OAR 340-054-0025: Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loans: Intended Use Plan (IUP) and Project Priority List

(1) IUP development. DEQ will annually develop and submit an IUP to EPA as described in the CWA § 606 and 40 C.F.R. § 35.3150. DEQ will update the IUP as specified in section (2) of this rule. The IUP will describe how DEQ proposes to fund projects through the CWSRF and will include a project priority list that numerically ranks all eligible applications received. (2) IUP update. (a) Except as specified in subsection (b) of this section, DEQ will update the annual IUP and project priority list at least every four months or when DEQ receives five eligible applications, whichever timeframe is shorter, and will submit the updated plan to EPA. (b) If DEQ does not receive an eligible application during a four-month period and determines the project priority list does not need to be updated, DEQ will not update the IUP. (3) IUP public notice. DEQ will provide public notice and 14 days for the public to comment on a proposed draft IUP. (a) DEQ will notify all new applicants of their project application ranking on the project priority list when DEQ develops and updates an annual IUP. (b) An applicant may ask DEQ to reevaluate their project application’s score and ranking on the proposed project priority list or to make other changes to an IUP during the public comment period. (c) DEQ will consider and respond to all comments submitted during the public comment period before finalizing an IUP. (4) Project priority list development. DEQ will include an eligible project under OAR 340-054-0015 on the project priority list if an applicant submits a completed application on a DEQ-approved form. (5) Project priority list ranking. DEQ will numerically rank all eligible proposed project applications based on the point sum from the criteria specified in the Intended Use Plan. (6) Removal of application from the project priority list. (a) DEQ may retain an applicant’s ranked project on the project priority list in an IUP for up to 36 months while an applicant pursues all applicable CWSRF financing requirements specified in this division. (b) After DEQ initially includes a ranked project on the project priority list, an applicant must submit to DEQ an annual written project status report to remain on the project priority list. (c) DEQ may provide one twelve-month extension to an applicant asking to remain on the project priority list beyond the 36-month limit. An applicant asking for an extension must submit to DEQ a written project status report on the applicant’s project progress and an updated time frame indicating when the applicant will complete all CWSRF financing requirements. (d) DEQ will provide written notice to an applicant before removing the applicant’s project from the project priority list. (e) DEQ will remove a project from the project priority list if: (A) An applicant does not submit an annual written project status report as subsection (b) of this section requires; (B) An applicant does not ask for a twelve-month extension beyond the 36-month limit and submit the project status report as subsection (c) of this section requires; (C) DEQ determines the project scope changed from the original ranked application; (D) DEQ determines a project does not meet eligibility requirements; (E) An applicant does not require CWSRF financing; or (F) An applicant asks to be removed from the project priority list. (f) If DEQ removes a project from the project priority list as specified in paragraph (e)(A through C) of this section, an applicant may resubmit to DEQ a loan application for an eligible project that DEQ will evaluate under section (5) of this rule. [Note: Publications referred to are not included here. The Project Priority List is contained within the CWSRF Intended Use Plan. That document is available from the agency.]