---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300h–8"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300h–8"
heading: "State ground water protection grants"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300h-8"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XII — Safety of Public Water Systems"
  - "Part C — Protection of Underground Sources of Drinking Water"
---

# §300h–8. State ground water protection grants

- (a) **In general—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may make a grant to a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) for the development and implementation of a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to ensure the coordinated and comprehensive protection of ground water resources within the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f).
- (b) **Guidance—** Not later than 1 year after August 6, 1996, and annually thereafter, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall publish guidance that establishes procedures for application for [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) ground water protection [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) assistance and that identifies key elements of [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) ground water protection [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).
- (c) **Conditions of grants—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall award grants to [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) that submit an application that is approved by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1). The [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall determine the amount of a grant awarded pursuant to this paragraph on the basis of an assessment of the extent of ground water resources in the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) and the likelihood that awarding the grant will result in sustained and reliable protection of ground water quality.
  - (2) **Innovative program grants—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may also award a grant pursuant to this subsection for innovative [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) proposed by a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) for the prevention of ground water contamination.
  - (3) **Allocation of funds—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall, at a minimum, ensure that, for each fiscal year, not less than 1 percent of funds made available to the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) by appropriations to carry out this section are allocated to each [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) that submits an application that is approved by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) pursuant to this section.
  - (4) **Limitation on grants—** No grant awarded by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may be used for a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to remediate ground water contamination.
- (d) **Amount of grants—** The amount of a grant awarded pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not exceed 50 percent of the eligible costs of carrying out the ground water protection [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) that is the subject of the grant (as determined by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1)) for the 1-year period beginning on the date that the grant is awarded. The [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) shall pay a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) share to cover the costs of the ground water protection [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) from [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) funds in an amount that is not less than 50 percent of the cost of conducting the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).
- (e) **Evaluations and reports—** Not later than 3 years after August 6, 1996, and every 3 years thereafter, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall evaluate the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) ground water protection [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) that are the subject of grants awarded pursuant to this section and report to the Congress on the status of ground water quality in the United States and the effectiveness of [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for ground water protection.
- (f) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1997 through 2003.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XIV, § 1429, as added Pub. L. 104–182, title I, § 131, Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1672.)