Coastal Nonpoint Source Program

What is the Coastal Nonpoint Source Program
Marylands Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program
Septic Systems
Clean Marinas
Measuring Success

What is the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program

In an effort to develop a more comprehensive solution to the problem of polluted runoff in coastal areas, the U.S. Congress expanded the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) in 1990 to include a new section 6217 entitled "Protecting Coastal Waters". Section 6217 requires that states with approved coastal zone management programs develop Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs (coastal nonpoint programs). In keeping with the successful state-federal partnership to manage and protect coastal resources achieved by the CZMA, section 6217 envisioned that nonpoint source programs developed under section 319 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) would be combined with existing coastal management programs. By combining the water quality expertise of state 319 agencies with the land management expertise of coastal zone agencies, section 6217 was designed to more effectively manage nonpoint source pollution in coastal areas. To facilitate development of state coastal nonpoint programs and ensure coordination between states, administration of section 6217 at the federal level was assigned to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Maryland’s Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program

Maryland is using the federal funds provided from NOAA through the Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program (Section 6217) to address the following: septic systems, clean marinas, and measuring success.

Septic Systems

Maryland has approximately 400,000 septic systems today (approximately 1 in 5 households), with potential for significantly more. With few exceptions, the same septic system technology is in use today that was used 50 years ago. These systems are not designed to remove nutrient pollution, which is the key type of pollution targeted by the Chesapeake Bay clean-up effort.

The 1990 Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments - Section 6217 requires states to ensure that all new onsite disposal systems (OSDS) are properly constructed and placed so as to prevent pollution of surface and ground waters and to ensure that existing OSDS are operated and maintained to prevent the discharge of pollutants.

In Maryland, this measure is satisfied by various state codes which serve to reduce the impact of OSDS, various inspection programs, efforts to educate homeowners about septic maintenance, efforts to develop a septic BMP manual to include new information on innovative systems, and workshops to train local governments and contractors about innovative systems.

Maryland is using federal Coastal Nonpoint Source Program funds (Section 6217) to assist coastal counties to:

1) develop accurate and complete inventories, databases, and maps of properties served by septic systems.

Currently, outdated, incomplete or missing records and information hamper many local management efforts. These funds will enable local governments to reduce the impacts of septic systems and protect environmentally sensitive areas by identifying areas: in need of increased monitoring due to potential water quality impacts, and areas that should be hooked-up to sewer systems, and targeting homeowners for outreach on system maintenance.

2) develop and implement effective onsite sewage disposal system (OSDS) management strategies based upon protection of nitrogen-sensitive waters. The purpose is to ensure that OSDS are appropriately sited, designed, operated, and maintained.

Under this Request For Proposals (RFP), localities will be able to: delineate nitrogen sensitive waters; develop an appropriate OSDS management plan; and propose regulatory changes or programs to successfully implement the plan. For example, the delineated areas could be included as part of the approved Master Water & Sewer Plan, or effective septic tank management measures could be accomplished as part of a permit or property transfer process. These tools could also include, but not be limited to, incorporating requirements to strengthen the OSDS inspection, maintenance and / or replacement processes, or establishing programs to increase the use of innovative OSDS. Nitrogen sensitive waters include:

Areas with high water tables or marginal soils

Any area where septic failure has created a public health or environmental threat

Any area where OSDS have been identified as significant contributors of nutrients or other pollutants to groundwater or to nearby receiving streams

Areas adjacent to water supply reservoirs

Wellhead protection areas

Areas with a high concentration of domestic drinking water wells

Areas with a high concentration of conventional OSDS

Areas within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area or draining to the Coastal Bays

Any other areas identified by local officials as requiring the use of nitrogen removal technology to address identified public health and water quality conditions.

The Maryland Clean Marina Program was created as a non-regulatory alternative for meeting the requirements of the 1990 Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (Section 6217 - CZARA). Section 6217 requires states to control nonpoint source pollution from boating facilities. This pollution includes stormwater runoff from boat yards, drips from fuel docks, fish waste from recreational anglers, etc.

The goal of Maryland’s program is to ensure that marina operators implement water quality best management practices in the following areas: vessel maintenance and repair; petroleum control; emergency planning; sewage handling; waste containment and disposal; marina management; stormwater management; and marina design and maintenance.

The activities of the marina operators are reviewed and if they are implementing a significant proportion of the recommendations in the Clean Marina Guidebook, they become a "Certified Clean Marina." The operators are eligible for technical and financial assistance from the State and can use the certification to help market their facilities to environmentally aware customers. Maryland has committed to certify 25% its boating facilities by 2004.

Federal funds  provided through the Coastal Nonpoint Program (Section 6217) have been used to develop the Clean Marina Program, create pollution prevention guidebooks, sponsor educational workshops, distribute tip sheets to boaters, and provide grants to marina operators for pollution prevention equipment (e.g., wash water recycling systems; fish cleaning stations, oil/water separators).

The 1990 Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (Section 6217 - CZARA). requires states to control nonpoint source pollution by implementing 56 management measures that prevent or reduce pollution from the following activities: urban development, agriculture, marinas and recreational boating, forestry, and hydomodification.

Each state will be evaluated by the federal government, every five years, to ensure that states are meeting the federal requirements. In order to measure success, it is essential to have the ability to track implementation activities (e.g., number of clean marinas certified, acres of trees planted) conducted by state and local governments and community groups.

For some of the management measures, Maryland has tracking mechanisms that provide the state and federal agencies with adequate information to measure the State’s accomplishments. Coastal Nonpoint Program funds are being used  to identify existing tracking systems at the state and local level for wetlands and riparian areas restoration. This analysis seeks to ensure better coordination of tracking efforts, to identify gaps and develop the systems necessary so all implementation activities can be tracked.

   Back To Top

NPS Home>>
Bays and Streams>>
DNR Home>>

Last Updated: 07/15/02