Section 49-360 - Monitoring assistance program for public water systems; rules; fees; monitoring assistance fund; safe drinking water program fund; rulesA. The department shall establish a monitoring assistance program to assist public water systems in complying with monitoring requirements under the federal safe drinking water act (P.L. 93-523; 88 Stat. 1660; P.L. 95-190; 91 Stat. 1393; P.L. 104-182; 110 Stat. 1613; 42 United States Code sections 300f through 300j-25), as amended. The program shall provide for the collection, transportation and analysis of baseline samples from public water systems in a frequency sufficient to keep the systems in compliance with the federal safe drinking water act requirements. The department may adopt rules to establish criteria for a public water system to opt out of the monitoring assistance program. The department may conduct additional sampling for a system that triggers a detection limit set by rule to comply with the federal safe drinking water act. At a minimum, the program shall include monitoring for the following categories of contaminants: 1. Volatile organic chemicals.2. Synthetic organic chemicals.3. Inorganic chemicals except for copper and lead.B. The department shall contract with one or more private parties or statewide nonprofit organizations representing water systems to implement the monitoring assistance program subject to available funding. Contracts shall be awarded for up to three years. Entities with which the department contracts shall: 1. Provide updated monitoring schedules, developed in conjunction with the department, to participating water systems.2. Take samples for participating water systems, allow for certified operators to take samples and train system personnel to take samples.3. Assist participating water systems when resampling is required by the federal safe drinking water act.4. Assist participating water systems to apply for and qualify for available interim monitoring relief and waivers.5. Provide any other on-site technical assistance necessary to help the participating water systems comply with the monitoring requirements of the federal safe drinking water act.C. Any public water systems serving more than ten thousand persons may elect to participate in the monitoring assistance program subject to the payment of the fees pursuant to subsection F of this section.D. The department shall use licensed environmental laboratories as defined in section 36-495 or laboratories certified or designated by the United States environmental protection agency to analyze samples collected under the monitoring assistance program. The department shall establish specific criteria for measuring contractor qualifications and performance.E. Each environmental laboratory that the department uses pursuant to subsection D of this section shall deliver copies of the analysis results to the water system owner, the monitoring assistance program contractor and the department.F. The director shall establish fees for the monitoring assistance program to be collected from all public water systems serving up to ten thousand persons. The participating water systems shall remit these fees to the department for deposit in the monitoring assistance fund.G. The monitoring assistance fund is established consisting of fees collected from participating public water systems pursuant to subsection F of this section and federal monies to assist in carrying out the purpose of this section. The director shall administer the fund. If the fund has a surplus after execution of the previous year's contract, any surplus of more than the average annual operating costs as measured by the three preceding fiscal years in any year shall be used to reduce the fee for the subsequent year in a manner consistent with the program invoicing system. Monies in the fund shall be used to pay the monitoring assistance program contractors, the environmental laboratories used for the purposes of this section and administrative costs incurred by the department. Monies in the fund are exempt from lapsing pursuant to section 35-190. Interest earned on monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund. The allowable administrative costs of the department are limited to not more than fifteen percent of monies deposited in the fund annually or $184,000, whichever is less. For the purposes of this subsection, "administrative costs" includes only those costs necessary to do the following:1. Ensure contractor performance and quality control.2. Administer the contracts.3. Collect fees as provided in subsection F of this section.4. Provide direct technical assistance related to the implementation of the monitoring assistance program only to the extent the department's assistance is required by this section.H. The safe drinking water program fund is established consisting of monies deposited in the fund pursuant to section 42-5304. The director shall administer the fund. Subject to legislative appropriation, monies in the fund shall be used to pay for the costs of programs required by this article incurred by the department. Monies in the fund are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations. Interest earned on monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund.I. The department shall adopt rules for the monitoring assistance program.J. Any site visit made pursuant to this section by a monitoring assistance program contractor shall not be regarded as an inspection or investigation. Enforcement actions shall not be taken as a result of these site visits, except that this section does not affect the authority of the department to enforce this article pursuant to section 49-354. Amended by L. 2024, ch. 150,s. 5, eff. 9/14/2024.Added by L. 2021, ch. 69,s. 6, eff. 3/18/2021.