EPA Nonpoint Source Program Conversation with Community Organizations

EPA will use your registration information solely for this event. We will not share your information with any third party.

Automated live captioning will be available for this event. We also can offer direct assistance with registration if needed. If you require additional accommodations to participate in this event, please contact Margot Buckelew at Buckelew.Margot@epa.gov at least 3 business days prior to the event and let us know how we can best support your needs.

Please join the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for one of four listening sessions from May 17 - May 25 focused on equity and inclusion in the National Nonpoint Source (NPS) program. This discussion will cover anyone who is a subgrantee or is considering applying for an NPS Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 grant.

On September 27, 2022, EPA released a memo entitled Near-term Actions to Support Environmental Justice in the Nonpoint Source Program. In the memo, EPA committed to taking action to ensure equitable and fair access to the benefits of cleaner water provided by the Section 319 program. Specifically, the memo strongly encourages action in FY22 by stating that the Nonpoint Source Program will begin incorporating approaches to enhance environmental equity in their 319 funding programs. Additionally, the memo commits the EPA’s national NPS program to several actions in FY22 to support this goal, including seeking input and sharing progress via quarterly engagements with State, Tribal, and Territorial grantees. Recognizing that this will be a shared learning experience, EPA is committed to an ongoing dialogue with the NPS community as this work goes forward.

This listening session will provide an overview of the NPS program and the Justice40 initiative, updates on EPA’s efforts to incorporate the Justice40 initiative into its NPS program, and a facilitated discussion with subgrantees. This discussion aims to understand the challenges facing environmental justice communities, Tribes, and Indigenous communities, how these challenges impact NPS programs working within these communities, and how EPA can help address these challenges through action in the CWA Section 319 programs.

There will be a total of four listening sessions, scheduled for:

• Tuesday, May 17 at 1:00pm-2:30pm ET

• Wednesday, May 18 at 3:00pm-4:30pm ET this session will focus on the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico watershed communities (AR, IA, IL, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, OH, TN, WI)

• Tuesday, May 24 at 6:00pm-7:30pm ET

• Wednesday, May 25 at 3:00pm-4:30pm ET

These sessions are open to all NPS subgrantees and those considering applying for an NPS grant.

NPS grants are given directly to states, territories, and tribes to support a variety of activities related to nonpoint source efforts. To learn more about the NPS program, please visit this webpage.

This event will not be recorded.