Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 20, October 25, 2024
Section 5 CCR 1002-55.4 - NATURAL DISASTER GRANT FUND CRITERIA(1) Entity Eligibility(a) Local governments defined as governmental agencies in section 55.2 that own and operate domestic wastewater treatment works and public drinking water systems in a designated disaster emergency county by an executive order or proclamation under section 24-33.5-704, C.R.S.(b) Local governments accepting grants on behalf of and in coordination with not-for-profit public drinking water systems.(c) Local governments assisting with the repair and restoration of on-site wastewater treatment systems as defined in section 25-10-103(12), C.R.S.(2) Project Eligibility (a) Domestic wastewater treatment works, public drinking water systems and on-site wastewater treatment systems that have been impacted, damaged or destroyed in connection with the September 2013 flood, or future declared disaster emergencies.(b) Projects for the planning, design, construction, improvement, renovation or reconstruction of domestic wastewater treatment works or public drinking water systems that have been impacted, damaged or destroyed in connection with the September 2013 flood.(c) Grant moneys under this section may be used as matching funds required to secure any other state and federal funding for the planning, design, construction, improvement, renovation or reconstruction of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.(3) Award Process and Funding Allocation(a) Appropriations are subject to approval by the Colorado General Assembly, and funding is contingent upon such final appropriation. Pending appropriation, the division will administer the funds per the Natural Disaster Grant Fund rules identified in this section and prioritize projects based upon the criteria in section 55.5 below. The division will notify all applicants of their funding status after the establishment of a fundable list. The fundable list will be posted on the division website to identify the recipients of funds and the amount of each award.(b) A portion of the Natural Disaster Grant Fund will be set-aside to assist local governments with grants for on-site wastewater treatment systems that have been impacted as a result of the September 2013 flood. To sufficiently meet the demand indicated by the number of applications received and project type, the division has the authority to transfer funds between the set-aside for on-site wastewater treatment systems and the Natural Disaster Grant Fund. If a transfer occurs and project prioritization is required, the division will prioritize per section 55.5(4).(c) In the event that funds remain unallocated subsequent to a transfer of funds between the Natural Disaster Grant Fund and the on-site wastewater set-aside, the division has the authority to increase the amount of grant awards in priority order, highest to lowest, until all of the funds have been allocated or the application demand has been met.(4) Project Prioritization(a) If the demand for funding in the Natural Disaster Grant Fund exceeds the available funds, the division shall rank each project based on population criteria, financial affordability factors, regionalization, utilization of multiple funding sources, readiness to proceed and impacts as a result of the September 2013 flood. The division will give priority to the applicants that have the lowest financial ability to pay. Specific point ranking criteria and associated points under each of the above factors will be included in the request for application. Projects will be funded in priority order from highest to lowest until all funds have been allocated.(b) Local governments receiving funds from the set-aside portion for the rehabilitation for on-site wastewater treatment systems impacted by the September 2013 flood will receive an equitable percentage of the funds requested. For example, if $1 million is allocated to the set-aside portion and $2 million is requested, each valid applicant will receive 50% of its application request.37 CR 17, September 10, 2014, effective 9/30/201440 CR 23, December 10, 2017, effective 12/31/201746 CR 01, January 10, 2023, effective 1/30/2023