonpoint program to NOAA and EPA

face statutory reductions in Federal funds awarded under both section 306 of the CZMA and section

319 of the CWA.

The statute and legislative history indicate that the central purpose of section 6217

is to strengthen the links between Federal and state coastal zone management and water quality

programs in order to enhance state and local efforts to manage land use

activities that degrade coastal waters and coastal habitats. This is to be accomplished primarily

through the implementation of: (1) management measures in conformity with guidance published by

EPA under section 6217(g) of CZARA, and (2) additional state-developed management measures as

necessary to achieve and maintain applicable water quality standards.

This Program Development and Approval Guidance sets forth NOAA's and EPA's interpretation of the

statutory requirements for the state coastal nonpoint programs, and is intended to assist states in

developing approvable programs. The document first provides an overview of the legislative goals and

requirements of section 6217. It then provides a description of the criteria that NOAA and EPA will

use when reviewing coastal nonpoint programs for approval based on NOAA's and EPA's

interpretation of CZARA's requirements. Finally, it discusses the program approval process

established by NOAA and EPA. A decision by NOAA and EPA to approve or disapprove a state's

program will be made on the basis of the applicable laws and regulations as applied to the specific facts

presented by the program.

The following is a summary of the requirements for state coastal nonpoint programs.

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Coastal Nonpoint Program

6217(g) Guidance Management Measures and Additional Management
Measures
The statute requires state programs to provide for the implementation of management
measures in conformity with EPA's (g) guidance and for additional management measures
for land uses and critical coastal areas adjacent to impaired or threatened coastal waters.
Implementation of these additional management measures in combination with the basic (g)
management measures must be designed so as to attain and maintain applicable water
quality standards under section 303 of the CWA including protecting designated uses.
(Section 6217(b)(1) and (2)).
In order to meet these requirements, states will need to include the following elements in their coastal
nonpoint programs.
6217(g) Guidance Management Measures
#

An identification of those nonpoint source categories and subcategories that impact coastal
waters for which applicable (g) guidance management measures will be implemented. States
must include a description of and justification for any exclusions from (g) guidance measures.
These exclusions are limited to sources within a category (e.g., agriculture) or subcategory
(e.g., confined animal facilities) which, individually or cumulatively, do not significantly impact
coastal waters.

#

A description of the (g) guidance management measures to be implemented, and the technical
documentation for any alternative measures selected by the state for implementation in lieu of
those in the (g) guidance.

#

A description of the procedures that the state will use to ensure implementation of the
management measures, including operation and maintenance practices, inspection procedures,
certification procedures, and monitoring.

Additional Management Measures
#

An identification of land uses and critical coastal areas that will require additional management
measures.

#

A description of state-developed additional management measures to be implemented to meet
water quality standards and protect designated uses.

Implementation of All Management Measures
#

A description of a state program that ensures implementation of both the (g) guidance
management measures and the additional management measures, including: designation of a
lead state agency for each source category and/or subcategory, a description of the legal
authorities to implement the management measures (i.e., enforceable policies and mechanisms),
and a description of how the lead agency will implement the program.

#

A schedule for full implementation of the (g) guidance management measures within three years
of Federal approval and full implementation of additional management measures within eight

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Program Development and Approval Guidance

years of Federal approval. The latter includes a two year period for evaluating the
implementation of the (g) measures, and three years to implement the necessary additional
measures. New activities will be subject to the applicable management measure requirements
at the time of Federal approval.

6217 Management Area and Coastal Zone Boundary Modification
The statute requires each state to include a proposal to modify its coastal zone boundary as
the coastal management agency deems necessary to implement NOAA's boundary
recommendation.
NOAA has conducted its initial review of each state's coastal boundary. Based on this review, NOAA
will make its recommendation to the states on the area to be included in the coastal nonpoint program
(i.e., the section 6217 management area) in early 1993. NOAA and EPA expect that states will
respond either by modifying the coastal zone boundary to implement NOAA's recommendation or by
identifying other authorities that exist or will be established, as necessary, to implement the coastal
nonpoint program outside the state's current coastal zone boundary but within the 6217 management
area.

Enforceable Policies and Mechanisms
Section 306(d)(16) of the CZMA requires state coastal zone management programs to contain
enforceable policies and mechanisms to implement the applicable requirements of the coastal
nonpoint programs.
In order to satisfy this requirement, states will need to adopt, at a minimum, enforceable policies and
mechanisms to implement the (g) guidance management measures and the additional management
measures. These enforceable policies and mechanisms may be state and local regulatory controls,
and/or non-regulatory incentive programs combined with state enforcement authority.

Program Coordination
The statute requires the coastal nonpoint programs to be coordinated closely with existing
Clean Water Act programs and with approved state coastal zone management plans. In
addition, the statute requires the establishment of coordination mechanisms among state
agencies and between state and local officials responsible for land use programs and
permitting, water quality permitting and enforcement, habitat protection, and public health
and safety.
NOAA and EPA expect state coastal nonpoint programs to be well coordinated with all relevant
Federal, state and local programs including those administered by EPA, NOAA and U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA). In addition, states should establish mechanisms to coordinate the relevant state
and local programs through joint project reviews, memoranda of agreement, or other mechanisms.
Where possible, these mechanisms should build upon existing coordination procedures.

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Coastal Nonpoint Program

Technical Assistance
The statute requires states to provide technical and other assistance to local governments and
the public for implementing the additional management measures.
NOAA and EPA expect states to identify those portions of the coastal nonpoint programs that are to
be implemented by local governments and to include a program to provide technical and other
assistance to local governments and the public in the state coastal nonpoint program.

Public Participation
The statute requires states to provide opportunities for public participation in all aspects of
the coastal nonpoint program.
NOAA and EPA expect that the public will be involved early in the process of developing the coastal
nonpoint program. The state must also provide an opportunity for public comment on the final coastal
nonpoint program prior to submission of the program to NOAA and EPA, and an opportunity to
participate in the implementation of the program.

Program Submission and Approval
States must submit their coastal nonpoint programs to NOAA and EPA for approval within 30 months
of the publication of final management measures guidance (i.e., July 1995). When a state coastal
nonpoint program receives final Federal approval, it will be incorporated automatically into the state's
coastal management and nonpoint programs. NOAA and EPA have established a voluntary threshold
review process to assist states in the development of their programs.

Federal Support for State Coastal Nonpoint Programs
NOAA is authorized under section 6217(f) of CZARA to provide funds to state coastal management
agencies to develop coastal nonpoint programs. In addition, funds may be available under section 319
of the CWA to implement coastal nonpoint programs. NOAA and EPA will also work with the states
to identify other sources of funds to develop and implement the state programs.

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Program Development and Approval Guidance

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL GUIDANCE
I. PURPOSE AND INTRODUCTION
Water quality remains one of the most important environmental problems facing the United States. In
coastal areas, beach closures, prohibitions on harvesting shellfish, and loss of biological productivity in
coastal habitats are evidence of water quality impairment. Based on an assessment of 75% of United
States estuarine waters, current best estimates are that 35% of these waters are impaired and 10% are
threatened.
Coastal waters are affected by both point and nonpoint sources of pollution, with the latter a significant
and, in many cases, the dominant form of pollution in a given water body. While great strides in
controlling point sources of pollution have been made since the passage of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act in 1972, nonpoint source pollution remains a major problem in many coastal areas. The
leading nonpoint contributors to estuarine waters are urban runoff (including certain construction
activities and onsite disposal systems) and agriculture. Other significant nonpoint contributors in some
coastal watersheds include silviculture, marinas, and hydromodification. In addition, the loss and
degradation of wetlands and riparian areas has adversely impacted coastal water quality.
Congress enacted section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990
(CZARA) in November 1990 to help address the problem of nonpoint source pollution in coastal
waters.1 (A copy of this statute is found in Appendix A.) Section 6217 requires that coastal states
with federally approved coastal management programs develop Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control
Programs (hereafter, coastal nonpoint programs).2 The legislative history indicates that the central
purpose of section 6217 is to strengthen the links between Federal and state coastal zone management
and water quality programs in order to enhance state and local efforts to manage land use activities that
degrade coastal waters and coastal habitats.3 The state coastal zone management agency designated
under section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) and nonpoint source management
agency designated under section 319 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) will have a dual and co-equal
role and responsibility in developing and implementing the coastal nonpoint program.
Although nonpoint source pollution is a significant source of pollution in coastal waters, the legislative
history states that "the new program will not and ought not bear the full burden of restoring and
maintaining coastal water quality, but will operate instead in conjunction with controls on point sources
established under the Clean Water Act and associated programs." Therefore, state coastal nonpoint
programs under section 6217 are required only to address nonpoint source pollution, and are expected
to address, at a minimum, the major sources of nonpoint pollution specified in the (g) guidance.4
1

Section 6217 does not amend the CWA or the CZMA, but rather contains independent provisions.

2

The term "state" refers to states, territories and commonwealths having coastal management programs
approved under section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act.

3

As defined in section 304 (10) of CZARA and used in this guidance, "land use" includes water uses.

4

Historically, there have been overlaps and ambiguities among programs addressing nonpoint and point
sources of pollution. Some of these overlaps, such as those which occur with the National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit program (under section 402(p) of the CWA), are
discussed in more detail in Appendix B. Many of the techniques and practices used to control point
sources, such as channelized urban stormwater, are equally applicable to nonpoint sources, and vice versa.
Nevertheless, the programs do not have identical requirements. Certain NPDES requirements may go

1

Coastal Nonpoint Program

Thus, a state does not need to provide in its coastal nonpoint program for the implementation of the
management measures developed by EPA under section 6217(g) of CZARA for activities that are
clearly regulated as point source discharges.5 However, in the interest of consistency and
comprehensiveness, each state may choose to apply the (g) management measures to both point and
nonpoint sources throughout the state's section 6217 management area, as long as the specific NPDES
requirements are also met for those sources subject to NPDES permitting requirements.
Section 6217 envisions a two-tiered management approach for the control of nonpoint sources of
pollution. To receive Federal approval, the state coastal nonpoint program must ensure: (1) the
implementation, at a minimum, of management measures in conformity with the guidance developed
under section 6217(g) by EPA, in consultation with NOAA and other Federal agencies, to protect
coastal waters generally, and (2) the implementation of additional management measures applicable to
land and water uses and critical coastal areas identified by the state pursuant to section 6217(b)(1) and
(2) so as to attain and maintain applicable water quality standards under section 303 of the CWA and
to protect designated uses.6
The purpose of the first tier is to protect coastal waters generally, and therefore, is not tied to specific
water quality problems. The state must provide for the implementation
of these management measures in conformity with the (g) guidance which includes management
measures for the following categories of nonpoint pollution sources: agricultural runoff; urban runoff;
silvicultural runoff; hydromodification, shoreline erosion, and dams; and marinas. In addition, the (g)
guidance includes management measures for wetlands protection, riparian areas, and vegetated filter
strips, which are effective for several different source categories.
If the general level of protection provided by the first management tier is insufficient to enable coastal
waters to meet water quality standards and protect designated uses, then the state must implement the
second tier which consists of additional management measures. The purpose of the second tier is to
restore coastal waters and, in the case of the critical areas, to protect against future pollution problems.
This document, developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), contains guidance for developing and implementing coastal
nonpoint programs. The first section of this guidance introduces the coastal nonpoint program. The
second section provides an overview of the statute's requirements. The third section discusses the
specific program requirements, including requirements for coordination with other programs; the
geographic scope of the coastal nonpoint program and coastal zone boundary review; implementation
of management measures in conformity with EPA's (g) guidance and additional state-developed
management measures; technical assistance; public participation; administrative coordination; and
enforceable policies and mechanisms. The final section describes EPA's and NOAA's process for
review and approval of coastal nonpoint programs submitted by the states, and the schedule for state
implementation of the program.

beyond the management measures specified in the (g) guidance.
5

For simplicity, the guidance containing these management measures, which was published by EPA in
January, 1993, will be referred to as the "(g) guidance" in this document. A list of the management
measures included in this guidance is provided as Appendix C.

6

In addition to addressing the contribution of pollution through runoff from the land, the state coastal
nonpoint program should also consider the infiltration of pollutants into ground water which can result in
the pollution of surface waters.

2

Program Development and Approval Guidance

3

Coastal Nonpoint Program

II. OVERVIEW OF STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRAM
APPROVAL PROCESS
Congress enacted CZARA section 6217, entitled "Protecting Coastal Waters," to address the impacts
of nonpoint source pollution on coastal water quality. 7 Section 6217(a) requires each state with a
federally approved coastal zone management program under section 306 of the CZMA to develop and
submit to NOAA and EPA a coastal nonpoint program for approval. The statute states that the
purpose of this new state program "shall be to develop and implement management measures for
nonpoint source pollution to restore and protect coastal waters, working in close conjunction with other
State and local authorities."
NOAA and EPA do not expect states to develop and implement stand-alone coastal nonpoint
programs, but rather expect that states will develop and implement the coastal nonpoint program
through changes to the approved state nonpoint source management program and to the approved state
coastal zone management program developed under section 306 of the CZMA, as amended.
All states and territories have EPA-approved nonpoint source management programs or portions of
programs and are currently receiving section 319 grants to assist them in implementing the approved
programs. Currently, there are 29 federally approved state and territorial coastal zone management
programs developed and approved pursuant to the CZMA (see Appendix D).
II.A. Statutory Requirements
Under section 6217, coastal nonpoint programs must contain a number of elements in order to be
approvable by NOAA and EPA. The state programs must:
1.

be closely coordinated with existing state and local water quality plans and programs developed
pursuant to sections 208, 303, 319 and 320 of the CWA, and with state coastal zone
management programs.

2.

provide for the implementation, at a minimum, of management measures in conformity with the
guidance published under section 6217(g) to protect coastal waters generally (discussed in
section II.B).

3.

provide for the implementation and continuing revision from time to time of additional
management measures that are necessary to attain and maintain applicable water quality
standards and protect designated uses with respect to:

7

a.

land uses which, individually or cumulatively, may cause or contribute significantly to a
degradation of (a) coastal waters not presently attaining or maintaining applicable water
quality standards or protecting designated uses, or (b) coastal waters that are
threatened by reasonably foreseeable increases in pollution loadings from new or
expanding sources; and

b.

critical coastal areas adjacent to coastal waters which are failing to attain or maintain
water quality standards or which are threatened by reasonably foreseeable increases in
pollution loadings.

This section has been codified at 16 U.S.C. § 1455b.

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Program Development and Approval Guidance

4.

provide for technical and other assistance to local governments and the public to implement
additional management measures.

5.

provide opportunities for public participation in all aspects of the program.

6.

establish mechanisms to improve coordination among state agencies and between state and
local officials responsible for land use programs and permitting,
water quality permitting and enforcement, habitat protection, and public health and safety.

7.

propose to modify state coastal zone boundaries as the state determines is necessary to
implement NOAA recommendations under section 6217(e), which are based on findings that
modifications to the inland boundary of a state coastal zone are necessary to more effectively
manage land and water uses to protect coastal waters.

This guidance discusses these requirements in greater detail in section III and explains NOAA's and
EPA's expectations for state coastal nonpoint programs.
In addition to the provisions of section 6217, CZARA amended section 306 of the CZMA to require
that, before approving a coastal zone management program submitted by a coastal state, NOAA shall
find that, "...the management program contains enforceable policies and mechanisms to implement the
applicable requirements of the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program of the State required by
section 6217...." (section 306(d)(16)). States with federally approved coastal management programs
must demonstrate compliance with section 306(d)(16) in order to receive final approval of their coastal
nonpoint programs.
The statute requires that states submit their coastal nonpoint programs to NOAA and EPA 30 months
after EPA publishes final (g) guidance. The final (g) guidance was published in January 1993; therefore,
coastal states must submit their coastal nonpoint programs to NOAA and EPA for approval in July
1995.
II.B. Section 6217(g) Management Measures Guidance
Section 6217(g) requires that EPA, in consultation with NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
and other Federal agencies publish "guidance for specifying management measures for sources of
nonpoint pollution in coastal waters." Management measures are defined in section 6217(g)(5) as:
"economically achievable measures for the control of the addition of pollutants from
existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint sources of pollution, which reflect
the greatest degree of pollutant reduction achievable through the application of the best
available nonpoint pollution control practices, technologies, processes, siting criteria,
operating methods, or other alternatives."
As provided by section 6217(g)(2), the management measures guidance includes:
(A) "a description of a range of methods, measures, or practices, including structural and
nonstructural controls and operation and maintenance procedures, that constitute each measure;
(B) a description of the categories and subcategories of activities and locations for which each
measure may be suitable;

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Coastal Nonpoint Program

(C) an identification of the individual pollutants or categories or classes of pollutants that may

be controlled by the measures and the water quality effects

of the measures;

(D) quantitative estimates of the pollution reduction effects and costs of

the measures;

(E) a description of the factors which should be taken into account in adapting the measures to

specific sites or locations; and

(F) any necessary monitoring techniques to accompany the measures to assess over time the

success of the measures in reducing pollution loads and improving water quality."

The (g) guidance provides a basis for the state coastal nonpoint programs.
II.C. Procedures for Program Development and Approval
NOAA and EPA have prepared this program development and approval guidance to assist states in

developing approvable coastal nonpoint programs. The states are encouraged to consult with NOAA

and EPA as they develop specific program elements. NOAA and EPA have established a voluntary

threshold review process to assist states

in the development of their programs. This process is discussed in more detail in

section IV.B.

NOAA and EPA will jointly review the state program within six months after submission. Because of

the inseparable nature of the land use and water quality portions of the coastal nonpoint programs in

achieving the statutory goals, NOAA and EPA have determined as a matter of policy that neither

agency will grant approval to a state's coastal nonpoint program until the program meets the Federal

approval requirements as determined by both agencies.

If a coastal state fails to submit an approvable program within 30 months after publication of the (g)

guidance, NOAA and EPA will reduce Federal grant dollars to the state under the coastal zone

management and nonpoint source management programs as required by section 6217(c)(3) and (4).

The penalty provisions begin in Fiscal Year 1996 with a 10% reduction in funding under both

programs, increasing to 15% in FY 1997, 20% in FY 1998, and 30% in FY 1999 and each fiscal year

thereafter. In the case of the coastal zone management program, the penalty is based upon the grants

otherwise available to a state in the current fiscal year. In the case of the section 319 nonpoint source

management program, the penalty is based on the grant amount awarded to the state for the preceding

fiscal year.

Under certain limited circumstances, a state may request a conditional approval of its coastal nonpoint

program. If a state is granted conditional approval of its program, the penalty provisions of section

6217 will be suspended during the conditional approval period if the state continues to make progress

on the workplan and to meet the milestones agreed to with NOAA and EPA as part of the conditional

approval. (See discussion of conditional approval in section IV.C.)

II.D. Federal Support for State Coastal Nonpoint Programs
NOAA is authorized under section 6217(f) of the CZARA to provide funds to the designated state

6

Program Development and Approval Guidance

coastal management agency to develop its coastal nonpoint program. The Federal funds may not
exceed 50% of the cost of developing the program, and the state share of costs must be paid from nonFederal sources. NOAA has published separate guidance on application procedures and allocations.
Since funds will be limited, state coastal agencies are encouraged to work closely with state nonpoint
source agencies and other appropriate Federal, state, regional and local agencies to develop their
coastal nonpoint programs. Funds under section 319(h) of the CWA are available for program
implementation.
NOAA and EPA will consider using additional financial incentives and/or disincentives to encourage
states to develop effective coastal nonpoint programs within the statutory deadline.

7

Coastal Nonpoint Program

III. SPECIFIC COASTAL NONPOINT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
State coastal nonpoint pollution programs must contain a number of components mandated by section
6217. The following section discusses these statutory requirements and the minimum criteria that the
state coastal nonpoint program needs to meet to obtain Federal approval.
III.A. Coordination with Existing State Programs
The statute requires that state coastal nonpoint programs be closely coordinated with state and local

water quality plans and programs under sections 208, 303, 319, and 320

of the CWA, and with state coastal zone programs. (Section 6217(a)(2)). Some of

these programs are discussed in Appendix E. This requirement is necessary to ensure that the new

coastal nonpoint program can be integrated into existing state programs upon approval.

During the program development process, NOAA and EPA expect state coastal zone management and

nonpoint source agencies to involve the relevant Federal, state, regional and local programs. A number

of states already closely coordinate the activities of these programs through their existing coastal zone

management and state nonpoint programs. States should develop their coastal nonpoint programs to

complement and strengthen existing coastal management and nonpoint source authorities, while

minimizing unnecessary duplication or conflicts at the Federal, state or local levels. Components of

existing programs that meet the requirements of section 6217 should be incorporated into the states'

coastal nonpoint programs.

III.B. Coastal Zone Boundaries and 6217 Management Area
As directed by section 6217(a), the geographic scope of each coastal nonpoint program must be
sufficient to ensure implementation of management measures to "restore and protect coastal waters."
Section 6217(e), which requires NOAA to conduct a review of each state's coastal zone boundary,
refines the focus to require NOAA to determine the geographic area encompassing the land and water
uses having a "significant" impact on a state's coastal waters. A significant impact can occur from both
the individual and cumulative effects of land and water uses. NOAA and EPA will not approve a state
coastal nonpoint program whose geographic scope does not encompass such uses because a program
that does not control the significant land and water uses cannot be expected to "restore and protect
coastal waters".
Section 6217(e) requires that NOAA, in consultation with EPA, review each state's existing state
coastal zone boundary established under the CZMA, and recommend any modification to that
boundary needed to effectively manage land and water uses to protect coastal waters. Specifically, the
statute directs NOAA, in consultation with EPA, to evaluate whether each state coastal zone boundary
extends inland to the extent necessary to control nonpoint source pollution from land and water uses
that have a significant impact on a state's coastal waters. See section 6217(e)(1). If NOAA, in
consultation with EPA, finds that boundary modifications are necessary for a state to more effectively
manage land and water uses to protect coastal waters, then NOAA shall recommend appropriate
modifications. See section 6217(e)(2).
Although expressed in terms of a recommendation that a state modify its coastal zone boundary,
NOAA's recommendation also defines what NOAA and EPA believe should be the geographic scope
of that state's coastal nonpoint program, i.e., "the 6217 management area". A state program need not
adopt the exact 6217 management area recommended by NOAA if the state can demonstrate that a

8

Program Development and Approval Guidance

smaller geographic area would be adequate to restore and protect coastal waters. Absent such a

demonstration, however, NOAA and EPA expect the geographic scope of the coastal nonpoint

program to correspond to NOAA's recommendation.

To provide a basis for its recommendation, NOAA conducted a review of states' existing coastal zone

boundaries and provided each state with an analysis of its boundary. In conducting this review,

NOAA, in consultation with EPA, compared indicators of nonpoint source pollution potential within

coastal zone boundaries, and within coastal watersheds. Coastal watersheds were selected because

watersheds provide a logical physical unit when dealing with nonpoint source pollution. To provide a

uniform framework for evaluation, the review was based on the national hydrologic unit classification

system developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). For purposes of this review, coastal

watersheds were defined as the USGS Cataloging Units adjacent to the shore and extending inland

along estuaries to include the USGS Cataloging Units that encompass the head of tide.

Within each state, NOAA evaluated each watershed that drains into coastal waters, whether or not that

watershed is encompassed within a state's existing coastal zone. Based on nationally available data,

NOAA determined for each watershed whether significant indicators of nonpoint pollution potential

were present within four analysis areas: (1) the existing coastal zone, (2) the coastal watershed, (3) the

area inland of

the coastal watershed within the state's borders, and (4) the area beyond the state borders that drain

into coastal waters. NOAA has focused on significant indicators

of nonpoint source pollution in compliance with section 6217(e) which directs NOAA to evaluate

whether the coastal zone extends inland "to the extent necessary to control

land and water uses that have a significant impact on coastal waters of the State." (Section

6217(e)(1)).

Based on the review of each coastal watershed, NOAA will develop a preliminary assessment of the

appropriate geographic scope of the state's program, i.e., the 6217 management area, and will make a

corresponding recommendation for modification to the state's coastal zone boundary. Where the

coastal watershed appears to capture most of the significant indicators of nonpoint pollution potential,

NOAA will recommend the coastal watershed as the 6217 management area. Where significant

indicators of nonpoint source pollution are present inland of the coastal watershed, NOAA will

recommend that the 6217 management area extend inland of the coastal watershed.8

Finally, in coastal watersheds where an area less than the coastal watershed captures most of the

significant indicators of nonpoint source pollution, especially where the existing coastal boundary closely

aligns with the coastal watershed, NOAA will recommend that lesser area as the 6217 management

area. In no case will NOAA recommend an area less than the existing coastal zone as the 6217

management area.

The geographic scope of the coastal nonpoint program must be based on the impact

of land and water uses on coastal waters. NOAA's boundary recommendation will specify a 6217

management area to guide states during program development.9 In response to this recommendation,

8

The nature of the underlying data makes it infeasible for NOAA to recommend a specific distance beyond
the coastal watershed. States will be expected to examine these watersheds during program development to
analyze indicators of nonpoint pollution and to determine the inland extent of the 6217 management area.

9

Section 6217(b)(7) requires that each state program contain a proposed or recommended coastal zone
boundary modification as necessary to implement the NOAA recommendation.

9

Coastal Nonpoint Program

states are encouraged to undertake their own analysis of their coastal watersheds. At the time of

program submission, a state may propose

an alternative 6217 management area, in which case the state must demonstrate to NOAA's and EPA's

satisfaction that the management area extends as far as necessary

to control sources of nonpoint pollution that, individually or cumulatively, significantly impact the state's

coastal waters. NOAA and EPA will evaluate the adequacy of the state's proposed 6217 management

area as part of the program review and approval

process. Specific criteria for this evaluation are being developed by NOAA and will be published

separately.

A state is expected to demonstrate authority to manage the final 6217 management area in one of two

ways. First, a state may demonstrate that its coastal zone boundary has been modified to encompass

the entire 6217 management area. If the state coastal zone management agency lacks authority to

modify the boundary, the coastal nonpoint program must contain recommendations to the appropriate

state authority for changes to the coastal zone boundary. Because there is no assurance that the coastal

zone boundary will be modified as proposed, NOAA and EPA also expect a state to demonstrate that

it has the necessary authorities, including enforceable policies and mechanisms, to ensure

implementation of the coastal nonpoint program within the 6217 management area.

Second, because the modification of a state's coastal zone boundary necessarily has

other implications besides nonpoint source pollution control, a state may choose not

to alter its coastal zone boundary. Areas outside the coastal zone, but within the

6217 management area, would be managed with other state authorities networked into the coastal

nonpoint program. Although changing the coastal zone boundary to address NOAA's recommendation

may be preferable because it would provide the clearest delineation of the geographic scope of the

coastal nonpoint program, the statute does

not make this a prerequisite for Federal approval. If the state's 6217 management area extends beyond

the state's existing coastal zone boundary, the state must also show

that it has the necessary authorities, including enforceable policies and mechanisms,

to ensure the implementation of the program's management measures with the 6217 management

area.10

III.C. Implementation of Management Measures In Conformity with Section 6217(g)
Guidance
For program approval, each coastal nonpoint program must "provide for the implementation, at a
minimum, of management measures in conformity with the guidance published under subsection (g), to
protect coastal waters generally..."(section 6217(b)). In developing the (g) guidance, EPA focused on
the significant categories and sources of nonpoint pollution identified in state section 319 nonpoint
source assessments. The categories of nonpoint sources addressed in the (g) guidance are: agricultural
runoff; urban runoff (including developing and developed areas); silvicultural (forestry) runoff;
hydromodification, including shoreline erosion, and dams; and marinas. In addition, the (g) guidance
includes management measures for wetlands protection, riparian areas and vegetated filter strips, which
apply to a number of sources. A number of specific source subcategories are also discussed in detail in
the (g) guidance.
In order to satisfy the statutory requirement to provide for implementation of management measures in

10

In addition, a state may choose to utilize a combination of the two approaches described above.

10

Program Development and Approval Guidance

conformity with the (g) guidance, state programs must:
1.
2.
3.

Identify nonpoint source categories or subcategories that will be addressed;
Identify management measures to be implemented for those categories and
subcategories; and,
Describe the process by which the state will ensure the implementation of the
management measures.

These elements are discussed in more detail in the following sections.
In its coastal nonpoint program document, a state must respond to each of the (g) management
measures by either: (1) providing for the implementation of that measure or an alternative as effective as
the (g) measure; or (2) justifying why the management measure is not included in the program. This
justification must be based on the exclusion of certain nonpoint categories or subcategories using the
process described in section III.C.1.
III.C.1. Identification of sources to be addressed
For program approval, states must provide for the implementation of management measures for each of
the nonpoint source categories (e.g., agriculture) and subcategories (e.g., confined animal facilities)
identified in the (g) guidance to protect coastal waters generally. States must also provide for the
implementation of management measures specified for wetlands and riparian area protection. In
addition, a state may include management measures for sources not identified in the (g) guidance (e.g.,
mining operations not subject to permitting under section 402 of the CWA), if the state determines such
management measures are necessary to protect coastal waters generally.
NOAA and EPA may allow a state to exclude some categories, subcategories or sources from the
requirements of its coastal nonpoint program. An exclusion may occur under two scenarios: (1) if a
nonpoint source category or subcategory is neither present nor reasonably anticipated in the 6217
management area, or (2) if a state can demonstrate that a category, subcategory or particular source of
nonpoint pollution does not and is not reasonably expected to, individually or cumulatively, present
significant adverse effects to living coastal resources or human health.
Under the first scenario, a state can exclude one or more nonpoint source categories or subcategories
in coastal watersheds or parts of coastal watersheds. To do so, a state must clearly demonstrate that
each of those nonpoint source categories or subcategories is neither present nor reasonably anticipated
in such areas. If such a demonstration is made, the state need not develop and provide for the
implementation of management measures for those nonpoint source categories or subcategories. For
example, if a state does not have and does not foresee the establishment of an animal feeding operation
in the 6217 management area, it need not develop a program to control such operations. It should be
noted, however, that when the exclusion applies only to a portion of the area or a particular coastal
watershed, the state must still provide for the implementation of the management measures in all other
portions of the 6217 management area where the categories or subcategories are present or
anticipated.
Under the second scenario, states may exclude certain sources within retained categories and
subcategories. To do so, the state must adequately demonstrate that those sources, individually and
cumulatively, do not and are not reasonably expected to present significant adverse effects to living
coastal resources or human health. Factors that may be considered to exclude such sources include,
but are not limited to:

11

Coastal Nonpoint Program

#
#
#

pollutant loadings or estimates of loadings from the sources;

intensity of land use; and

ecological and human health risk associated with the source.

In general, this second type of exclusion is designed to exclude sources that are present in the 6217

management area but that, individually or cumulatively, do not and are not reasonably expected to

cause significant adverse effects to living coastal resources or human health. In determining the

significance of adverse effects, states should consider both direct and indirect adverse effects. An

example of a source that may be excluded under this approach could include an on-site disposal system

located a considerable distance from surface coastal waters and above the groundwater table.

NOAA and EPA wish to emphasize the limited applicability of this second type of exclusion. For this

reason, NOAA and EPA have expressly placed the burden upon

the states to demonstrate that any excluded sources will not and are not reasonably expected to present

adverse effects to living coastal resources or human health, and

that the application of the (g) measures to the remaining sources will protect coastal waters generally.

For either type of exclusion, states must submit a description and documentation of the data and

rationale relied upon for excluding the sources. The documentation should include information

contained in existing state water quality assessments (including those developed under sections 305(b)

and 319 of the CWA), other information sources listed in Section III.D., and existing data (or modelling

results) that indicate the

insignificance of the loadings or hydrologic impacts caused by sources that the state proposes to

exclude.

EPA and NOAA will review the states' submissions, including the adequacy of the assessments, to

determine whether the category or subcategory needs to be addressed by the coastal nonpoint

program. The issue of assessment adequacy may be discussed through the threshold review process.

In addition, NOAA and EPA will, at a state's request, consider proposed exclusions during the

threshold review process discussed in section IV.B.

In the "Applicability" section of many management measures in the (g) guidance, EPA has already

established minimum sizes below which the measures do not apply (e.g., marinas with less than 10 slips)

based on economic achievability analysis. In such cases, state programs should address all sources

above those minimum levels, except where a state can document, as described above, that a less

stringent level in a particular geographic area will still allow protection of coastal waters generally.

It should be noted that sources excluded from the (g) measures implementation nevertheless may be

subject to additional management measures discussed in

section III.D.

III.C.2. Identification of management measures to be implemented
For program approval, states must specify the management measures that will be implemented to

address each category or subcategory of sources identified through

the process in section III.C.1 of this guidance document. Section 6217(b) requires

state management measures to be in conformity with those measures specified in the

(g) guidance. A state management measure is "in conformity with" those specified in

the (g) guidance if it is identical to, or is demonstrated to be as effective as, the

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Program Development and Approval Guidance

(g) guidance measures.
In order to accommodate variabilities relating to source, location and climate, or other local conditions
that could affect the implementation of the (g) guidance management measures, the (g) guidance also
lists a number of practices that can be used to implement each management measure. States have
considerable flexibility in choosing management practices to achieve the management measures and are
not restricted to specifying or implementing the practices described in the (g) guidance. The practices
or system of practices chosen, however, must ensure the effective implementation of the management
measures. For program approval, the coastal nonpoint program must describe the process the state
will use to select practices that will result in the effective implementation of the (g) guidance management
measures.
Selection of Alternative Management Measures
In developing management measures in conformity with the (g) guidance, states may select "alternative
management measures" under two conditions: (1) states have conditions that make the 6217(g)
measures inapplicable or unsuitable, or (2) other measures that equal or exceed the effectiveness of the
6217(g) measures already exist or are scheduled to be implemented under existing state laws or
programs. The use of alternative management measures in these situations is supported not only by the
statute, which acknowledges that the (g) measures may be adapted to specific sites or locations
(section 6217(g)(2)(E)), but also by the legislative history which directs NOAA and EPA to accord
states flexibility in selecting management measures.
States may use these alternative measures instead of the (g) measures in their coastal nonpoint
programs only if they can demonstrate that such alternatives are as effective in controlling nonpoint
pollution as the measures specified in the (g) guidance. For program approval, a state electing to
specify an alternative management measure for implementation will need to demonstrate that the
alternative is at least as effective as the (g) guidance management measure it intends to replace. States
should use the best available information to make this showing.
Management measure effectiveness can be evaluated or described in many ways: pollutant loading,
pollutant loading reductions, pollutant concentration in discharge, peak concentration reductions, mean
concentration reductions, habitat impacts (including impacts resulting from changes in flow), impacts to
fisheries, impacts to macroinvertebrates, wildlife impacts, effects on support of designated uses, direct
impacts to the water resource of concern, the extent to which the source is actively managed, or other
factors. States may use any combination of these factors to demonstrate the effectiveness of alternative
management measures.
For approval of an alternative management measure, the state will need to demonstrate that the
alternative management measure (or a combination of measures or a series of measures applied over
time) is as effective as the measure set forth in the (g) guidance when applied in the specific state or
local area. For example, when management measures in the (g) guidance specify certain storm events,
design criteria or pollutant reduction levels, the alternative management measures must specify similar
storm events, design criteria or pollutant reduction levels. In addition, the state will need to demonstrate
that the operation and maintenance procedures for the alternative are feasible and adequate to maintain
a level of pollution control as effective as the (g) guidance measure over the lifetime of the measure. In
choosing an alternative management measure, states should take into account possible adverse impacts
of these alternative measures on other coastal resources such as ground water or wetlands.
In support of its alternative management measure, a state will need to identify the procedures used to

13

Coastal Nonpoint Program

evaluate the measure and the results of that evaluation, and provide specific technical documentation of
the evaluation as part of their coastal nonpoint programs. In general, information used to document that
an alternative management measure is as effective as a (g) guidance measure should be comparable in
scope and depth to that provided in EPA'S (g) guidance. States must support the evaluation of
alternative management measures with appropriate technical documentation. Although sources such as
"refereed" technical journals are preferred, other publications, such as Federal and state technical
guides, are acceptable. Fliers, fact sheets, and other general public materials generally are not adequate
sources of information without additional supporting information.
In addition, or as an alternative to relying on written studies, the state may wish to convene a technical
review group consisting of experts knowledgeable in the subject area covered by the management
measure. This may be especially useful where the state is interested in pursuing innovative approaches.
The technical review group should provide a report describing the evaluation procedure that was used
to assess the effectiveness of the alternative management measure. The report should be submitted to
NOAA and EPA as part of the program review process. EPA and NOAA will, at the state's request,
consider proposed alternative management measures during the threshold review process and/or
approval process discussed in section IV.
Innovative Market-Oriented Incentive Mechanisms
EPA and NOAA are interested in encouraging states to propose innovative market-oriented incentive

mechanisms to implement the (g) measures or alternative management measures at lower costs. An

important example of incentive mechanisms that could serve to lower substantially the costs of obtaining

a given level of loadings reductions is the trading of pollution reduction credits.

Trading programs are proving to be a successful and cost-effective approach under

the Clean Air Act for reducing air pollutant emissions. Several case studies in

North Carolina, Colorado, and Wisconsin show that the trading of pollution credits

holds considerable promise for reducing water pollutant loadings as well, particularly nutrients. See

Appendix H for short descriptions of these cases. Appendix H also presents several brief summaries of

relevant technical publications. These publications indicate that pollutant trading programs may hold

potential for achieving substantial

cost savings while attaining pollution reductions equivalent to those established by the

(g) measures guidance.

Conceptually, sources with low control costs would make trading arrangements directly with sources

facing high control costs. The low-cost sources would undertake additional abatement efforts in

exchange for financial compensation from the high-cost sources. Sources with higher abatement costs

would undertake less control efforts, while acquiring additional reductions from other lower cost

sources. Increased loadings from the high-cost sources would be offset by the additional abatement

efforts of low-cost sources, so that the total loadings would be the same as if no trading occurred. In

this manner, the private incentives of polluters would be harnessed for public purposes. Thus, more

pollution abatement would be undertaken where it was cheapest, and less would be undertaken where

it was costly, reducing the overall cost while achieving the same overall level of control. Such a trading

scheme can minimize the total cost of achieving the required reduction in loadings.

EPA and NOAA encourage states to propose innovative approaches such as the theoretical case

outlined above and as described in Appendix H. Any such proposal, of course, must be consistent with

14

Program Development and Approval Guidance

the requirements of CZARA. At a minimum, in order for EPA and NOAA to approve a market-based
proposal as achieving implementation of particular (g) measures, states would need to demonstrate that
the proposal would result in expected pollutant reductions equalling or exceeding those that otherwise
would be achieved in the same watershed if each participant separately implemented the (g) measures.
Finally, as with the implementation of any management measure, a trading program would also need to
meet the requirements for enforceable policies and mechanisms described in section III.H.
States may consider trading schemes which involve trading of pollution credits among nonpoint and
point sources as well as among nonpoint sources alone. States may also consider trading among
sources inside and outside of the geographic area subject to the (g) measures guidance, as long as such
sources are within the same watershed. States may also consider trading arrangements involving
different pollutants (such as nutrients) with similar environmental effects, to the extent that the state
demonstrates that any net environmental benefit is expected to result from the trading program.
However, these trading schemes should take into account uncertainties such as those associated with
measurements or predictions of pollutant loadings of a pollutant from the array of sources involved.
States should consider whether trading ratios should be established to account for such uncertainties.
The likelihood of success of trading programs can be increased if states carefully define the
responsibilities of sources involved. Trading programs should provide assurance that the validity of
trading agreements will be preserved. Trades between sources are most promising if they shift the
responsibility for the agreed-to controls entirely from the buyer to the seller, who would then be subject
to the enforceable policies and mechanisms referenced above. If buyers are required to adopt
additional controls when sellers fail to implement agreed-to controls, then trading programs are less
likely to succeed. Similarly, trades are most promising if they are based only on the validity of the
agreement, and not on the success of the controls agreed to by the seller. Otherwise, the risks to
buyers of trading -- that is, having to pay twice -- may prevent many trades and undermine the
effectiveness of a trading program.
EPA and NOAA encourage states to focus on minimizing the costs of transacting trades. Delays and
uncertainty in arranging specific trades, as well as direct application fees, can serve to raise the costs of
transacting trades, to hinder trades, and to lower the likelihood that such trades will reduce compliance
costs. Similarly, arbitrary requirements that trades substantially reduce net expected pollutant loadings
can serve to raise transaction costs and deter trades. Finally, states should establish guidelines for
sources to follow in arranging trades. Such guidelines should help reduce unnecessary delays, avoid
any later
invalidation of trades, and lower transaction costs by increasing the likelihood that trades will be
approved in advance.
When proposing a trading program to control nonpoint sources, a state would need to determine from
EPA's (g) measures guidance and other sources the pollutant loading reductions that must be achieved
from a group of sources within a watershed over a specified period, such as a season or a year. This
establishes the baseline that the trade would need to achieve. For example, implementing the (g)
guidance control measures on a dairy farm of given characteristics could be expected to reduce nutrient
loadings by a certain amount. Each source would be required to reduce loadings by the necessary
amount, by implementing controls on-site, or off-site through appropriate trading arrangements.
Sources that believe their costs of achieving the necessary loading reductions are high could finance
incremental controls at other sources with lower costs, expecting such trades to be approved.
Compliance would be ascertained through demonstration that the necessary loadings reductions are
achieved either on-site by implementing control measures, or off-site through appropriate trading
arrangements, consistent with enforceable policies and mechanisms established elsewhere by the state

15

Coastal Nonpoint Program

in its coastal nonpoint program.
Multiple Management Measures
Section 6217(g)(5) of CZARA requires that management measures be economically achievable. In its
economic achievability analysis, EPA estimated costs of selected combinations of multiple management
measures applicable to sources. EPA focused its analysis on those cases which it believes are most
likely to occur. Multiple measures which EPA concluded are economically achievable include (1)
erosion control, confined animal feedlots, and grazing management measures, (2) combination of all
forestry measures, (3) new development requirements such as stormwater, erosion and sediment
control, and septic tanks, (4) all marina requirements; and (5) municipality requirements such as
stormwater, erosion and sediment control, bridge maintenance, salt storage, street sweeping, wetlands
protection, stream stabilization, and dam-related expenses.
EPA and NOAA recognize that it is impossible to determine economic achievability for all possible
combinations of management measures. For example, a dairy farm might be responsible for control of
discharge from animal feedlots, grazing, erosion, streambank stabilization, and wetlands preservation.
In this case, EPA has found that a combination of management measures for erosion, feedlots and
grazing are economically achievable, but not in combination with wetlands protection and streambank
stabilization. In situations where EPA has not considered a specific combination of management
measures in its economic achievability analysis, states may be granted flexibility to re-examine whether a
particular combination of multiple management measures is economically achievable for a group of
sources. If, in its program submission or in subsequent revisions, a state finds that EPA did not
consider the economic achievability of multiple management measures that apply to a group of sources
when added together, the state may propose a fresh determination of management measures applicable
to that group of sources. When making these determinations, states will need to meet the requirements
of CZARA, including section 6217(g), which defines management measures as reflecting the greatest
degree of pollutant reduction economically achievable. States may take into account direct and indirect
costs and may consider incremental costs relative to incremental reductions in loadings.
III.C.3. Description of the implementation process and authorities
For program approval, the state will need to provide detailed information on how it will ensure
implementation of the management measures in conformity with the (g) guidance. This information
should be provided for each nonpoint source category or subcategory as identified in section III.C.1.
At a minimum, for each category and subcategory, the state coastal nonpoint
program will:
a. Describe the scope, structure, and coverage of the state implementation program.
b. Describe the organization, structure and authorities of the state or local agency or agencies
that will have responsibility for administering the implementation program, including:
i. an identification of the designated lead agency for the program addressing each
category or subcategory. If the designated lead agency is not the section 319 or
coastal zone management agency, the description must specify how the lead agency and
its authorities have been incorporated into the coastal nonpoint program.

16

Program Development and Approval Guidance

ii. a description of how the lead agency expects to implement the program including, for
example, the number of staff and general responsibilities, cost of the program and
potential funding sources.
c. Include a schedule for each nonpoint source category or subcategory with milestones for

achieving full implementation of the management measures within three years as described in

section IV.D.

d. Identify enforceable policies and mechanisms to ensure that each management measure

identified in the coastal nonpoint program is implemented in accordance with section III.H. of

this guidance. States must submit copies of the appropriate legislative and administrative

documents to demonstrate that authorities exist to support implementation of the management

measures. Furthermore, if the enforcement authority will not be exercised directly by the state

coastal zone management or section 319 agency, the state coastal nonpoint program must

include provisions to ensure that the governmental body with the statutory authority exercises

that authority as set forth in the state's coastal nonpoint program. States must submit

documentation such as memoranda of understanding, executive orders or administrative

directives which embody agreements to ensure this conformity. These authorities must be

incorporated into the coastal nonpoint program.

e. Describe mechanisms to improve coordination among state agencies and among state and

local officials responsible for land use programs and permitting, water quality permitting and

enforcement, habitat protection, and public health and safety as required by section 6217(b)(6).

States will need to include copies of any memoranda of agreement or provisions for joint

project review.

(See discussion in section III.G.)

f. Describe a process to identify practices to achieve the management measures.

g. Describe activities to ensure continuing performance and long term effectiveness of the

measure through proper operation and maintenance. States should follow the operation and

maintenance programs described in the (g) guidance or, where the state has developed its own

measures, describe the operation and maintenance requirements for the alternative measures.

Activities to monitor implementation and enforcement should include a program for the

comprehensive survey of sources that are required to implement the management measure, and

a program for periodic inspections of sources.

h. Describe state activities to monitor the effectiveness of the (g) measures based on accepted

water quality monitoring protocols such as those described in Chapter 8 of the (g) guidance.

States may meet any of these requirements by: (1) identifying existing program activities currently being
implemented effectively under state coastal zone management programs, state nonpoint source
management programs, or by other state programs; (2) providing the information discussed above for
the existing programs; (3) developing new enforceable policies, as necessary; and (4) incorporating
these programs into the new coastal nonpoint program.

III.D. Requirements for Implementation of Additional Management Measures
For program approval, state coastal nonpoint programs must provide for the implementation of

17

Coastal Nonpoint Program

"additional management measures" where coastal water quality is impaired or threatened even after the
implementation of the management measures specified in the (g) guidance. See Section 6217(b).11
These additional measures apply both to existing land and water uses that are found to cause or
contribute to water quality impairment and to new or substantially expanding land uses within critical
coastal areas adjacent to impaired or threatened coastal waters. Specific statutory requirements for
implementation of additional management measures can be found in sections 6217(b)(1), (2) and (3) of
CZARA.
As described by the amendment's sponsor in a floor statement on CZARA, the additional management
measures provide a "second tier of pollution control efforts" and "are targeted to those coastal land uses
that are recognized to cause or contribute to water quality problems generally." See 136 Cong. Rec. E.
3590, October 27, 1990. In addition, the legislative history describes the additional management
measures provision as also requiring "the identification of important coastal areas -- as contrasted to
individual land uses under paragraph (1) [section 6217(b)(1)] -- that need additional measures to
protect against anticipated pollution problems. Unlike paragraph (1), the imposition of additional
measures are not contingent upon identified water quality problems, and are to be established as a
preventative step to avoid water quality problems that might otherwise develop." Id.
For program approval, states will need to do the following:
1. identify coastal waters that are not attaining or maintaining applicable
water quality standards or protecting designated uses, or that are threatened
by reasonably foreseeable increases in pollution loadings from new or
expanding sources;
2. identify land uses that individually or cumulatively cause or threaten water quality
impairments in those coastal waters;
3. identify critical coastal areas;
4. develop a process for determining whether additional measures are necessary to attain or
maintain water quality standards in the waters identified above;
5. describe the additional management measures the state will apply to the identified land uses
and critical coastal areas; and,
6. develop a program to ensure implementation of the additional management measures within
the time frame described in section IV.D.
These elements are discussed in greater detail in the following sections.
III.D.1. Identification of coastal waters that are not attaining or maintaining
water quality standards
For program approval, states must, at a minimum, identify the following as threatened or impaired

11

For purposes of section 6217(b), the definitions for water quality standards and designated uses are those
found in section 303 of the Clean Water Act and in 40 C.F.R. Part 131.

18

Program Development and Approval Guidance

waters:
a. coastal waters identified in a state's most recent report under section
305(b) of the CWA as "partially meeting" or "not meeting" designated uses or
as "threatened";
b. coastal waters listed by a state in accordance with the requirements of section 303(d)(1)(a)
of the CWA requiring Total Maximum Daily Load calculations if listing is due at least in part to
nonpoint sources;
c. coastal waters listed by a state under CWA section 304(l) as impaired by nonpoint source
pollution;
d. coastal waters identified by a state as impaired or threatened by nonpoint source pollution in
an assessment submitted to EPA under section 319 of the CWA or in any updates of the
assessment.
States should also consider the results of water quality monitoring associated with assessing the
effectiveness of the (g) measures in attaining and maintaining water quality standards when identifying
impaired or threatened waters.
States should also identify coastal waters for which existing dilution calculations or predictive models
indicate nonattainment of water quality standards. Other organizations and groups should be actively
solicited for research they may be conducting or reporting. For example, volunteer monitoring
organizations, university researchers, the USDA, NOAA, USGS, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Services and a wide variety of state agencies can be good sources of field data. In addition, states
should examine waters for which coastal water quality problems have been reported to the state by
local, state or Federal agencies, members of the public, or academic institutions.
States should use the most current data available, including information generated in evaluating the
effectiveness of the (g) measures, and must describe the validity of the data used to determine
threatened or impaired waters. States should consider the following in evaluating the validity of the
data:
a. whether the assessments are based on monitored or evaluated data;
b. the limits on the availability of water quality information for coastal wetlands, estuaries and
groundwater resources that affect coastal waters; and,
c. the difference between each coastal waterbody's current condition and the condition needed
to support the designated uses that the state has identified in its water quality standards. (See
Appendix F for examples of designated uses and support levels).
NOAA and EPA require each state to identify its impaired and threatened coastal waters in order to
evaluate both the adequacy of the state's identification of land uses required by section 6217(b)(1) and
the critical coastal areas required by section 6217(b)(2), and the adequacy of its determination that
additional management measures need to be implemented. As part of the threshold review process
(see section IV.B.), NOAA and EPA will work with the state to evaluate the state's water quality
information. If the information is incomplete, the state may be asked to develop reasonable additional
information on water quality impairments. States are encouraged to complete water quality
assessments for coastal waters and estuaries. In addition, states are encouraged to adopt water quality

19

Coastal Nonpoint Program

standards for marine waters and for common nonpoint source pollutants such as nutrients.
III.D.2. Identification of land uses causing or threatening water
quality impairments
Once threatened and impaired coastal waters have been identified, as described in section III.D.1,

states must then identify those land uses that individually or cumulatively cause or contribute to coastal

water quality impairments. The land uses should include the general nonpoint sources categories and

subcategories described in the (g) guidance and other land uses not mentioned in the (g) guidance that

are or may be sources of runoff and infiltration to coastal waters such as landfills and certain mining

operations. States should use the most current land use information available (local and state land use

maps, Geographic Information Systems, etc.) to identify these land uses. NOAA and EPA encourage

states to use maps to display identified land uses.

Water quality impacts may occur where a land use involves: (1) substantial disturbance to the land or

water resource; (2) substantial treatment, introduction, or creation of a nonpoint source pollutant; or (3)

a substantial temporary or permanent change to the hydrology or other natural characteristics of a land

area or water resource.

Once general land use patterns and potential water quality impacts have been identified, states should

consider more specific land use characteristics to help determine whether current or future uses are

likely to cause or contribute to water quality impairments. State should consider the biological and

physical impacts of these land uses within the watershed adjacent to the impaired or threatened

waterbody or segment. States should consider physical characteristics such as: topography/slope; soil

characteristics (erodibility, etc.); shoreline erosion characteristics; hydrology, in particular groundwater

linkages to coastal waters and high water tables; and the presence of forest and other vegetated areas

that may provide natural buffers or nutrient sinks. States should also consider habitat and other

biological impacts that may be caused by specific land uses.

The preferred source of information on the relationship between land uses and water quality is

"refereed" technical journals. However, other sources often will be needed

to fill gaps caused by a shortage of information relating land use to nonpoint source impacts. Additional

sources could include Federal and state publications, generally accepted models (e.g., loading

coefficients), and similar information. Sources used

by the state in identifying and evaluating the land uses should be cited in its coastal nonpoint program.

III.D.3. Identification of critical coastal areas
For program approval, a state must also identify and map critical coastal areas -- as contrasted to
individual uses identified under paragraph (1) of section 6217(b) -- that need additional measures to
protect against current and anticipated nonpoint pollution problems. See section 6217(b)(2). The
establishment of critical coastal areas should focus on those areas in which new or substantially
expanding land uses may cause or contribute to the impairment of coastal water quality.
States have flexibility in their approach to delineating critical coastal areas.

The following two examples illustrate approaches for the establishment of critical

coastal areas.

Under the first approach, a state could establish the critical coastal area as a strip of land along the

20

Program Development and Approval Guidance

portion(s) of the shoreline adjacent to threatened or impaired coastal waters. Some states have
programs that specify a land area along the shoreline of a waterbody and that extend inland a uniform
distance from the shoreline or from landward boundaries of wetlands or heads of tides. Within this
area, special controls such as setbacks and low density zoning can be employed to protect coastal
waters.
In establishing a critical coastal area along the shoreline, a state may omit areas where recent water
quality assessments demonstrate that the coastal waterbody is neither impaired nor threatened, and
where a state can demonstrate that new land uses or expansions of existing land uses will not contribute
to a future threat or impairment of the waterbody. For example, shoreline segments could be omitted if:
(1) a state can demonstrate that its coastal area is predominantly in Federal or state conservancy, the
use of which will not threaten coastal water quality, and that changing or expanding land uses are not a
concern; or (2) existing ordinances for an adjacent area effectively manage new or expanding land uses
(e.g., by controlling the extent of impervious surfaces and/or the density of development along the
coastal waters).
Under a second approach, a state could rely on site specific evaluations to determine the extent of a
critical coastal area. The critical coastal area could be established on an ecosystem basis for the
impaired or threatened coastal waters.12 Under this approach, states may include broader geographic
areas in the critical area designation, starting with shoreline segments adjacent to threatened or impaired
coastal waters, and extending inland to encompass significant coastal features or resources further
inland. These broader areas may include entire watersheds or portions of watersheds adjacent to
coastal waters, and may encompass significant biological features such as wetlands.
In selecting an approach, states should consider the following factors:

12

#

The nature of the coastal water quality problem(s) caused by
nonpoint sources.

#

The extent to which the nonpoint sources are located adjacent to the waterbodies as
opposed to further inland.

#

The physical and biological characteristics of the adjacent lands, such as those
described in the previous section on land use, that will affect the extent to which uses of
these lands will cause nonpoint source pollution problems. (See section III.D.2.).

#

Important biological features that should be included as a whole in critical coastal areas,
e.g. wetlands.

#

The type(s), density and characteristics of the new or expanding land uses that are
anticipated and their expected effect(s) on water quality.

#

The extent to which the above effects can be prevented or reduced by
implementation of (g) management measures and/or the additional management
measures for land uses.

Ecosystem is defined as a biological community whose environment functions as an ecological unit.

21

Coastal Nonpoint Program

NOAA and EPA also encourage states to consider including other previously designated areas within
the critical coastal areas under this program. Such areas may include: areas of particular concern
designated as part of state coastal zone management programs; National Estuarine Research Reserves;
National Marine Sanctuaries; and, significant watershed areas within National Estuaries designated by
EPA under section 320 of the CWA. NOAA and EPA expect that this approach will help to fully
integrate and coordinate this new coastal nonpoint program with other existing programs.
III.D.4. Process to implement additional management measures
Once the land uses and critical coastal areas, described above, have been identified, states must
describe additional management measures applicable to those land uses and areas in order to address
the sources of nonpoint pollution. See section 6217(b)(3). States will also need to develop a continuing
process, including milestones, for implementing, evaluating and, as necessary, revising the additional
measures.
NOAA and EPA expect that it may be necessary for a state to provide for the implementation of some
additional management measures immediately and others only if implementation of the (g) measures are
shown to be insufficient to protect and restore water quality. The two categories of additional
management measures are:
1. Immediate Implementation: For the waterbodies identified in section III.D.1., states
should evaluate the relative contributions from point and nonpoint sources. Where a threat or
impairment of a particular water or waterbody segment is due to nonpoint sources, the state
should determine whether existing pollution prevention activities and/or the implementation of
the (g) measures will be
adequate to address the threat or impairment. If existing information indicates that the
implementation of the (g) measures will not be adequate to attain or maintain water quality
standards of the coastal waters or waterbody segment due to contributions from nonpoint
sources, then the state program must specify, at the time of program submission, additional
management measures applicable to the appropriate land uses and critical coastal areas.
Implementation of these additional measures should begin at the time program approval is
granted. Two instances where additional management measures are most likely to be needed
immediately are: (1) where the (g) measures (or their equivalents) are already being
implemented under existing nonpoint source programs but water quality is still impaired due to
identifiable nonpoint sources; and (2) where states have identified critical coastal areas pursuant
to the description in III.D.3. because new or expanding land uses threaten or impair coastal
waters notwithstanding existing nonpoint source controls.
2. Implementation based on performance of (g) measures: States should also specify a
continuing process for identifying, implementing, and revising, as necessary, additional
management measures after the program's (g) measures have been implemented. As the (g)
measures are implemented, the states should monitor their effectiveness and should verify
whether water quality standards are being attained or maintained and designated uses
protected. If a state determines that nonpoint sources contribute in whole or in part to water
quality impairment even after implementation of the (g) measures, then the state will need to
provide for the implementation of additional management measures. As discussed in section
IV.D. (Schedule for Program Implementation), additional measures under these circumstances
must be fully implemented within eight years of Federal approval of the coastal nonpoint
program. The additional management measures also must be monitored to assess their
effectiveness in attaining and maintaining water quality standards and protecting designated

22

Program Development and Approval Guidance

uses. Further refinements to these management measures, the use of other additional measures,
or enforcement action may be necessary if water quality goals are still not met.
III.D.5. Selection of additional management measures
Having determined the need for additional management measures under III.D.4., states will then need
to select the additional measures to be implemented. Like the (g) measures, these measures can include
a broad range of structural and nonstructural nonpoint source controls. Unlike the (g) measures, the
additional measures need not apply to all similar land uses throughout the 6217 management area.
Rather, the additional management measures apply only to those identified land uses and critical coastal
areas where further nonpoint source controls are necessary to ensure that coastal water quality
standards are attained or maintained and designated uses are protected.
For program approval, states are expected to provide the following information on the additional
management measures that will be implemented:
a. a discussion of the measure and the land uses and pollutants it is designed
to address;
b. evidence of the anticipated effectiveness of the measure in reducing nonpoint pollution to
meet water quality standards; and,

c. a process for evaluating the effectiveness of the measures once they are implemented, and a
schedule for revising such measures, as necessary, to meet water quality standards.13
A number of alternatives are available to states in selecting the additional
management measures.
# States can select management measures not specified in the (g) guidance. Under this
alternative, states or local governments could develop very specific additional management
measures that could include buffer zones, low density zoning, cluster development ordinances,
conservation zoning, or other land use measures best developed at the local level.
# States can apply the measures specified in the (g) guidance more
intensively (e.g., require a wider stream-side management area for certain
forestry operations than that necessary to achieve the (g) guidance measures
for stream-side management).
# States can apply the measure specified in the (g) guidance more stringently (e.g., require a
higher removal rate for suspended solids for new urban development than that specified in the
(g) guidance measure).
# States can provide management measures for land and water uses not identified in the (g)
guidance, or for sources excluded under the process
13

EPA and NOAA will establish a schedule for evaluating the need for management measures revision, which
may be tied to 305(b) biennial water quality assessments. If these assessments indicate that water quality is
not improving, the additional management measures already in place will need to be revised.

23

Coastal Nonpoint Program

described in section III.C.1.
# States can employ innovative approaches as additional management measures. For
example, where there is adequate information, states could consider the use of pollution trading
for discharges from nonpoint and point sources or among nonpoint sources in watersheds in
order to attain or maintain water quality standards in coastal waters and to protect designated
uses.
Given the focused nature of additional management measures and the opportunity

to tailor the measures to local conditions, the requirement provides an excellent opportunity to use local

land use measures to control nonpoint source pollution. Thus states are encouraged to work closely

with local governments to develop and implement these measures.

III.D.6. Using Innovative Pollutant Trading Techniques
One innovative approach that states could consider as they develop additional management measures is

pollutant trading. Pollutant trading is a concept that

enables one or more sources to meet less stringent treatment levels in exchange for

other sources meeting more stringent treatment levels than the levels they would otherwise be required

to meet. In appropriate situations, trading can result in more

cost-effective pollutant control.

There are two types of nonpoint source trades that are possible:

(1) Point-nonpoint source trading. A point source that has complied with its technology-based
requirements may be able to avoid or lessen more stringent water-quality-based treatment
requirements by obtaining the requisite (water-quality driven) reductions from nonpoint sources.
(2) Nonpoint-nonpoint source trading. A nonpoint source may apply more stringent treatment
than another one, and together the sources obtain the requisite reductions.
Pollutant trading, to date, has been used only sparingly under the Clean Water Act. Point-nonpoint
trades have been approved in the Dillon Reservoir, Colorado (for phosphorus) and for North
Carolina's Tar-Pamlico watershed (for nitrogen).
The following factors, developed at a recent EPA conference on pollutant trading, should be
considered before considering the use of trading techniques14:
1. Trading is a potentially valuable tool, but its usefulness has not been
fully demonstrated.
2. Trading cannot be applied uniformly nationwide; it is site-specific and
local in nature.
3. Cause and effect water quality data, improved predictive modeling, and definitive

14

A summary of that conference, "Administrator's Point/Nonpoint Source Trading Initiative Meeting"
(August 1992) is available from EPA.

24

Program Development and Approval Guidance

information on nonpoint source control effectiveness are all crucial technical elements for
trading.
4. Education and monitoring are both essential to the success of any
trading program.
Despite the formidable technical and administrative difficulties, EPA and NOAA continue to believe
that trading offers some potential water quality benefits and will work to help state and local
governments identify opportunities for beneficial trades and to implement such trades.
III.E. Technical Assistance
For program approval, state coastal nonpoint programs will be required to provide for technical and
other assistance to local governments and the public for implementing the additional management
measures (section 6217(b)(4)). This may include "assistance in developing ordinances and regulations,
technical guidance, and modeling to predict and assess the effectiveness of such measures, training,
financial incentives, demonstration projects, and other innovations to protect coastal water quality and
designated uses." States are also encouraged to provide assistance to local governments and the public
on the implementation of the (g) measures.
In order to tailor the type and scale of their technical assistance activities, states should identify those
aspects of the program requiring implementation at the regional or local level and the situations where
regional entities or localities may need additional expertise and/or experience. In designing the
assistance program, NOAA and EPA expect that states will consult with regional and local
governments regarding their concerns about implementation, and with the public about its needs and
concerns. For certain management measures, training sessions and certification programs conducted by
the state for regional and local officials may be appropriate. For others the financing of demonstration
projects may be an effective means of enhancing implementation. NOAA and EPA will provide
support to states in the implementation of this technical assistance, as requested.
The statute states that technical and other assistance shall be provided to the public as well as to local
governments. The technical assistance to the public should include help in solving individual problems
and information on how citizen groups can participate in the development and implementation of state
programs (e.g., monitoring).
At a minimum, the state coastal nonpoint program should discuss the types of technical assistance that
will be provided to support implementation of additional management measures for each of the major
land use categories identified in a state's program. States should identify the agency that will provide
the technical assistance, the intended recipients of the assistance, and a schedule of when such
assistance will be available.
NOAA and EPA are committed to providing technical assistance to the states in the development and
implementation of their coastal nonpoint programs. EPA has assembled a great deal of technical
information during development of the (g) guidance, and is continuing to add to this collection. This
information will be available to the states in a variety of formats, including bibliographies and summaries,
both in hard copy and by electronic bulletin board. NOAA and EPA will hold a series of national and
regional meetings with state and local officials to discuss their technical assistance needs. Throughout
the development and implementation of the coastal nonpoint programs, NOAA and EPA will maintain a
dialogue with the states and will provide technical assistance whenever possible. NOAA and EPA will

25

Coastal Nonpoint Program

also work with other Federal agencies and will encourage them to use their expertise to assist the states
in the development and implementation of the state programs.
III.F. Public Participation
For program approval, states must provide opportunities for public participation in all aspects of the

program (section 6217(b)(5)). Congress intended the public to have the opportunity to be extensively

involved in the development and implementation of the state coastal nonpoint programs, calling not only

for public participation, but also for public education.

As an integral part of the coastal nonpoint program, the goals of the public involvement and education

program should be defined by the state before it begins to develop its coastal nonpoint program. The

public will need to be involved as early as possible in the development and implementation of the

coastal nonpoint program, and the process should seek to promote and maintain the public's long-term

commitment to the program. Each state must demonstrate that its coastal nonpoint program has

undergone public review and comment prior to submittal to NOAA and EPA. Specifically, a state will

need to demonstrate that it has provided opportunities for public comment prior to determining which

management measures will be used, what enforceable policies and mechanisms should be employed to

ensure implementation of the identified measures, the geographic scope of the coastal nonpoint

program, the identification of land uses and critical coastal areas, and the selection and implementation

of additional management measures. Depending on the type of threshold review a state selects, there

may also need to be public participation as part of that process (see section IV.B.).

The public involvement and education program should include a schedule for initial public contact and

education activities, and milestones for further involvement throughout the development and

implementation of the coastal nonpoint program. These milestones will need to address public

participation, particularly in the development phase, and public education, particularly in the

implementation phase. The coastal nonpoint program should also describe how the state expects to

fund the public involvement and education programs, including both program development and

implementation activities (e.g., Federal funds, state and local funds, or the innovative use of private

sector dollars).

As part of the public participation and education programs, states should describe how they will

periodically evaluate the effectiveness of these programs.

Public education programs are expected to target several types of audiences, including those regulated

or affected by the program (e.g., farmers, building contractors, and marina operators) and those that

can assist with program implementation (e.g., conservation organizations and county extension agents).

In the implementation phase of the coastal nonpoint program, volunteers may be a very valuable source

of assistance. For example, Federal and state funds often are limited for water quality monitoring

programs, but volunteers can help to fill the gap. While clearly supplemental to professional data

collection, a number of states have successfully used volunteers in their programs. Although costs will

be incurred for training volunteers and supporting staff time to coordinate the volunteer efforts, studies

and reports demonstrate that volunteers can effectively provide accurate, useful long-term water quality

monitoring data.

III.G. Administrative Coordination
For program approval, the coastal nonpoint program must include administrative coordination
mechanisms (section 6217(b)(6)). At a minimum, the coastal nonpoint program must include a list of

26

Program Development and Approval Guidance

state, regional and local agencies that will play a role in developing and implementing the state nonpoint
program. The list should describe the mission, structure and operation of the agencies as they relate to
nonpoint source pollution control, and identify the specific role to be played by each agency in the
coastal nonpoint program.
A variety of mechanisms can be used to improve coordination among the agencies involved in the
coastal nonpoint program and to ensure that the various programs are fulfilling their responsibilities to
implement the applicable provisions of the program. These mechanisms include, but are not limited to:
# Memoranda of Agreement/Understanding describing specific agency roles and points of
coordination
#

Joint permitting processes

#

Formal interagency comments during other agencies' permitting processes

#

Cross training of staff in other agencies' programs

# Temporary assignment of staff to other agencies, e.g., Intergovernmental Personnel
Agreements
# Interagency task forces (e.g., those associated with national
estuary programs)
#

Interagency advisory committees

#

Regularly scheduled interagency staff meetings

# State statutes/regulations describing expectations for interagency cooperation and
coordination
The mechanisms selected to ensure coordination among participating agencies should be in place when
the coastal nonpoint program is submitted to NOAA and EPA for review and approval. The coastal
nonpoint program should also explain how the state will measure the effectiveness of program
coordination and should provide a schedule for periodic evaluation and reporting of the results to
NOAA and EPA.
NOAA and EPA will work with other Federal agencies at the national level to ensure their
understanding and cooperation in the development of the coastal nonpoint programs. NOAA and EPA
will also work to assist in resolving conflicts that may occur between states and Federal agencies during
the development and implementation of the state coastal nonpoint program.
III.H. Enforceable Policies and Mechanisms
Section 306(d)(16) of the CZMA states that, "[b]efore approving a management program submitted
by a coastal state, the Secretary shall find the following: ... [t]he management program contains
enforceable policies and mechanisms to implement the applicable requirements of the Coastal
Nonpoint Pollution Control Program of the State required by section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act
Reauthorization Amendments of 1990." The Act further provides that, "[e]ach State which submits
a management program for approval under section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of

27

Coastal Nonpoint Program

1972, as amended by this subtitle (including a State which submitted a program before the date of

enactment of this Act), shall demonstrate to the Secretary -- ... that the program complies with

section 306(d)(16) of that Act by not later than 30 months after the date of publication of final

guidance under section 6217(g) of this Act."

The statute includes a definition of "enforceable policy" in section 304(6a) of the CZMA: "[t]he term

"enforceable policy" means State policies which are legally binding through constitutional provisions,

laws, regulations, land use plans, ordinances, or judicial or administrative decisions, by which a State

exerts control over private and public land and water uses and natural resources in the coastal zone."

NOAA interprets the term "applicable requirements" in section 306(d)(16) of the CZMA to include

the implementation, at a minimum, of: (1) management measures in conformity with the guidance

developed under section 6217(g) in order to protect coastal waters generally, and (2) such

additional management measures applicable to land uses and critical areas identified in the program

as are necessary to maintain or restore coastal water quality and protect designated uses.

States can design a coastal nonpoint program that uses a variety of effective regulatory and/or non-

regulatory approaches in order to meet the requirement for enforceable policies and mechanisms.

Non-regulatory approaches must be backed by enforceable state authority which ensures that the

management measures will be implemented. States are expected to demonstrate that they have the

authority to take enforcement actions where incentive or other programs do not result in

implementation of management measures, or where significant harm to coastal waters is found or

threatened. The selection and design of enforceable policies can be tailored to specific state or local

circumstances. The approaches states choose should take into account the nature of the activity and

existing institutions and authorities. States may also want to evaluate the costs and benefits of

various approaches. States may include existing and/or new enforceable polices and mechanisms in

their coastal nonpoint programs. Whatever enforceable policies and mechanisms a state uses, they

must meet the threshold test in section 306(d)(16) of ensuring implementation of the applicable

requirements, (e.g., management measures as described above).

Enforceable policies may be established through state, regional or local authorities. Where

implementation occurs at the regional or local levels, the state must be able to exert or retain

authority to ensure local implementation in accordance with the federally approved coastal nonpoint

program.

As reflected in the section 6217(g) management measures guidance, a state may need to develop

different approaches or requirements for new and existing sources. For example, the (g) guidance

specifies separate management measures for the installation of new onsite disposal systems and for

the operation of existing onsite disposal systems. States may want to consider these differences in

designing enforceable policies and mechanisms for implementing the various management measures

to restore and protect coastal waters.

To ensure the effective implementation of the enforceable policies and mechanisms, states should

educate the public about the importance of the management measures and should provide technical

assistance to local governments and the affected interests. While public education and technical

assistance programs alone may not be used to fulfill the requirement for enforceable policies and

mechanisms (except as noted below), these programs can enhance the success of both regulatory

and

non-regulatory programs.

28

Program Development and Approval Guidance

Although the (g) guidance includes educational programs as practices under a number of
management measures, only the measures for urban pollution prevention and marina public
education require educational programs as part of the management measures itself. For these
measures, a demonstration that the state will conduct educational activities will be adequate, and,
therefore the state programs need not include enforceable policies and mechanisms for these two
measures.
Similarly, the guidance contains management measures which call for the state to promote the
restoration of wetlands and riparian areas, and the use of engineered vegetated treatment systems
such as constructed wetlands or filter strips. A demonstration that the state will promote these
efforts will be adequate to respond, and the state will not be required to include enforceable policies
and mechanisms in its coastal nonpoint program for these two measures.
The next two subsections describe examples of the various approaches that a state might consider in
developing enforceable policies and mechanisms. The presence in a state coastal nonpoint program
of enforceable policies and mechanisms identical to the examples does not necessarily guarantee
approval of these approaches because NOAA and EPA will need to evaluate a state's enforceable
policies and mechanisms in the context of that state's complete coastal nonpoint program.
III.H.1. Regulatory approaches
One way to implement the requirement for enforceable policies and mechanisms in the coastal
nonpoint program is the traditional regulatory approach. Examples of regulatory approaches include
permit programs, local zoning, or direct requirements contained in state statutes.
Permit programs
If a state chooses a permitting approach, it has flexibility in the type of permits it

uses: individual and general. An individual permit is written for a specific entity.

For example, states and localities can issue individual permits for onsite sewage disposal systems

prior to home construction. These permits can require implementation of the management measures

related to the siting, design, installation, operation, inspection, and maintenance of new systems.

These permits also may be renewed periodically to ensure that the system continues to operate

properly and/or is pumped out at specified intervals. Implementation of the management measures

for the operation of onsite sewage disposal systems can be accomplished through these permit

renewals. Other types of individual permits such as coastal development, building, or grading

permits can be used to ensure that a number of the urban management measures are implemented.

A state can also issue general permits for specific source categories. These permits prescribe

management measures that must be adopted by all entities that meet the category definition. The

state would conduct an education program to notify the targeted entities that they must comply with

the conditions of the general permit. Individual permits may be issued or penalties imposed for non-

compliance.

For example, a general permit can require farmers to adopt management measures for various facets

of their operation: e.g., nutrient management, pesticide management, and livestock management.

Farmers would choose site-specific management practices from technical guidance provided by the

state.

In another example, general permits are currently allowed for certain storm water discharges under

29

Coastal Nonpoint Program

section 402(p), e.g., construction activities. Persons engaged in construction activities would have
to undertake certain sediment and erosion control practices as conditions of a general permit. If
recipients of a general permit fail to meet conditions of the permit by not adopting the management
measures, they may face enforcement actions or could be required to apply for an individual permit
containing more detailed management, reporting, and inspection requirements.
Local zoning
Many local governments already use zoning ordinances to set conditions on development. For
example, local zoning ordinances may restrict the siting of marinas to protect sensitive areas such as
shellfish beds, and could, therefore, be used to implement the management measures for marina
siting. States could provide oversight of these local decisions by setting the standards by which the
zoning ordinances are adopted and by retaining appeal of local decisions if they do not meet the
state standards. In addition, local zoning may be an effective mechanism to implement additional
management measures. For example, a state may direct local governments to adopt provisions
restricting land uses in critical coastal areas to protect and restore water quality.
Direct state statutory requirements
A state may adopt laws that directly require or prohibit certain activities in certain areas as a way to
implement some of the management measures. While not requiring a permit per se, state forest
practices acts can require forest operators to maintain streamside management areas as part of their
plans of operation. This mechanism could provide a way to implement a number of forestry
management measures.

Enforcement of Regulatory Approaches
Enforcement under the regulatory approach could be triggered for failure to obtain or comply with a
permit, zoning ordinance, or direct statutory requirement. Enforcement actions may include cease
and desist orders, administrative orders, fines, or in certain cases, criminal penalties. Fines can be
punitive or can be based on the economic benefit an entity gained from not implementing the
management measures or the cost of restoring the environment from harm caused by the
noncompliance. Enforcement may be triggered when inspections or monitoring programs show that
operators are failing to implement the (g) measures or the additional management measures.
III.H.2. Non-regulatory approaches
Although regulatory approaches may be well suited for certain nonpoint sources, they may be
difficult to design and implement for other sources. In addition, efforts to control some nonpoint
sources historically have relied almost solely on non-regulatory programs. Accordingly, a state has
the flexibility to employ economic incentive, disincentive, or innovative approaches to address these
types of sources, provided that the state can ensure such approaches will result in the necessary
implementation of the (g) management measures and additional management measures. States will
have to include back-up enforcement authority for voluntary programs. Such back-up authority
could include sunset provisions for incentive programs. For example, a state could provide that if
too few operators participate in a tax incentive program, the state would develop additional
incentives or mandatory requirements to achieve the necessary implementation of management

30

Program Development and Approval Guidance

measures.
Non-regulatory approaches may use financial mechanisms to encourage or discourage certain
behaviors. State tax credits, tax deductions, tax rebates, cost-share programs, performance bonds,
or loan programs are economic incentives that are often used to encourage changes in behavior.
Economic disincentives include increased taxes, fees, or pricing structures. There are a variety of
economic tools that states can use; however, each state should analyze the relative effectiveness of
the tools in implementing the management measures before applying them in a given situation.
Economic incentives
State economic incentives can be used to provide financial support to guarantee implementation of
some management measures. For example, as a condition of the receipt of state agricultural costshare funds, farmers can be required to fully implement specific management measures (e.g.,
sediment and erosion control, nutrient management, pesticide management). Cost-share funds can
also be used to ensure
that some of the forestry management measures are implemented (e.g., road
construction/reconstruction, road management, revegetation of disturbed areas).
State tax credits, deductions, or rebates could be granted or pricing structures created to encourage
the adoption of water efficiency measures to implement urban management measures for onsite
disposal systems (e.g., marginal cost water pricing to encourage conservation of water, installation of
low-flow plumbing fixtures). States could set up grant or low interest loan programs to help
individuals finance capital expenditures associated with management measures such as replacing
failing onsite disposal systems, installing animal waste controls, stabilizing eroding shorelines using
vegetative methods, or constructing pumpout facilities for marinas.
Although economic incentive programs can be very effective in many cases, states should recognize
their limitations. Incentive programs can be very expensive for a state to administer and implement,
and state revenues will be required to support them. In addition, if such approaches are used alone,
it may be difficult to establish the rate of cost-share or tax credits at a level that guarantees
widespread adoption of the management measures. As a state raises the level of financial support,
the costs of the incentive program will increase.
Economic disincentives
States can also develop economic disincentive programs to implement some management measures.
Fees, taxes, or price increases on specific items can be used to reach the level specified in the
management measures. For example, increased prices may be used to stimulate water conservation
(or modifications to pricing structures that inadvertently encourage high consumption). Similarly,
taxes or fees may be levied on products to discourage their inefficient use.
States also should recognize the limitations on the effectiveness of disincentive programs. The
success of these approaches depends on the level of the tax or fee relative to the price of the good.
If a tax or fee is too high, it may change behavior more than is necessary to meet the management
measure. If a tax or fee is too low, it may not change behavior sufficiently to adequately implement
the management measures. However, a fee could be supplemented by other approaches to meet
the measure. Despite these limitations, the use of mechanisms such as taxes and fees has the
advantage of generating program revenues.

31

Coastal Nonpoint Program

Other innovative approaches
States also may use more innovative approaches to encourage management measure

implementation. Trading of pollution control requirements among point and nonpoint

sources or among nonpoint sources may be a useful tool in implementing additional management

measures to meet water quality standards in a particular waterbody. (See discussion in section

III.D.6.)

States may require that performance bonds be posted before an entity engages in an activity

requiring management measure implementation. For example, prior to authorizing a channelization

project, a state could require a developer to post a bond to ensure that proper design and

construction activities occur. When the developer complies with the practices, the bond will be

returned. If not, the bond will be forfeited to the state. Bonds can also be used to ensure that

proper operation and maintenance activities occur.

As mentioned earlier, states may enhance the success of these non-regulatory approaches through

education programs. For example, as part of an existing pesticide applicators' licensing program,

states may require that applicators be educated on management measures and appropriate practices

and may require certification of course attendance.

In conclusion, NOAA and EPA expect that states will employ a range of approaches in crafting

enforceable policies and mechanisms to implement the (g) management measures and additional

management measures. A state coastal nonpoint program should indicate clearly what approaches

and authorities the state will rely on to meet the requirement for enforceable policies and mechanisms

and should describe how the approaches will ensure the necessary implementation of the

management measures.

32

Program Development and Approval Guidance

IV. PROGRAM SUBMISSION, APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION
The legislative history of section 6217 states that "coastal nonpoint pollution control programs are
not intended to supplant existing coastal zone management programs and nonpoint source
management programs. Rather, they are to serve as an update and expansion of existing programs."
Id. See also section 6217(a)(2). The legislative history indicates that the central purpose of section
6217 is to strengthen the links between Federal and state coastal zone management and water
quality programs and to enhance state and local efforts to manage land use activities that degrade
coastal waters and coastal habitats.
The sections below describe several aspects of the approval process. States may elect to undertake
"threshold reviews" with NOAA and EPA. Under certain circumstances, NOAA and EPA may
grant "conditional approvals" for state coastal nonpoint programs. The last step in the process is
"final approval" by NOAA and EPA. When a state coastal nonpoint program receives final
approval, it will automatically be incorporated into the state's coastal management and nonpoint
source programs.
IV.A. Program Submission and NOAA/EPA Review
Within 30 months after the publication of EPA's (g) guidance, states must submit their coastal

nonpoint programs to NOAA and EPA for approval. Appendix G contains a listing of the

information that needs to be included in the state's submission.

The statute requires the Secretary of Commerce to make a determination whether

the portions of the state's program under the Secretary's authority meet the requirements of section

6217, and likewise, the Administrator of the EPA must make a determination whether the portions

under the Administrator's authority meet the requirements of section 6217. If both officials

determine that the requirements

of section 6217 have been met and each agency official concurs with the other's determination, then

the program will be approved. As stated previously, NOAA

and EPA have determined as a matter of policy that neither agency will approve a state's coastal

nonpoint program until the program meets all the Federal approval requirements as determined by

both agencies. NOAA and EPA (including both headquarters and regional offices) will coordinate

their review of the coastal

nonpoint program.

IV.B. Threshold Review
A state may request that NOAA and EPA conduct a threshold review of its proposed coastal
nonpoint program. The threshold review is an initial review by NOAA and EPA of a state's
approach to specific elements of its coastal nonpoint program. The review would address key
issues and decision points (e.g., identification of sources, geographic scope, alternative management
measures) that a state may wish to discuss prior to drafting its coastal nonpoint program. The intent
of this early review is twofold. First, the process would allow the state, NOAA and EPA to discuss
the state's approach to certain program elements before the state invests substantial resources in
program development. Second, it would help states set priorities and focus early on the final
program, particularly on elements, such as enforceable policies and mechanisms, that may take time
to adopt. Threshold reviews may take the form of informal consultations or a more formal process.
The requirements for each type of review are discussed below.

33

Coastal Nonpoint Program

Informal Review
The first type of threshold review would be an informal consultation between a state and NOAA
and EPA. The informal threshold review should occur as early in the program development process
as is practical.
A state would initiate the threshold review by developing a threshold review package that briefly
describes how it expects to address the requirements for the coastal nonpoint program. NOAA and
EPA will provide additional information for states to use in preparing for the threshold review.
NOAA and EPA will review the information and will work with the state coastal and nonpoint
agencies to refine the state's approach, as necessary. Public participation in an informal threshold
review is not required; however, states may decide to involve the public in some aspects of the
process.
Formal Review
States may wish to undertake a more formal review of specific program elements prior to submitting
their final program. NOAA and EPA may issue preliminary findings on the approvability of elements
of the program. The purpose of these findings would be to increase the predictability of the final
review process, although these findings would still be subject to the outcome of review of the
program in its entirety.
As with the informal review, a more formal review is optional. However, if a state wishes to take
advantage of this form of threshold review, it should submit, at a minimum, the following information:
a description of the portion(s) of the coastal nonpoint program which the state wishes to have
reviewed, an analysis of how that portion(s) meets the program requirements, the specific
management measures addressed by that portion(s) of the program, a description of opportunities
for public
review and comment, and to the extent possible, how that portion(s) would fit in with and relate to
the remainder of the program.
Unlike the informal threshold review, the formal review process must include opportunities for public
participation and review. Prior to seeking formal review, the state must provide a minimum period
of 30 days in which the public is given the opportunity to review and comment upon all portions of
the program being submitted to NOAA and EPA for their preliminary findings. The public notice for
the review period must indicate that the state is seeking such findings from the Federal agencies on
the specific portions of its coastal nonpoint program. It must also include a description of the
submitted portions and how they address the 6217 requirements. NOAA and EPA also expect the
state to consider any comments received prior to finalizing the submitted portion(s) of the program.
NOAA and EPA will review the submissions and determine, as a preliminary matter, whether they
meet the specified program requirements. NOAA and EPA will provide the state with written
preliminary findings. Elements that have received preliminary findings would still be subject to the
final approval process, including public participation, as part of the state's submission of its final
coastal nonpoint program.
IV.C. Conditional Approvals

34

Program Development and Approval Guidance

States are expected to submit a coastal nonpoint pollution control program that meets all the
requirements of section 6217 at the time of the statutory deadline for program submission.
However, NOAA and EPA recognize that in limited situations, a state might submit a program for
which all state enforceable policies and mechanisms necessary to implement the applicable program
requirements are in place, but that will require further development of state, regional, or local
authorities, or administrative mechanisms, to ensure close coordination with existing plans and
programs as required by 6217(a)(2). In other cases, a state might have a substantial majority of the
required state enforceable policies and mechanisms in place, but need additional time to develop
other state enforceable policies and mechanisms to ensure implementation of all applicable program
requirements.
In either situation, NOAA and EPA may elect to exercise their discretion and grant conditional
approval of the state coastal nonpoint program. Final approval of the program would be
conditioned upon the state's ability to demonstrate that all necessary enforceable policies and
mechanisms are in place. It should be noted, however, that a conditional approval will not postpone
the date by which NOAA and EPA expect full implementation of the (g) measures. As discussed in
section IV.D. below, these measures are to be fully implemented within three years of the first
Federal approval action regardless of whether that approval is final or conditional.
Conditional approval of the program will be granted only in situations where the state can
demonstrate its ability to ensure adoption of the necessary regulations or local ordinances or obtain
state authorities for the remaining portions of the program. NOAA and EPA will consider the
following factors in evaluating a state's submittal for conditional approval:
#

Scope and significance of nonpoint sources addressed and the geographic coverage for the
enforceable policies and mechanisms already in place;

#

Status of efforts to date to obtain the remaining enforceable policies and mechanisms;

#

The state's plan and reasonable timetable for obtaining the remaining enforceable policies
and mechanisms; and,

#

The presence, in the submitted program, of enforceable policies and mechanisms for
additional management measures to be implemented immediately to protect and improve
coastal water quality.

In cases in which NOAA and EPA grant conditional approval of a state's program, the state and
local enforceable policies or mechanisms necessary to satisfy the conditions will be required to be
adopted within one year from the date of conditional approval. Under very limited circumstances,
NOAA and EPA may grant a state an additional year to obtain the required enforceable policies
and mechanisms. If the state is able to satisfy the conditions within the required period, final
approval of the program will be granted. Conditional approval does not alter the program
implementation schedule described in section IV.D. below.
If NOAA and EPA find that a state fails to submit an approvable program or fails to meet the
conditions for full approval, both section 319 and section 306 funds will be withheld according to
the schedule described below.
IV.D. Schedule for Program Implementation

35

Coastal Nonpoint Program

NOAA and EPA expect states to fully implement management measures, including alternative

measures in conformity with the measures specified in the (g) guidance, within three years of Federal

approval of the program and to fully implement additional measures within eight years of that Federal

approval. 15 That is, if state programs are submitted in July, 1995 and approved by NOAA and

EPA in January, 1996, the (g) measures must be fully implemented by January, 1999 and the

additional measures by January, 2004. The period for implementation of additional measures

includes a two year period for evaluating the implementation of the (g) measures and a three year

period for implementing the additional management measures.

Under the statute, the purpose of the states' coastal nonpoint programs is to protect and restore

coastal waters. This purpose is advanced by establishing a schedule that requires management

measure implementation as soon as possible. In addition, NOAA and EPA believe that states

should begin implementing certain additional management measures at the time of program approval

to ensure that the statutory goal of attaining and maintaining coastal water quality standards is

achieved. However, it is recognized that it may be necessary to defer implementation of other

additional management measures until the (g) measures are in place and their effectiveness is

monitored. The statute also requires continuing revision of the additional management measures to

ensure that water quality standards are met.

For new sources, NOAA and EPA interpret full implementation to mean that new sources within

each identified nonpoint source category or subcategory would be subject to the management

measures at the time of Federal approval. Full implementation of management measures for existing

sources (e.g., existing agricultural operations or existing urban development) means that each

identified category and subcategory of existing sources is expected to implement the management

measures to which they are subject not later than three years after Federal approval.

The state coastal nonpoint program should include milestones established at appropriate intervals

within the three year implementation period, by which progress toward full implementation can be

assessed in terms of management measures in place and water quality protection achieved. This

schedule should ensure that sources having the most significant impact on coastal waters are

addressed first. NOAA and EPA will monitor progress of state implementation as part of program

and grant reporting requirements under section 319 of the CWA, section 306 of the CZMA, and

regular program evaluations under section 312 of the CZMA. States not making satisfactory

progress in meeting their milestones may be subject to loss of funds awarded under section 319, as

well as to sanctions imposed under section 312 of

the CZMA.

State coastal nonpoint programs must also include a schedule and milestones for implementation of

additional measures. Implementation of additional management measures for critical areas and for

those land uses (sources) for which state authorities already require management measures in

conformity with the (g) management

measures but where coastal water quality is still threatened or impaired, should begin at the time of

Federal approval.

IV.E. Program Approval Standards, Implementation and Penalties
15

"Federal approval" as used in this section means the first Federal approval action, whether final or
conditional. For states receiving conditional approval, the implementation schedule begins to run at the
time that conditional, rather than final, approval is granted.

36

Program Development and Approval Guidance

Both EPA and NOAA will base their review of a state's coastal nonpoint program on whether the
state has met the requirements of the statute. NOAA and EPA will perform their review consistent
with the interpretation set forth in this guidance. NOAA and EPA will consult with the states during
the six month review period above. The states will have an opportunity to amend their submission, if
necessary, subject to the public participation requirements and time constraints.
If either NOAA or EPA determines that a state has failed to submit an approvable coastal nonpoint
program, the relevant penalties will be levied both on section 306 coastal management grants and
section 319 nonpoint source grants. The penalties start at 10% in fiscal year 1996, and increase to
15% in FY 1997, 20% in FY 1998, and 30% in FY 1999 and each fiscal year thereafter. In the
case of the coastal zone management program, the penalty is based upon the grants otherwise
available to a state in the current fiscal year. In the case of the section 319 nonpoint source
management program, the penalty is based on the grant amount awarded to the state for the
preceding fiscal year. Given the joint approval process, no state will experience penalties to only
one program. Funds withheld by NOAA and EPA will be made available to states with approved
coastal nonpoint programs.

37

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A:
Section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990
APPENDIX B:
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
APPENDIX C:
List of Section 6217(g) Management Measures
APPENDIX D:
List of States and Territories with Approved Coastal Zone Management Programs
APPENDIX E:
Overview of Existing National Efforts to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution
APPENDIX F:
Designated Uses and Support Levels
APPENDIX G:
State Coastal Nonpoint Program Submission
APPENDIX H:
Demonstrated Benefits of Trading

Appendix A

APPENDIX A: Section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization
Amendments of 1990
P.L. 101-508
SEC. 6217. PROTECTING COASTAL WATERS.
(a) IN GENERAL.)
(1) PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT.) Not later than 30 months after the date of the publication
of final guidance under subsection (g), each State for which a management program has been
approved pursuant to section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 shall prepare
and submit to the Secretary and the Administrator a Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control
Program for approval pursuant to this section. The purpose of the program shall be to develop
and implement management measures for nonpoint source pollution to restore and protect
coastal waters, working in close conjunction with other State and local authorities.
(2) PROGRAM COORDINATION.) A State program under this section shall be coordinated
closely with State and local water quality plans and programs developed pursuant to sections
208, 303, 319, and 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1288, 1313,
1329, and 1330) and with State plans developed pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act
of 1972, as amended by this Act. The program shall serve as an update and expansion of the
State nonpoint source management program developed under section319 of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act, as the program under that section relates to land and water uses affecting
coastal waters.
(b) PROGRAM CONTENTS.) Each State program under this section shall provide for the
implementation, at a minimum, of management measures in conformity with the guidance published
under subsection (g), to protect coastal waters generally, and shall also contain the following:
(1) IDENTIFYING LAND USES.) The identification of, and a continuing process for
identifying, land uses which, individually or cumulatively, may cause or contribute
significantly to a degradation of)
(A) those coastal waters where there is a failure to attain or maintain applicable water
quality standards or protect designated uses, as determined by the State pursuant to its
water quality planning processes; or
(B) those coastal waters that are threatened by reasonably foreseeable increases in
pollution loadings from new or expanding sources.
(2) IDENTIFYING CRITICAL COASTAL AREAS.) The identification of, and a continuing
process for identifying, critical coastal areas adjacent to coastal waters referred to in paragraph
(1)(A) and (B), within which any new land uses or substantial expansion of existing land uses
shall be subject to management measures in addition to those provided for in subsection (g).
(3) MANAGEMENT MEASURES.) The implementation and continuing revision from time
to time of additional management measures applicable to the land uses
and areas identified pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) that are necessary to achieve and maintain
applicable water quality standards under section 303 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33
U.S.C. 1313) and protect designated uses.
(4) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. ) The provision of technical and other assistance to local
governments and the public for implementing the measures referred to in paragraph (3), which
may include assistance in developing ordinances and regulations, technical guidance, and
modeling to predict and assess the effectiveness of such measures,training, financial incentives,
demonstration projects, and other innovations to protect coastal water quality and designated
uses.
(5) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.) Opportunities for public participation in all aspects of the

Appendix A

program, including the use of public notices and opportunities for comment, nomination
procedures, public hearings, technical and financial assistance, public education, and other
means.
(6) ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATION.) The establishment of mechanisms to improve
coordination among State agencies and between State and local officials responsible for land
use programs and permitting, water quality permitting and enforcement, habitat protection, and
public health and safety, through the use of joint project review, memoranda of agreement, or
other mechanisms.
(7) STATE COASTAL ZONE BOUNDARY MODIFICATION.) A proposal to modify the
boundaries of the State coastal zone as the coastal management agency of the State determines
is necessary to implement the recommendations made pursuant to subsection (e). If the coastal
management agency does not have the authority to modify such boundaries, the program shall
include recommendations for such modifications to the appropriate State authority.
(c) PROGRAM SUBMISSION, APPROVAL, AND IMPLEMENTATION.)
(1) REVIEW AND APPROVAL.) Within 6 months after the date of submission by a State of
a program pursuant to this section, the Secretary and the Administrator shall jointly review the
program. The program shall be approved if)
(A) the Secretary determines that the portions of the program under the authority of
the Secretary meet the requirements of this section and the Administrator concurs with
that determination; and
(B) the Administrator determines that the portions of the program under the authority
of the Administrator meet the requirements of this section and the Secretary concurs
with that determination.
(2) IMPLEMENTATION OF APPROVED PROGRAM.) If the program of a State is
approved in accordance with paragraph (1), the State shall implement the program, including
the management measures included in the program pursuant to subsection (b), through)
(A) changes to the State plan for control of nonpoint source pollution approved under
section 319 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; and
(B) changes to the State coastal zone management program developed under section
306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended by this Act.
(3) WITHHOLDING COASTAL MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE.) If the Secretary finds
that a coastal State has failed to submit an approvable program as required by this section, the
Secretary shall withhold for each fiscal year until such a program is submitted a portion of
grants otherwise available to the State for the fiscal year under section 306 of the Coastal Zone
Management Act of 1972, as follows:
(A) 10 percent for fiscal year 1996.
(B) 15 percent for fiscal year 1997.
(C) 20 percent for fiscal year 1998.
(D) 30 percent for fiscal year 1999 and each fiscal year thereafter.
The Secretary shall make amounts withheld under this paragraph available to coastal States
having programs approved under this section.
(4) WITHHOLDING WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ASSISTANCE.) If the
Administrator finds that a coastal State has failed to submit an approvable program as required
by this section, the Administrator shall withhold from grants available to the State under section
319 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, for each fiscal year until such a program is
submitted, an amount equal to a percentage of the grants awarded to the State for the preceding
fiscal year under that section, as follows:
(A) For fiscal year 1996, 10 percent of the amount awarded for
fiscal year 1995.
(B) For fiscal year 1997, 15 percent of the amount awarded for
fiscal year 1996.
(C) For fiscal year 1998, 20 percent of the amount awarded for

Appendix A

fiscal year 1997.
(D) For fiscal year 1999 and each fiscal year thereafter, 30 percent of the amount
awarded for fiscal year 1998 or other preceding fiscal year.
The Administrator shall make amounts withheld under this paragraph available to States having
programs approved pursuant to this subsection.
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. ) The Secretary and the Administrator shall provide technical
assistance to coastal States and local governments in developing and implementing programs under this
section. Such assistance shall include)
(1) methods for assessing water quality impacts associated with coastal land uses;
(2) methods for assessing the cumulative water quality effects of coastal development;
(3) maintaining and from time to time revising an inventory of model ordinances, and
providing other assistance to coastal States and local governments in identifying,
developing, and implementing pollution control measures; and
(4) methods to predict and assess the effects of coastal land use management measures on
coastal water quality and designated uses.
(e) INLAND COASTAL ZONE BOUNDARIES.)
(1) REVIEW.) The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, shall, within 18 months after the effective date of this title, review the
inland coastal zone boundary of each coastal State program which has been approved or is
proposed for approval under section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, and
evaluate whether the State's coastal zone boundary extends inland to the extent necessary to
control the land and water uses that have a significant impact on coastal waters of the State.
(2) RECOMMENDATION.) If the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, finds
that modifications to the inland boundaries of a State's coastal zone are necessary for that State
to more effectively manage land and water uses to protect coastal waters, the Secretary, in
consultation with the Administrator, shall recommend appropriate modifications in writing to
the affected State.
(f) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. )
(1) IN GENERAL.) Upon request of a State having a program approved under section 306 of
the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, the Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator, may provide grants to the State for use for developing a State program under
this section.
(2) AMOUNT.) The total amount of grants to a State under this subsection shall not exceed
50 percent of the total cost to the State of developing a program under this section.
(3) STATE SHARE.) The State share of the cost of an activity carried out with a grant under
this subsection shall be paid from amounts from non-Federal sources.
(4) ALLOCATION.) Amounts available for grants under this subsection shall be allocated
among States in accordance with regulations issued pursuant to section 306(c) of the Coastal
Zone Management Act of 1972, except that the Secretary may use not more than 25 percent of
amounts available for such grants to assist States which the Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator, determines are making exemplary progress in preparing a State program under
this section or have extreme needs with respect to coastal water quality.
(g) GUIDANCE FOR COASTAL NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION CONTROL.)
(1) IN GENERAL.) The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary and the Director of
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and other Federal agencies, shall publish (and
periodically revise thereafter) guidance for specifying management measures for sources of
nonpoint pollution in coastal waters.
(2) CONTENT.) Guidance under this subsection shall include, at a minimum­
(A) a description of a range of methods, measures, or practices, including
structural and nonstructural controls and operation and maintenance procedures, that
constitute each measure;
(B) a description of the categories and subcategories of activities and locations for

Appendix A

which each measure may be suitable;
(C) an identification of the individual pollutants or categories or classes of pollutants
that may be controlled by the measures and the water quality effects of the measures;
(D) quantitative estimates of the pollution reduction effects and costs of the measures;
(E) a description of the factors which should be taken into account in adapting the
measures to specific sites or locations; and
(F) any necessary monitoring techniques to accompany the measures to assess over
time the success of the measures in reducing pollution loads and improving water
quality.
(3) PUBLICATION.) The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, shall publish)
(A) proposed guidance pursuant to this subsection not later than 6 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act; and
(B) final guidance pursuant to this subsection not later than 18 months after such
effective date.
(4) NOTICE AND COMMENT.) The Administrator shall provide to coastal States and other
interested persons an opportunity to provide written comments onproposed guidance under this
subsection.
(5) MANAGEMENT MEASURES.) For purposes of this subsection, the term "management
measures"means economically achievable measures for the control of the addition of pollutants
from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint sources of pollution, which reflect
the greatest degree of pollutant reduction achievable through the application of the best
available nonpoint pollution control practices, technologies, processes, siting criteria, operating
methods, or other alternatives.
(h) AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.)
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator for use
for carrying out this section not more than $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1992, 1993, and
1994.
(2) SECRETARY.) (A) Of amounts appropriated to the Secretary for a fiscal year under
section 318(a)(4) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended by this Act, not
more than $1,000,000 shall be available for use by the Secretary for carrying out this section
for that fiscal year, other than for providing in the form of grants under subsection (f).
(B) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for use for providing in the
form of grants under subsection (f) not more than­
(i) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1992;
(ii) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1993;
(iii) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1994; and
(iv) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1995.
(i) DEFINITIONS.) In this section)
(1) the term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency;
(2) the term "coastal State" has the meaning given the term "coastal state" under section 304
of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453);
(3) each of the terms "coastal waters", and "coastal zone” has the meaning that term has in the
Coastal Management Act of 1972;
(4) the term' "coastal management agency" means a State agency designated pursuant to
section 306(d)(6) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972;
(5) the term "land use" includes a use of waters adjacent to coastal waters; and
(6) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce.

Appendix B

APPENDIX B: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

A. Urban Runoff
Historically, there have always been overlaps and ambiguity between programs designed to control
urban runoff nonpoint sources and those designed to control urban stormwater point sources. For
example, runoff may often originate as a nonpoint source but ultimately be channelized and become
a point source. Two statutory requirements have resulted in additional confusion about program
applicability. Section 402(p) of the Clean Water Act, establishes permit requirements for certain
municipal and industrial storm water discharges, and Section 6217 of CZARA, which requires EPA
to promulgate and States to implement management measures to control nonpoint pollution in
coastal waters. The discussion below is intended to clarify the relationship between these two
programs and describe the scope and applicability of the coastal nonpoint program to urban runoff
in coastal areas.
B. The Storm Water Permit Program
The storm water permits program is a two-phased program enacted by Congress in 1987 under
section 402(p) of the Clean Water Act. Under Phase I, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permits are required to be issued for municipal separate storm sewers serving
large or medium-sized populations (greater than 250,000 or 100,000 people, respectively), and for
storm water discharges associated with industrial activity. Permits are also to be issued, on a caseby-case basis, if EPA or a State determines that a storm water discharge contributes to a violation of
a water quality standard or is a significant contributor of pollutants to waters of the United States.
EPA published a rule implementing Phase I on November 16, 1990.
Under Phase II, EPA is to prepare two reports to Congress which assess remaining storm water
discharges; determine, to the maximum extent practicable, the nature and extent of pollutants in
such discharges; and establish procedures and methods to control storm water discharges to the
extent necessary to mitigate impacts on water quality. Then, EPA is to issue regulations which
designate storm water discharges, in addition to those addressed in Phase I, to be regulated to
protect water quality, and EPA is to establish a comprehensive program to regulate those designated
sources. The program is required to establish (A) priorities, (B) requirements for State storm water
management programs, and (C) expeditious deadlines.
These regulations were to have been issued by EPA not later than October 1, 1992. However, due
to the numerous discharges to be covered by the studies and regulations, EPA has not yet issued
these regulations.
C. Scope of Urban Runoff in Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs
As discussed above, Congress enacted section 6217 of CZARA in late 1990 to require that States
develop coastal nonpoint pollution control programs that are in conformity with the management
measures guidance published by EPA. Although EPA's management measures guidance includes
measures to address certain urban runoff, EPA is excluding from coverage under this Section
6217(g) guidance all storm water discharges that are covered by Phase I of the NPDES storm water
permit program. Thus EPA is excluding any discharge from a municipal separate storm sewer
systems serving a population of 100,000 or more; any point source discharge associated with a

Appendix B

permitted industrial activity; any discharge which has already been permitted; and any discharge for

which EPA or the State makes a determination that the storm water discharge contributes to a

violation of a water quality standard or is a significant contributor of pollutants to waters of the

United States. All of these activities are clearly addressed by the storm water permit program and

thus are excluded from the coastal nonpoint pollution control program.

EPA is adopting a different approach with respect to other (non-Phase I) storm water discharges.

At present, EPA has not yet promulgated its regulations that would designate additional storm water

discharges, beyond those regulated in Phase I, that will be required to be regulated in Phase II. It is

thus not possible to determine at this point which additional storm water discharges may be

regulated by the NPDES program and which will not. Furthermore, due to the great number of

such discharges, it is likely that it would take many years to permit all of these discharges, even if

EPA allows for relatively expeditious State permitting approaches such as the use of general

permits.

Therefore, to give effect to Congressional intent that coastal waters receive special and expeditious

attention from EPA, NOAA, and the States, discharges that potentially may be ultimately covered

by Phase II of the storm water permits program are covered by the management measures guidance

and will be addressed by the coastal nonpoint pollution control programs. Any storm water

discharge that ultimately is issued an NPDES permit will become exempt from this guidance and

from the coastal nonpoint pollution control program at the time that the permit is issued.

In addition, we note that some other activities are exempt from the NPDES permit requirements and

thus are covered by the coastal nonpoint pollution control program. Most important, construction

activities on sites less than five acres, which are not currently covered by the NPDES Phase I

stormwater application requirements, are covered by the coastal nonpoint pollution control

program.1 Similarly, discharges from wholesale, retail, service or commercial activities, including

gas stations, which are not covered by Phase I of the NPDES stormwater program, are covered

instead by the coastal nonpoint pollution control program. Further, on-site disposal systems, which

are generally not covered by the stormwater permit program, are covered by the coastal nonpoint

pollution control program.

Finally, EPA emphasizes that while different legal authorities may apply to different situations, the

goals of the NPDES and CZARA programs are complementary. Many of the techniques and

practices used to control urban runoff are equally applicable to both programs. Yet, the programs

do not work identically. In the interest of consistency and comprehensiveness, States have the

option to implement the CZARA section 6217(g) management measures throughout the State's

coastal zone, including Phase I stormwater areas, as long as the NPDES requirements are met for

areas subject to NPDES requirements. In general, States are encouraged to develop consistent

approaches to addressing urban runoff throughout their coastal zones.

D. Marinas
Another specific overlap between the stormwater program and this coastal nonpoint source program
occurs in the case of marinas. EPA intends that the management measures guidance for marinas
and recreational boating apply only to sources that are not currently required to apply for and
receive an NPDES permit. In the (g) guidance, EPA has attempted to avoid addressing marina
activities that are clearly regulated point source discharges. Any stormwater discharge that is
1

The provision ex empting constructio n activities on sites less than five acres fro m the NPDE S permit
requirements is currently being reviewed by EPA in response to a recent court decision.

Appendix B

ultimately issued an NPDES permit will become exempt from this guidance and from the coastal
nonpoint pollution control program at the time that the permit is issued.
Marinas contributing stormwater runoff to municipal sewer systems serving a population of
100,000 or more are a part of the municipal NPDES permit and are not covered by the coastal
nonpoint source program. Marinas are also required to obtain permits for those portions of the
marina that are involved in vehicle maintenance (including vehicle rehabilitation, mechanical
repairs, painting, fueling, and lubrication) and equipment cleaning operations. However, many
marinas are not currently required to apply for and receive NPDES permits. The (g) management
measures are applicable to marinas and the parts of marinas that are not required to apply for
NPDES permits.
E. Other Point Sources
Overlapping areas between the point source and nonpoint source programs occur in addition to
storm water and marinas. For example, concentrated animal feeding operations that meet particular
size or other criteria are defined and regulated as point sources under the section 402 permit
program, while other confined animal feeding operations are not currently regulated as point
sources. Overlaps may occur with respect to aspects of mining operations, oil and gas extraction,
land disposal, and other activities.
EPA intends that the coastal nonpoint pollution control programs to be developed by the States
apply only to sources that are not currently required to apply for and receive an NPDES permit, and
that the management measures similarly apply only to sources that are not required to apply for and
receive an NPDES permit. In the (g) guidance, EPA has attempted to avoid addressing activities
that are regulated point source discharges.

Appendix C

APPENDIX C: List of Section 6217(g) Management Measures

Management Measures for Agriculture Sources
Erosion and Sediment Control Management Measure
Management Measure for Facility Wastewater and Runoff from Confined Animal Facility
Management (Large Units)
Management Measure for Facility Wastewater and Runoff from Confined Animal Facility
Management (Small Units)
Nutrient Management Measure
Pesticide Management Measure
Grazing Management Measure
Irrigation Water Management
Management Measures for Forestry
Preharvest Planning Management Measure

Streamside Management Areas (SMAs)

Road Construction/Reconstruction Management Measure

Road Management

Timber Harvesting

Site Preparation and Forest Regeneration Management Measure

Fire Management

Revegetation of Disturbed Areas

Forest Chemical Management

Wetlands Forest

Management Measures for Urban Areas
New Development Management Measures
Watershed Protection Management Measure

Appendix C

Site Development Management Measure

Construction Site Erosion and Sediment Control Management Measure

Construction Site Chemical Control Management Measure

Existing Development Management Measure

New Onsite Disposal Systems Management Measure

Operating Onsite Disposal Systems Management Measure

Pollution Prevention Management Measure

Management Measure for Planning, Siting and Developing Roads and Highways

Management Measure for Bridges

Management Measure for Construction Projects

Management Measure for Construction Site Chemical Control

Management Measure for Operation and Maintenance

Management Measure for Road, Highway, and Bridge Runoff Systems

Management Measures for Marinas and Recreational Boating
Marina Flushing Management Measure

Water Quality Assessment Management Measure

Habitat Assessment Management Measure

Shoreline Stabilization Management Measure

Storm Water Runoff Management Measure

Fueling Station Design Management Measure

Sewage Facility Management Measure

Solid Waste Management Measure

Fish Waste Management Measure

Liquid Material Management Measure

Petroleum Control Management Measure

Appendix C

Boat Cleaning Management Measure

Public Education Management Measure

Maintenance of Sewage Facilities Management Measure

Boat Operation Management Measure

Management Measures for Hydromodification: Channelization and Channel
Modification, Dams, and Streambanks and Shoreline Erosion
Management Measure for Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Surface Waters

Instream and Riparian Habitat Restoration Management Measure

Management Measure for Erosion and Sediment Control

Management Measure for Chemical and Pollutant Control

Management Measure for Protection of Surface Water Quality and Instream and Riparian

Habitat

Management Measure for Eroding Streambanks and Shorelines

Management Measures for Wetlands, Riparian Areas, and Vegetated
Treatment Sy stems
Management Measure for Protection of Wetlands and Riparian Areas
Management Measure for Restoration of Wetland and Riparian Areas
Management Measure for Vegetated Treatment Systems

APPENDIX D: List of States and Territories with Approved Coastal Zone
Management Programs

ALABAMA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

ALASKA

NEW JERSEY

AMERICAN SAMOA

NEW YORK

CALIFORNIA

NORTH CAROLINA

CONNECTICUT

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

DELAWARE

OREGON

FLORIDA

PENNSYLVANIA

GUAM

PUERTO RICO

HAWAII

RHODE ISLAND

LOUISIANA

SOUTH CAROLINA

MAINE

VIRGIN ISLANDS

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

MASSACHUSETTS

WASHINGTON

MICHIGAN

WISCONSIN

MISSISSIPPI

Appendix E

APPENDIX E: Overview of Existing National Efforts to Control
Nonpoint Source Pollution

Section III.G of this document describes the statutory requirement for administrative coordination.
It also describes EPA's and NOAA's expectation that state coastal nonpoint source programs build
on and complement, rather than duplicate and conflict with, other Federal statutory requirements
and state-implemented programs. The following section describes several existing and on-going
efforts to control nonpoint source pollution. State coastal zone and nonpoint source agencies are
encouraged to work with these programs in implementing their coastal nonpoint programs.
EPA Programs
1. Clean Water Act Section 319 - Nonpoint Source Program
A number of local, state and Federal programs have been implemented over time to address
nonpoint source pollution. However, the first national program to authorize Federal funding for the
control of nonpoint sources began in 1987 when Congress passed the Water Quality Act of 1987,
enacting section 319 of the Clean Water Act, which established a national program to control
nonpoint sources of water pollution. Section 319 requires that, in order to be eligible for federal
funding, states develop an assessment report detailing the extent of nonpoint pollution, and a
management program specifying nonpoint source controls. Section 319 authorizes EPA to issue
grants to states to assist them in implementing their nonpoint source management programs or
portions of management programs that have been approved by EPA.
As of August 1992, all states and territories had approved nonpoint source assessments and
management programs or portions of management programs. Congress appropriated $40 million in
section 319 FY 1990 and $51 million in FY 1991 funds to assist States in implementing their
management program.
2. Clean Water Act Section 320 - National Estuary Program
EPA also administers the National Estuary Program under section 320 of the Clean Water Act.

This program focuses on point and nonpoint pollution in geographically targeted, high-priority

estuarine waters. Under this program, EPA assists state, regional and local governments in

developing estuary-specific comprehensive conservation and management plans that recommend

corrective actions to restore and maintain estuarine water quality and to protect fish populations and

other designated uses of these targeted waters. To date, seventeen estuaries have been designated as

part of the National Estuary Program.

3. Near Coastal Waters Program
The Near Coastal Waters (NCW) Program serves as a primary vehicle for implementing
environmental protection in coastal areas under a variety of programs and authorities. It is also the
framework for coastal regions for carrying out Agency directives, strategic themes, and other
initiatives not specifically related to distinct program issues. Examples of these cross-cutting
themes include geographic targeting for management attention; pollution prevention; and setting
priorities based on the expected efficacy of preventive measures as well as the magnitude of

Appendix E

ecological or human health risks. Specific objectives include:

#

directing and focusing EPA's coastal activities within priority geographic areas;

#

promoting linkages among programs;

#

encouraging a comprehensive approach to problem assessment and management;
and

#

maximizing environmental results.

The NCW Program is implemented through two basic components: specific national activities
which provide direction, support, and oversight; and Regional development of NCW Strategies that
serve to implement the Program within EPA's Regions and that are carried out through activities
described in annual work-plans.
4. Ground Water Protection Programs
EPA has a number of programs, in addition to section 319, to control nonpoint source pollution of
ground water. Since at least 1984, ground water protection programs have provided technical and
financial assistance to states for the development of state ground-water strategies and, more
recently, Ground Water Protection Programs. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA may
designate sole source aquifers. These are aquifers that are the sole or principal of drinking water
source for an area. At EPA's discretion, no commitment for federal funds can be made for projects
that will contaminate these aquifers. In addition, the 1986 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water
Act established a Wellhead Protection program. This program was created to protect ground waters
that supply wells and wellfields that contribute to public drinking water supply systems. USDA
and EPA are also cooperating under a program to assess private drinking water wells on farmsteads.

5. Pesticides Program
EPA's pesticides program under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act addresses
some forms of nonpoint pollution. Among other things, this statute authorizes EPA to control
pesticides that may threaten ground water and surface waters. In determining the appropriate
regulatory approach for specific pesticides, EPA uses the following step-by-step approach:
1) EPA determines the pesticide's potential for leaching into ground and surface water; 2) if there is
such potential, EPA considers whether establishing national label restrictions (enforceable under
FIFRA) would adequately address leaching concerns (included in these restrictions can be
classification of the pesticide as "restricted-use," which requires application by a trained, certified
applicator; requirements for certain methods of application, safe handling, storage, and disposal;
etc); 3) if these restrictions are not adequate to address the potential problem, EPA will determine
whether providing states with the opportunity to develop Pesticide State Management Plans for the
chemical will effectively address the unreasonable risk from pesticide contamination. In the event
that Pesticide State Management Plans could not sufficiently reduce the risks to human health and
the environment (i.e., an unreasonable risk remains), then EPA would resort to national cancellation
of the pesticide.
Pesticide State Management Plans will be developed by state agriculture, water/environment, and

Appendix E

health agencies and will prescribe pesticide application measures to protect ground water that is
vulnerable to pesticide contamination. Required components of these Plans will include: state
philosophy and goals, state roles and responsibilities, legal authority, resources, assessment and
planning, monitoring, prevention, response, enforcement, public awareness and participation,
information dissemination, and records and reporting.
Since areas to be managed under State Pesticides Management programs and coastal nonpoint
programs may overlap in developing the coastal nonpoint programs' management measures for
agricultural pesticides, state coastal zone and nonpoint source agencies should work with the State
Lead Agency for Pesticides (or the state agency that has a lead role in developing and implementing
the State Management Plan). Such coordination is necessary to ensure that program efforts and
pesticide management measures and practices to protect ground and surface water, complement and
are not in conflict with the pesticide label and with requirements in the Pesticide State Management
Plans. (For instance, if a Pesticide State Management Plan prescribes a moratorium on pesticide
use in one are, the coastal nonpoint program should not allow pesticide use in that area). In states
where Pesticide State Management Plans have not been developed, planning efforts for the two
programs should be closely coordinated.

6. Wetlands Protection Program
EPA's wetlands program also has undertaken a number of projects to increase awareness of the
relationship between the protection and restoration of wetlands and nonpoint source control. In
1990, the agency developed guidance to encourage coordination of nonpoint sources and wetlands
programs, both within EPA and the states, to attain water quality goals shared by the two programs.
In addition, EPA has released guidance on how to ensure effective application of water quality
standards to wetlands. Projects in this area include:
Efforts with other Federal Agencies: The Wetlands Division is working with several agencies to
develop methods and transfer information on protecting and restoring wetlands in ways which can
be expected to provide nonpoint source abatement benefits:

#

The Wetlands Division is working with members of the Interagency Task Force
on Floodplain Management and the Association of State Floodplain Managers

to better protect and enhance the natural and beneficial values of the Nation's floodplain by

promoting the concept of comprehensive or multi-objective river corridor management.

Managing river corridors for multiple uses provides the opportunity for communities to

simultaneously address nonpoint source

pollution, water quality, flooding, recreation, habitat and any number of needs

and challenges.

#

The Wetlands Division is initiating a pilot project with USDA, the Fish and Wildlife
Service, and non-profit groups to encourage landowner participation in USDA's Wetland
Reserve Program. By working cooperatively, these groups will help landowners identify
wetland restoration sites that will improve water quality as well as enhance other wetland
values.

Development of technical and outreach materials: The Wetlands Division has worked with a
number of other EPA offices and regions to develop materials that can increase awareness of the
important role wetlands play in improving water quality.

Appendix E

#

Publications include: "Livestock Grazing on Western Riparian Areas"; "Summary of
Section 319(h) Wetlands and Riparian Projects for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991"; and
"Beyond the Estuary: The Importance of Upstream Wetlands to Estuarine Processes" which
focuses on the beneficial effects that upstream wetlands have on the downstream water
quality in estuaries.

#

EPA has released technical guidance to States on how to ensure effective application of
water quality standards to wetlands. The development of standards provides the foundation
of a broad range of water quality management activities including, but not limited to,
monitoring under Section 305(b), permitting under
Sections 402 and 404, water quality certification under Section 401, and control of nonpoint
pollution under Section 319.

#

The Wetlands Division is developing a manual on best management practices to protect
wetlands from excessive stormwater runoff and to avoid overloading their water quality
improvement functions.

Criteria to address nonpoint source pollution: EPA is providing support for the development
of criteria to address the many types of nonpoint source pollutants including nutrients, clean
sediment, and organic contaminants (e.g., pesticides). The Wetlands Division is assisting in the
development of wildlife criteria applicable to all waterbody types and biological criteria for
wetlands.
Wetlands Regional Contacts: For more information regarding regional or state initiatives,
contact the EPA regional wetlands coordinator.
Region I
Region II
Region III
Region IV
Region V
Region VI
Region VII
Region VIII
Region IX
Region X

(617) 565-4422
(212) 264-5170
(215) 597-9302
(404) 347-2126
(312) 886-0243
(214) 655-2263
(913) 551-7573
(303) 293-1570
(415) 744-1971
(206) 553-1412

NOAA Programs
Coastal Zone Management Program
The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 established a program for states and territories to
voluntarily develop comprehensive programs to protect and manage coastal resources. In order to
receive Federal approval and implementation funding, states and territories must demonstrate that
they have programs, including enforceable policies that are sufficiently comprehensive and specific
to regulate land uses, water uses, and coastal development; and to resolve conflicts among
competing uses. In addition, they must have the authority to implement the enforceable policies.
The programs operates within a coastal zone bound any which includes coastal waters and those
which have a direct one significant impact on coastal waters.

Appendix E

There are currently 29 federally approved state and territorial programs. Despite institutional
differences, each program must protect and manage important coastal resources, including:
wetlands, estuaries, beaches, dunes, barrier islands, coral reefs, and fish and wildlife and their
habitats. Resource management and protection is accomplished in a number of ways through state
laws, regulations, permits, and local plans and zoning ordinances.
While water quality protection is integral to the management of many coastal resources, it was not
specifically cited as a purpose or policy of the original statute. The Coastal Zone Act
Reauthorization Amendments of 1990 specifically charged state coastal programs, as well as state
nonpoint source programs, with addressing nonpoint source pollution affecting coastal water
quality.
USDA Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS),
Soil Conservation Service (SCS) and Extension Service administer a number of programs that
contribute to reducing nonpoint pollution from agricultural production.
Agricultural Conservation Program
The Agricultural Conservation Program, administered by ASCS, provides cost-share funds to

farmers and ranchers to install conservation practices. The program has several goals

including: conserving soil and water, improving water quality, protecting and maintaining

productive farm and ranch land, and preserving and developing wildlife habitat.

ASCS also administers the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), designed to protect the nation's

most highly erodible land and to protect and improve water quality. Under the CRP, farmers are

reimbursed for retiring highly erodible and environmentally sensitive croplands from production

under ten year contracts. Water quality improvements occur as lands are taken out of production

because of lower fertilizer and pesticide applications and because reductions in soil erosion

decrease sediment loadings to water. Land enrolled in the reserve program also provides habitat

and other environmental benefits.

Criteria for the conservation reserve program have been expanded to include environmentally

sensitive lands such as filter strips, wetlands and wellhead

protection areas.

Soil Conservation Service
The Soil Conservation Services (SCS) is the technical arm of USDA. SCS provides technical

assistance to conservation districts throughout the U.S. Under the President's Water Quality

Initiative, started in 1989, SCS is focusing some of its technical assistance on a number of

demonstration projects to address water quality problems. SCS staff are also located in many of

EPA's Regional Offices to provide technical assistance and support to the States and EPA. SCS is

also providing accelerated technical assistance

to multi-state, regional projects such as the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Gulf of Mexico, the Great

Lakes National Program, Land and Water 201, and the National Estuary Program.

Nonpoint Source Hydrologic Unit Areas
In selected agricultural watersheds and aquifer recharge areas, SCS, Extension Service, and

Appendix E

cooperating federal, state and local agencies will provide technical assistance and conservation
planning to help farmers and ranchers meet state water quality goals without undue economic
hardship. These hydrologic units are selected based on: significance of the agricultural sources of
pollution, relative predominance of pollutants such as pesticides, nutrients, and animal wastes, and
conformance with other water quality efforts. Findings on the water quality effects of selected
conservation practices will provide a basis for expanding applications of such practices to other
areas with similar water quality problems.
Forest Service
The Forest Service managers 191 million acres of public forest and range land for multiple use
purposes. These lands comprise the National Forest System. EPA and the Forest Service held a
joint technical workshop in Oregon this past winter on sediment and water quality. This meeting
reflects the increased concern regarding the potential impacts of sediment production from forest
management activities on water quality and aquatic life.
President's Water Quality Initiative
In 1989, President Bush launched an initiative to protect ground and surface water from
contamination of fertilizers and pesticides. Congress has funded the initiative in the past several
years. USDA, EPA, USGS, and NOAA are all working together on this initiative through a series
of work groups. Through this initiative, a number of watershed projects have begun to address
fertilizer and pesticides problems. The agencies are tracking the implementation progress in these
watersheds.
U.S. Geological Survey
EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
pledging cooperation and collaboration on water quality monitoring and assessment activities.
Both agencies expend much effort on monitoring and assessment activities and the MOU is a tool
to coordinate these efforts.

APPENDIX F: Designated Uses and Support Levels

DESIGNATED USES
Wildlife

Fish and wildlife

Fishery

Warmwater Fishery
Coldwater Fishery

Shellfishery

Shellfish protection

Drinking water
Agriculture

Domestic water supply
Agriculture
Irrigation
Livestock watering

Industry

Industrial

Recreation

Recreation
Primary contact
Secondary contact
Noncontact

Navigation

Navigation

High Quality

High Quality Nondegradation

SUPPORT LEVELS
Fully Supported

= all uses supported

Partial Support

= one use not supported

Non-support

= 2 or more uses not supported

Threatened

= all uses supported, but one or more uses may not be fully supported in the
future (unless additional management measures are implemented) because of
anticipated new or expanded sources

Appendix G

APPENDIX G: State Coastal Nonpoint Program Submission
1.

DESCRIBE PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The introduction should include a description of the magnitude and distribution of sources
of nonpoint pollution in the 6217 management area.

2.

3.

DESCRIBE OVERALL PROGRAM COMPONENTS
a.

§6217 Management Area
Respond to NOAA's boundary recommendation.
[§6217(b)(7); Program Guidance, p.9]

b.

Coordination Mechanisms
Describe the mechanisms which have been established to coordinate among the
state, regional, and local agencies responsible for implementing portions of the
program. [§6217(b)(6); Program Guidance, p.33]

c.

Public Participation
Describe the process used to ensure full public participation in the development and
implementation of the program. [§6217(b)(5); Program Guidance, p.32]

d.

Technical Assistance
Describe the state program for technical assistance to localities and the public.
[§6217(b)(4); Program Guidance, p.31]

e.

Water Quality Monitoring
Describe activities to monitor the effectiveness of management measures (see
Chapter 8 of the (g) Guidance). States may choose to design specific monitoring
programs for individual source categories.

DESCRIBE MANAGEMENT MEASURES "in conformity with" (g) GUIDANCE
State programs should address each management measure identified in the (g) Guidance for
the six source categories: agriculture, forestry, urban, marinas, hydromodification, wetlands
and riparian areas. The following information should cover each management measure, but
may be provided by source category, subcategory, or individual management measure.
a.

Covered Sources
Identify nonpoint source categories and subcategories in the 6217 management area.
Identify the categories or subcategories specified in the (g) Guidance which 1) do
not exist in the 6217 management area or 2) may be excluded based on Program
Guidance criteria, p.13.

b.

Management Measures
Identify the (g) Guidance measure or alternative measure to be implemented.
Alternative measure must include technical documentation.
[Program Guidance, p.15]

c.

Management Practices
Describe state practices to implement measure or the process for selecting practices

Appendix G

to meet site-specific conditions. Include operation and maintenance practices where
appropriate.

4.

d.

Lead Agency
Identify the lead agency and cooperating agencies responsible for implementation of
the management measure. Identify available resources (staff, funding, etc.)

e.

Enforceable Policies and Mechanisms
Cite state and local authority to ensure implementation of the management measure,
including inspection and monitoring provisions. If the program relies on local or
regional authorities, cite state oversight authority to ensure implementation.
[§306(d)(16); Program Guidance, p.34]

f.

Schedule
Describe schedule, including milestones, to ensure implementation of management
measures for existing sources within three years of program approval or conditional
approval. New sources are subject to management measures at time of program
approval. [Program Guidance, p.44]

DESCRIBE ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT MEASURES
Describe the implementation of additional management measures including the following
information:
a.

Impaired and Threatened Coastal Waters
Identify impaired and threatened coastal waters using existing water quality
assessments. [§6217(b)(1)(a); Program Guidance, p.23]

b.

Land Uses
Identify land uses in the 6217 management area which individually or cumulatively
may cause or contribute to a degradation of coastal waters. Use(g) Guidance source
categories as a starting point and add others appropriate to state conditions.
[§6217(b)(1); Program Guidance, p.24]

c.

Critical Coastal Areas
Identify and map, critical areas adjacent to impaired and threatened coastal waters.
[§6217(b)(2); Program Guidance, p.25]

d.

Additional Management Measures
Describe measures that will be implemented at time of program approval 1) in
critical areas and 2) in cases where (g) Guidance measures (or their equivalent) are
fully implemented for certain source categories or subcategories, but water quality
threats or impairments persist.
Describe process for determining the need for additional measures to meet water
quality standards even after implementation of (g) Guidance measures. Describe
process for revising measures.

e.

Enforceable Policies and Mechanisms
Cite state and local authority to ensure implementation of the management measure,

Appendix G

including inspection and monitoring provisions. [§306(d)(16); Program Guidance,
p.34]
f.

Schedule
Describe schedule, including milestones, to ensure implementation of management
measures for existing sources within three years of program approval or conditional
approval. [Program Guidance, p.44]

Appendix H

Appendix H: Demonstrated Benefits of Trading

I.

SIGNIFICANT TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS
A.€

Emissions Trading: An Exercise in Reforming Pollution Policy, 1985. T.H.
Tietenberg.

In Emissions Trading: An Exercise in Reforming Pollution Policy, Tietenberg references
studies that show that trading may be used in lieu of command-and-control approaches to
limit biological oxygen demand in water. The studies demonstrate that trading can lower
costs by factors of 1.12 to 3.13 without affecting benefits. Tietenberg also discusses a
variety of air emission studies that illustrate that trading can lower the costs of achieving
environmental objectives by factors ranging from 1.07 to 22.
B.€

"Financial Cost Effectiveness of Point and Nonpoint Source Nutrient
Reduction Technologies in the Chesapeake Bay Basin," 1991. R. Camacho.

Trading can offer very large cost savings to sources while achieving quality goals. In order
to offer gains to all market participants, incremental costs of pollution control must differ
between sources. Camacho demonstrates this in "Financial Cost Effectiveness of Point and
Nonpoint Source Nutrient Reduction Technologies in the Chesapeake Bay Basin." The
article states that for nitrogen and phosphorus, the cost effectiveness of controls differs by
as much as a factor ten. This differential provides the necessary economic incentive for
trading to be effective.
C.

The Private Use of Public Interest, 1975. C. Schultze

Schultze presents trading programs as a means of harnessing the private incentives of
polluters for public purpose in The Private Use of Public Interest. Trading programs allow
sources with low control costs to undertake additional abatement efforts in exchange for
compensation from high-cost sources. More pollution abatement is therefore undertaken
where it is cheapest, and less is undertaken where it is costly. Such a trading scheme
minimizes the total cost of achieving loading reductions.
D.€

"Incentive Analysis for Clean Water Act Reauthorization: Point
Source/Nonpoint Source Trading For Nutrient Discharge Reductions," 1992.
USEPA.

"Incentive Analysis for Clean Water Act Reauthorization: Point Source/Nonpoint Source
Trading For Nutrient Discharge Reductions" provides an assessment of trading potential for
nutrient discharges to surface waters. The report states that
over 900 water quality-limited waterbodies could potentially benefit from trading under current
conditions, and that the best opportunities are for trading nutrient allocations.
E.€

"Point Nonpoint Source Trading of Pollution Abatement: Choosing the
Right Trading Ratio," 1992. A. Malik.

The question of the right trading ratio for trades between point sources and nonpoint sources
has been addressed by Malik et. al. in "Point Nonpoint Source Trading of Pollution
Abatement: Choosing the Right Trading Ratio." Two types of uncertainty are recognized:

Appendix H

the effectiveness of nonpoint source controls, and NPS loadings reductions attributable to
weather. Uncertainty in the effectiveness of nonpoint source controls would justify higher
trading ratios, which imply expected net reductions in loadings. The uncertainty
attributable to weather, however, may justify lower ratios.
II.

NOTABLE CASE STUDIES
A.

Dillon Reservoir, Colorado

The Dillon Water Quality Management Plan established the nation's first point/nonpoint
source phosphorus trading program. The program is driven by the reservoir's phosphorus
limit and a perceived need to offset new nonpoint sources of phosphorus with phosphorus
removals elsewhere in the watershed. A 2:1 trading ratio was established in which point
sources received a credit of one additional pound of phosphorus above their allocation for
every 2 pounds of phosphorus removed from a nonpoint source that existed before 1984.
This ratio establishes a safety margin and has also been used in two trades to offset
increased loadings from new nonpoint source discharges to the reservoir.
B.

Tar-Pamlico, North Carolina

A point/nonpoint source trading program was developed as part of the overall nutrient
management strategy of the Tar-Pamlico River Basin. Under the established rules of this
trading program, it is anticipated that trading will achieve equivalent or better water quality
than would have been achieved under originally proposed effluent limits. The trading
program allows a coalition of point source discharges (the Basin Association) to fund less
expensive nonpoint source controls, thus avoiding high compliance costs associated with
major facility upgrades. Monies generated by trading go into a fund where they are
subsequently allocated by the Division of Soil and Water Conservation for nonpoint source
control implementation.

C.

Cherry Creek, Colorado

Several years ago, the citizens of Cherry Creek Reservoir in Colorado anticipated a
significant population increase as a result of development pressure. It was determined that
this growth would result in an exceedance of the reservoir's phosphorus budget by 1990.
The Cherry Creek trading program will allow the reservoir to accommodate growth by
permitting municipal wastewater treatment plants to gain waste load allocation credits in
exchange for the implementation of nonpoint source controls. Because the greatest amount
of phosphorus loading comes from nonpoint sources, the trading program will go into effect
only after urban nonpoint sources reduce their loading by 50 percent.