5 Colo. Code Regs. § 1002-55.21
The provisions of sections 25-8-202(1)(e) and (g); 25-8-308(1)(d); and 25-8-703 C.R.S. provide the specific statutory authority for adoption of the attached regulatory amendments. The Commission also adopted, in compliance with Section 24-4-103(4) C.R.S., the following statement of basis and purpose.
BASIS AND PURPOSE
The subject regulations are in implementation of the requirements of the Colorado Water Quality Control Act, C.R.S., 25-8-101. et seq. Section 25-8-202 of the Act requires that the Commission promulgate regulations for the administration of grants for domestic wastewater treatment facilities for the State. In particular, C.R.S., 25-8-202(1)(e) and (g) provide as follows: "The Commission shall develop and maintain a comprehensive and effective program for prevention, control, and abatement of water pollution and for water quality protection throughout the entire state and, in connection therewith, shall:
A stakeholders group with members from the Southeast Council of Governments, Clear Creek Watershed Forum, a consulting engineering firm, the State Environmental Information Center, the Water Quality Control Division and the Division of Local Government of the Department of Local Affairs met to create new regulations to provide a format for determining which eligible projects should receive funds under the Domestic Wastewater Treatment (DWWT) Grant Program.
The need for revising Regulation No. 53 came about when the previous priority system that was used for both grants and loans under Regulation No. 51 (Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund (WPCRF) Rules) was deleted and replaced with a system that could fund water quality projects beyond wastewater treatment. Since Colorado's Water Quality Control Act only allows grants to small community domestic wastewater treatment projects, separate regulations had to be established to provide criteria for eligible grants. It is the Division's intent to continue to utilize the list of projects developed under the WPCRF Rules by extracting the projects that would meet the criteria for DWWT Grant Program established under this regulation.
Section 53.4(3) allows the Division to provide assistance to governmental agencies that were not identified in the Intended Use Plan and yet still need to move ahead with a project or make adjustments in an emergency situation. The focus on providing funds for planning or a quick fix in an emergency and then ensuring that those projects are identified on a subsequent approved plan provides flexibility while preserving the credibility of the process.
The timing of the public rulemaking hearing for this regulation will not accommodate approval of the Intended Use Plan for the year 2000 by December 31, 1999. The 2000 Intended Use Plan will be developed as Regulation No. 54 for the Commission's approval in February 2000 after adoption of these regulations. Until this process is complete, the Division will continue to award grant contracts from the Commission's approved 1999 State Construction Grant Priority List.
The new system as proposed will provide categories of eligible projects, provide mechanism for funding throughout the year, identify the use of the grant funds and allow for prioritization as necessary. The proposed system is still similar to the WPCRF and can accommodate this DWWT Grant Program, the Sewer Needs List for the Division of Local Government, and any future federal grant program.
5 CCR 1002-55.21