Current through August 31, 2023
Projects are identified for placement on priority lists by
surveying eligible entities directly on an annual basis. Limited loan funds are
awarded to projects based on priority ratings and readiness to proceed.
Projects are rated by the Department on a standard priority rating form using
public health, sustainability, the condition of the existing system and water
quality criteria. (3-24-22)
01.
Purpose. A priority rating system shall be utilized by the
Department to annually allot available funds to wastewater and drinking water
projects determined eligible for funding assistance under these rules.
(3-24-22)
02.
Wastewater
Priority Rating. The priority rating system shall be based on a
numerical point system. Priority criteria shall contain the following points:
(3-24-22)
a. Public health emergency or hazard
certified by the Idaho Board of Environmental Quality, the Department, a
District Health Department or by a District Board of Health - one hundred and
fifty (150) points. (3-24-22)
b.
Regulatory compliance issues (e.g., noncompliance and resulting legal actions
relating to infrastructure deficiencies at a wastewater facility) -- up to one
hundred (100) points. (3-24-22)
c.
Watershed restoration (e.g., implementation of best management practices or
initiation of construction at wastewater collection and treatment facilities as
part of an approved total maximum daily load plan, implementation of nonpoint
source management actions in protection of a threatened water, or is part of a
special water quality effort) -- up to one hundred (100) points.
(3-24-22)
d. Watershed protection
from impacts (e.g., improvement of beneficial use(s) in a given water body,
evidence of community support, or recognition of the special status of the
affected water body) -- up to one hundred (100) points. (3-24-22)
e. Preventing impacts to uses (nonpoint
source pollution projects) -- up to one hundred (100) points.
(3-24-22)
f. Sustainability efforts
(e.g., prospective efforts at energy conservation, water conservation,
extending the life of capital assets, green building practices, and other
environmentally innovative approaches to infrastructure repair, replacement and
improvement) -- up to fifty (50) points. (3-24-22)
g. Affordability (current system user charges
exceed state affordability guidelines) -- ten (10) points.
(3-24-22)
03.
Drinking Water Priority Rating. The priority rating system shall
be based on a numerical points system. Priority criteria shall contain the
following points. (3-24-22)
a. Public Health
Hazard. Any condition that creates, or may create, a danger to the consumer's
health, which may include any one (1) or more of the following, may be awarded
a maximum of one hundred (100) points: (3-24-22)
i. Documented unresolved violations of the
primary drinking water standards including maximum contaminant levels, action
levels, and treatment techniques (to include maximum contaminant levels for
acute and chronic contaminates); (3-24-22)
ii. Documented unresolved violations of
pressure requirements; (3-24-22)
iii. Documented reduction in source capacity
that impacts the system's ability to reliably serve water; (3-24-22)
iv. Documented significant deficiencies
(e.g., documented in a sanitary survey) in the physical system that are causing
the system to not reliably serve safe drinking water; or (3-24-22)
v. Documented unregulated contaminants that
have been shown by EPA to be a risk to public health.
(3-24-22)
b. General
Conditions of Existing Facilities. Points shall be given based on deficiencies,
which would not constitute a public health hazard, for pumping, treating, and
delivering drinking water - up to sixty (60) points. (3-24-22)
c. Sustainability Efforts (e.g., prospective
efforts at energy conservation, water conservation, extending the life of
capital assets, green building practices, and other environmentally innovative
approaches to infrastructure repair, replacement and improvement) - up to fifty
(50) points. (3-24-22)
d. Consent
Order, Compliance Agreement Schedule, or Court Order. Points shall be given if
the system is operating under and in compliance with a Consent Order,
Compliance Agreement Schedule, or Court Order and the proposed construction
project will address the Consent Order, Compliance Agreement Schedule, or Court
Order - up to thirty (30) points. (3-24-22)
e. Incentives. Bonus points shall be awarded
to systems that promote source water protection, conservation, economy, proper
operation maintenance, and monitoring - up to ten (10) points.
(3-24-22)
f. Affordability. Points
shall be given when current system user charges exceed state affordability
guidelines - ten (10) points. (3-24-22)
04.
Rating Forms. Rating
criteria for Section 020 set forth
in rating forms that are available in the Handbooks. (3-24-22)
05.
Priority List. A list shall
be developed from projects rated according to Section
020, submitted for public review
and comment, and submitted to the Board for approval. (3-24-22)
a. Priority Reevaluation. Whenever
significant changes occur, which in the Department's judgment would affect the
design parameters or treatment requirements by either increasing or decreasing
the need for or scope of any project, a reevaluation of that priority rating
will be conducted. (3-24-22)
b.
Project Bypass. A project that does not or will not meet the Department
schedule that allows for timely utilization of loan funds may be bypassed,
substituting in its place the next highest ranking project(s) that is ready to
proceed. An eligible applicant that is bypassed will be notified in writing of
the reasons for being bypassed. (3-24-22)
06.
Amendment of a Priority
List. The Director may amend a Priority List as set forth in Section
995 of these rules.
(3-24-22)
