[StBernard] News Release (Region 6): EPA Requests Grant Proposals to Reduce Hypoxic Zone in Gulf of Mexico

[Westley Annis]

EPA Requests Grant Proposals to Reduce Hypoxic Zone in Gulf of Mexico     

(Dallas, Texas - June 10, 2008)  EPA plans to award up to $4.2 million in
targeted watershed grants to reduce the hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf of
Mexico.  EPA is soliciting proposals that will use water quality trading
programs to reduce nutrient loads, particularly from the Ohio River, the
Upper Mississippi River, or the Lower Mississippi River.  These three
sub-basins provide the most nutrients to the Gulf, contributing to the
hypoxic zone, an oxygen-depleted area that cannot support aquatic life.
Excess nutrients come from a wide range of sources, including runoff from
developed land, atmospheric deposition, soil erosion, agricultural
fertilizers, and sewage and industrial discharges.     

"This is seed money to grow an innovative solution to nutrient pollution and
cut the size of the Gulf of Mexico's dead zone," said Assistant
Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles.     

Market-based approaches like water quality trading that use innovative
pollutant cap and trade programs can accelerate the restoration of the Gulf
and help achieve major reductions in pollution at lower costs.  Setting
pollutant reduction targets and allowing sources to buy and sell credits to
meet those targets can make it faster, easier, and cheaper to meet water
quality goals.         

Grant proposals must be submitted by Sept. 9, 2008.  State governors and
tribal leaders nominate proposals for targeted watershed grants.  A national
panel evaluates and ranks submissions based on criteria outlined in the
notice.  Selection of the grantees will be announced this fall.     

The Targeted Watersheds Grants program has awarded nearly $50 million to 61
organizations since 2003.  For 2008, the focus is on supporting water
quality trading to protect local water resources to reduce the hypoxic zone
in the northern Gulf of Mexico.     

More information:  

Targeted Watersheds Grants program: http://www.epa.gov/twg
<http://www.epa.gov/twg>       

Water quality trading: http://www.epa.gov/waterqualitytrading
<http://www.epa.gov/waterqualitytrading>      

Hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico: http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/index.htm
<http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/index.htm>  

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