33 Miss. Code. R. 17-V
The SDWA allows each state to set-aside up to 31 percent of its federal Cap grant to support non-project-related drinking water programs which includes administration of the loan program, technical assistance to public water systems, state program management, and other special activities. The FFY-2024 EPA Capitalization Grant amount of $5,837,000, the state plans to use $1,677,825 of the FFY-2024 Federal Capitalization grant to support the non-project-related drinking water programs activities. The state plans to utilize $4,300,572 of the BIL Supplemental Cap Grant amount for set-aside activities. These non-project-related programs will be operated by MSDH within the agency itself or through contracts with other agencies or organizations. Contracts between the MSDH and other agencies or organizations will be approved by the Board. Work plans showing how the set-asides funds will be expended are included as appendices within this IUP; additionally, progress reports will be included in the Annual Report. The state has elected not to take any additional set-asides from the FFY-2024 Local Assistance and Other State Programs set-aside but reserves the right to make revisions to utilize additional funds from this set-aside. See Appendix B for the funding breakdown of each category.
The SDWA-DWSRF amendments in the 2017 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (Pub. L. 114-332) (2017 WIIN Act - EPA memorandum dated June 6, 2017) states that the Administrative Set-Asides that can be taken (the greatest of: $400,000, 1/5 percent of the current valuation of the fund, or an amount equal to 4 percent of all grant awards to the fund for the fiscal year). The State plans to use the maximum allowable for "Administrative" purposes from the FFY2024 Cap Grant. The State also plans to use a percentage for "Administrative" purposes from the FFY2024 BIL Supplemental Cap Grant. Costs beyond this amount will be paid from the funds generated by the 5% administrative fee taken from loan repayments.
The state will continue to exercise its right to reserve the administrative amounts from previous Cap Grants. Reserving previous years' 4% administrative set-aside can ensure that the Program will continue to operate with an adequate DWSIRLF staff for proper management of the Program.
The state will use the Small Systems Technical Assistance (Up to 2%) set-aside from the FFY-2024 Cap Grant and the BIL Supplemental Cap Grant to provide technical assistance to public water systems serving areas with populations of 10,000 or less. With approval by the Board, the state intends to use this set-aside to fund contracts for the following activities: Special Technical Assistance to Referred Systems; Board Management Training for Water System Officials; On-Site Technical Assistance; PEER Review Program; Hands-on Operator Training; and Asset Management Training. Each of these activities is described in detail in the State of Mississippi's Small Systems Technical Assistance Set-Aside Work Plan included as Appendix E to this IUP.
The state intends to utilize these funds which is allowed up to a 10% set-aside from the FFY-2024 Cap grant, as authorized by Section 1452(g) (2) of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 for State Program Management. The funds will be used for Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) activities conducted under Section 1443(a) of the Act. These activities are described in more detail in the State of Mississippi's State Program Management Set-aside Annual Work Plan included as Appendix F to this IUP.
The SDWA-DWSRF amendments in the 2018 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (Pub. L. 114-332) (2017 WIIN Act - EPA memorandum dated June 6, 2017) removed the requirement for the State 1:1 match for the 10% State Program Management set-aside.
The state intends to use (10%) of the 15% set-aside amount which is allowed from the FFY-2024 Cap grant to provide funding for wellhead protection projects throughout the state. These funds will be used to properly abandon inactive wells that pose a risk to existing active public water supply source water wells, as well as the environment. See Appendix G.
The state intends to use (10%) of the 15% BIL Supp set-aside amount which is allowed from the FFY-2024 Cap grant to provide funding for consolidation and regionalization projects throughout the state. These funds will be used to survey the State's drinking water system to identify, plan, and assist water systems in consolidation or regionalization to create a more sustainable model that best serves the consumers of Mississippi's drinking water. See Appendix L.
33 Miss. Code. R. 17-V