Rules and Regulations for the Priority Determination System for Federal and State Assistance to Local Governmental Units for Construction of Water Pollution Abatement Projects

Regulation Authority:

RIGL Chapter 42-17.1, Environmental Management, RIGL Chapter 46-12, Water Pollution, and RIGL Chapter 46-12.2, Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency

Purpose and Reason:

The Priority Determination System is designed to achieve optimum water quality management results from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's (DEM) water pollution abatement project construction assistance programs, consistent with the powers and duties of the Department denoted in Chapters 42-17.1, 46-12, and 46-12.2 of the Rhode Island General Laws (RIGL), as amended, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act [33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et. seq., as amended], commonly called the Clean Water Act. The Priority Determination System describes procedures for annually determining the priority rating and ranking of all categories of identified water pollution abatement projects proposed by local governmental units which may receive federal and/or state funding assistance from any such programs administered by the DEM. The relative rankings of water pollution abatement projects on the Priority List developed under these regulations will be utilized by the various assistance programs of the DEM, Office of Water Resources. Actual annual assistance awards are determined by the criteria and methodology contained in the rules and regulations for each specific assistance program. These assistance programs may include, but are not limited to, the State Revolving Fund (SRF), the Sewage and Water Supply Failure Fund (SWSFF), and the Interceptor Bond Fund (IBF) account of the Rhode Island Clean Water Act Environmental Trust Fund.