Code of Colorado Regulations
1000 - Department of Public Health and Environment
1002 - Water Quality Control Commission (1002 Series)
5 CCR 1002-55 - REGULATION NO. 55 - STATE FUNDED WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS
Section 5 CCR 1002-55.24 - STATEMENT OF BASIS AND PURPOSE REGARDING THE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FUND (MAY 2007)
The provisions of Sections 25-8-202, 25-8-308, and 25-8-608, C.R.S. provide the specific statutory authority for adoption of the attached regulations. The Commission, in compliance with section 24-4-103(4), C.R.S., has adopted the following statement of basis and purpose.
BASIS AND PURPOSE
The purpose of this new regulation is to implement the Fund as established by House Bill 06-1337. This regulation provides a format for identifying eligible grant recipients and projects, Fund allocation, and prioritization criteria that will be used to award grants from the Fund.
The General Assembly appropriated $292,990 for the Fund for state fiscal year 2007. However, the statute did not take effect until the passage of the bill on May 26, 2006 and applies only to violations committed on or after this date. Only those penalties collected after May 26, 2006 and appropriated by the General Assembly will be available for grants.
The Fund will be administered by the Division, which also administers the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund loans, State Domestic Wastewater Grants, and the Clean Water Act Section 319 nonpoint source grants. When compared to Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund loans, State Domestic Wastewater Grants, and the Section 319 nonpoint source grants, the initial amount of funding provided for the Fund is considerably less. No additional Division staff is included in the legislation to administer grants associated with this regulation. The goals of this regulation are similar to those for the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, State Domestic Wastewater Grant and the Section 319 nonpoint source grants. The grant amounts of the Fund are expected to be relatively small compared to the overall cost of such projects, and in most cases will not cover the entire cost of the project. Therefore, the Commission has determined that the most efficient and effective process to implement the Fund is to use, where established, the criteria already established by the three existing funding mechanisms.
An established process did not exist for projects identified under Category 1 (projects that improve the water quality in the community or water body which has been impacted by a water quality violation that resulted in a penalty being imposed). The Commission determined that a separate application process, with the criteria of project eligibility, Fund allocation, and project prioritization criteria being specifically developed, should be established to provide funding. This process will be compatible with existing Division loan and grant funding opportunities.
The Commission determined that entity eligibility for receipt of funding should be consistent with existing loan and grant opportunity processes and criteria. Ineligible entities are specifically identified to eliminate the potential for a party issued an enforcement action to apply for and receive grant funding. Project eligibility was determined to be consistent with the requirements specified in HB-06-1337. Funding allocation was determined by considering the legislative intent of the bill, which resulted in giving a slightly higher proportion to improving water quality in the community or water body that has been impacted by a water quality violation, to address effects from discharge violations. Categories 2 and 3 are given an equal funding allocation so that projects in these categories would receive funding over time. Project prioritization is established within each category because of the unique aspects of the project types. Category 1 and 2 priorities are to first address public health impacts to communities or impacted water bodies, and environmental impacts second. Category 3 priorities are to address more historic water quality impairments first, and protection of existing water quality designated uses and standards second.
This regulation will be implemented beginning in the fiscal year for which funds are appropriated and available. The Commission determined that implementation of this new Fund should be in conjunction with existing loan and grant opportunities currently administered by the Division, so as to minimize additional solicitation activities and associated staff workload.
