This action approves an award in the amount of $3,231,000 to mississippi department of environmental quality

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $3,231,000 Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant (CFDA 66.460) to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to implement the state's Nonpoint Source Management Program. The 5-year grant (9/1/2023 - 8/31/2028) will fund activities to protect and improve Mississippi's water resources by mitigating nonpoint source pollution. Key deliverables include structural and non-structural best management practices, watershed planning, monitoring, technology demonstrations, and education/outreach programs. MDEQ will collaborate with partners and subrecipients on this effort to benefit all state residents and occupants. The grant supports MDEQ's mission to manage the state's environmental resources through regulation, research, and public engagement.

The purpose of the award is to implement its nonpoint source management program, focusing on watersheds with water quality impairments caused by polluted runoff from nonpoint sources. Activities include periodic review, assess, and report on progress toward achieving the nonpoint source program, maintain agreements with partners and/or subrecipients, track expenditures and match, support nutrient reduction priorities, provide resources to public and partners, monitor projects and report load reductions. Anticipated deliverables include a variety of structural and non-structural best management practices, watershed planning, monitoring, technology demonstrations, and a variety of education/outreach programs. Direct beneficiaries of this program include all state residents and occupants.activities:activities to be performed will include program administration, statewide collaborative strategies, education and outreach programs, statewide monitoring and assessments, and watershed planning activities.subrecipient:sub-awards are not known at the time of of work plan approval due to state procurement and solicitation process.outcomes:the expected outcomes are to protect and improve the quality of mississippi water resources for human uses, achieve water quality improvements through mitigation of NPS pollution, and .foster wise economic growth through focused research, responsible regulation, widespread education, and collaborative efforts through partnerships.