Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 45, November 9, 2024
Section 116.6 - Application and review procedures for funding(a) The application procedures in this section apply to risk and support counties, risk municipalities, school districts, volunteer organizations and State agencies that seek funding from the RERF. The Agency will provide each applicant with the requisite application form.(b) Applicants, except State agencies, shall submit their funding requests to the appropriate county emergency management agency. The county emergency management agency shall review the request in terms of its compliance with and advancement of the county's emergency preparedness plan. Upon approval by the county emergency management agency, the individual funding requests of a risk municipality, school district or volunteer organization shall be incorporated into the county's application for funding from the RERF. State agencies shall submit their funding requests directly to the Agency. The request shall be submitted under the signature of the State agency's secretary/director or designee.(c) To be eligible for funding, a county or State agency shall submit its funding application to the Agency by June 1 preceding each applicable funding year-July 1 to June 30.(d) A county funding application shall also include the individual funding requests of a risk municipality, school district or volunteer organization submitted to the county for review, whether or not those requests were incorporated into the county's funding budget.(e) Upon receipt of a funding application, the Agency will review the application for accuracy and completeness. The Agency will apply the following standards to its application review process: (1) The work plan will be evaluated on its feasibility and adequacy to support both the county's comprehensive radiation emergency response plan and the Agency's Radiation Emergency Response Program.(2) The work plan will be evaluated on its ability to advance radiation emergency coordination efforts within the county and with other counties, volunteer organizations and State agencies.(3) The work plan will be reviewed to determine its compliance with the eligible expenditures and priorities established in § 116.5 (relating to program requirements and eligible expenditures).(4) The budget will be reviewed to determine the cost-effectiveness of the planned expenditures, taking into account the applicants' specific needs.(f) During the review of the work plan and budget, the Agency may involve the county, its risk municipalities, school districts, volunteer organizations or a State agency in negotiations and revisions of part of the work plan or budget, or both, so that the goals and objectives established for the applicant's participation in the Radiation Emergency Response Program can be met. It shall be the obligation of the county to participate in negotiations and revisions concerning its work plan and budget. The county shall attempt to resolve disputes that arise between the county and its risk municipalities, school districts or volunteer organizations concerning the inclusion of their individual funding requests in the county's application. Disputes that cannot be resolved at the county level through negotiations will be resolved by the Agency during its review of the county's funding application.(g) Upon completion of the Agency's application review process, the Agency will approve those work plans and budgets that are determined to be eligible for funding. The Agency will then approve a recommended funding allocation for an eligible applicant.(h) After the Agency's approval of a funding allocation, the Agency will forward the payment of the allocation to an eligible applicant. This payment will be dependent upon the availability of funds being present in the RERF at the time of their intended disbursement.The provisions of this §116.6 amended June 25, 1999, effective 6/26/1999, 29 Pa.B. 3201.