Summary: The 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments authorized grants to the states to develop and implement state programs to ensure the coordinated and comprehensive protection of ground water resources. While Congress authorized money for a grant program, no funds have been appropriated.

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Appropriated funding would principally be used by the states for development and implementation of comprehensive state ground water protection programs, including activities such as resource assessment and prioritization along with coordination of existing programs with ground water elements.

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NGWA's position statement developed in anticipation of the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act reauthorization debate supports federal funding of state ground water protection programs, such as the Comprehensive State Ground Water Protection Program. NGWA at the same time opposes any federal regulatory expansion into the ground water protection area.

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It is the position of the National Ground Water Association that Congress should fully fund the grant program established by Section 1429 of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996. This grant program is for the purpose of development and implementation of State programs to ensure the coordinated and comprehensive protection of ground water resources.

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