Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-91.8
Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024
Rule 567-91.8 - Project priority rating system(1)Rating criteria. The rating criteria consider the use classification of the receiving waters, water quality of the receiving waters, groundwater protection, project type, project purpose, and a tiebreaker. Priority ranking for the projects shall be based on the total points awarded for all the categories; the greater the total number of points, the higher the ranking. For POTW projects, the ranking will be done at the time the IUP is prepared. For nonpoint source projects, if 90 percent of the set-aside is allocated, the ranking will be done at the time the project application is received. The tiebreaker category will be used when necessary. a. Use classification of receiving waters. This category addresses the receiving water that is impacted or potentially impacted by the existing situation and that would be improved or protected by the proposed project. Points shall be awarded and shall be cumulative for all designated use classifications of the receiving stream. Points for sludge stabilization, sewers and lift station projects normally will be based on the assigned use of the waters that receive or could receive the effluent discharge. | Use and Classification | Points |
| Outstanding Iowa waters | 45 |
| High quality waters | 40 |
| High quality resource waters | 20 |
| Class Al waters | 50 |
| Class A2 waters | 45 |
| Class A3 waters | 45 |
| Class C waters | 40 |
| Class B (CW1) waters | 50 |
| Class B (CW2) waters | 30 |
| Class B (WW1) & HH waters | 30 |
| Class B (WW2) waters | 25 |
| Class B (WW3) waters | 20 |
| Class B (LW) waters | 35 |
b. Water quality of receiving waters. This category addresses the quality of water in the receiving stream and whether or not the water has been designated as impaired for some uses. Bodies of water that are impaired by pollutants are identified as the Section 303(d) list of waters in the integrated report of impaired waters status. The Section 303(d) list of waters also identifies probable pollutant source categories for these impairments. Projects that primarily impact these waters are awarded points if the water body that receives or could receive the wastewater discharge is included on the Section 303(d) list and the probable pollutant source is a point source. Waters are also identified in the Section 305(b) report on their use attainment status. Projects that primarily impact these waters are awarded points depending on the use impairment identified for the water body that receives or could receive the wastewater discharge. If no use impairment is identified indicating the water was not assessed, the partially supporting status points will be awarded. Points will be awarded for both A and B of the table below and then totaled for this category. | Indication of water quality | Points |
| A | |
| Integrated Report of impaired waters status | |
| 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, or 5a | 15 |
| 5b | 10 |
| 5p | 5 |
| B | |
| Section 305(b) status | |
| Aquatics or fish consumption or drinking water | |
| Fully supporting | 5 |
| Partially supporting | 10 |
| Not supporting | 15 |
| Not assessed | 7 |
| Recreation | |
| Fully supporting | 5 |
| Partially supporting | 10 |
| Not supporting | 15 |
| Not assessed | 7 |
c. Protection of groundwater resources. This category considers the use of the aquifer affected by the project. | Groundwater Category | Points |
| Wellhead protection area for public water supply | 40 |
| Unconfined aquifer that serves as a drinking water source | 20 |
| Other groundwater protection | 10 |
d. Project type. In this category, points are provided based on the type of project and the relative level of the impact on public health and the environment. Points will be awarded only for the primary project type. | Project Type | Points |
| Category I. Secondary wastewater treatment | 40 |
| Category II. Advanced wastewater treatment | 50 |
| Category III-A. Infiltration/inflow correction | 30 |
| Category III-B. Sewer replacement/rehabilitation | 30 |
| Category IV-A. New collector sewers and appurtenances | 10 |
| Category IV-B. New interceptor sewers and appurtenances | 20 |
| Category V. Combined sewer overflow correction | 40 |
| Category VI. Storm water conveyance treatment systems and green infrastructure | 30 |
| Category VII-A. Agriculture (cropland) | 30 |
| Category VII-B. Agriculture (animals) | 50 |
| Category VII-C. Silviculture | 10 |
| Category VII-E. Groundwater protection (unknown sources) | 20 |
| Category VII-F. Marinas | 10 |
| Category VII-G. Resource extraction | 10 |
| Category VII-H. Brownfields | 30 |
| Category VII-I. Storage tanks | 20 |
| Category VII-J. Landfills | 30 |
| Category VII-K. Hydromodification | 40 |
| Category X. Recycled water distribution | 10 |
| Category XII. Decentralized sewage treatment | 40 |
| Refinance of existing projects that meet CWSRF eligibility criteria | 5 |
e. Project purpose. In this category, points are awarded based on the purpose and expected outcome of the project. Points will be awarded only for the primary purpose. | Project Purpose | Points |
| Allows facility to meet new water quality standards | 50 |
| Protects or restores the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of water resources at a specific site | 50 |
| Reduces the loading of a parameter that has been identified as an impairment to the receiving water or watershed as identified through the total maximum daily load (TMDL) process | 40 |
| Provides regional consolidation in wastewater treatment or system management | 30 |
| Brings facility into compliance with a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit or other administrative or judicial enforcement action as may be required by the department or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | 25 |
| Eliminates or remediates a source of groundwater pollution | 20 |
| Meets existing or reasonable future needs of the community in order to maintain compliance with an NPDES permit | 15 |
| Provides operational reliability improvements, apart from projects which address compliance and enforcement | 10 |
f.Total points. Total points are ca1culated using the following formula: Total Points = Use Classification + Water Quality or Groundwater Protection + Project Type + Project Purposeg. Tiebreaker. Two or more projects may receive the same total points on the fundable list. If sufficient state revolving loan funds are not available to fund the projects, ties will be broken by determining which project has the highest score in each category in the following order: *Use Classification of Receiving Streams
*Water Quality of Receiving Streams (a+b)
* Groundwater Protection
*Project Type
*Project Purpose
(2) Reserved. Highest [UP DOWN ARROW] Lowest
Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-91.8
ARC 8596B, IAB 3/10/10, effective 4/14/10