TITLE 39

HEALTH AND SAFETY

CHAPTER 36

WATER QUALITY

39-3627.  Payments by state board of environmental quality — Contracts with municipalities and community and nonprofit noncommunity public water systems — Rules — Approval of attorney general — Audit of payments. (1) The Idaho board of environmental quality may make payments not to exceed ninety percent (90%) of the estimated reasonable cost of an eligible construction project funded by a grant. Payments may be made which are equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the estimated reasonable cost of an eligible construction project funded by a loan.

(2)  The Idaho board of environmental quality may, in the name of the state of Idaho, enter into contracts with municipalities and community and nonprofit noncommunity public water systems and any such municipality and community and nonprofit noncommunity public water system may enter into a contract with the Idaho board of environmental quality, concerning eligible construction projects. Any such contract may include such provisions as may be agreed upon by the parties thereto, and shall include, in substance, the following provisions:

(a)  An estimate of the reasonable cost of the project as determined by the Idaho board of environmental quality.

(b)  An agreement by the municipality or community and nonprofit noncommunity public drinking water system, binding for the actual service life of the sewage treatment works or the actual service life of the community and nonprofit noncommunity public drinking water system:

(i)    To proceed expeditiously with, and complete, the project in accordance with plans approved pursuant to section 39-118, Idaho Code.

(ii)   To commence operation of the sewage treatment works or community and nonprofit noncommunity public drinking water system on completion of the project, and not to discontinue operation or dispose of the sewage treatment works or community and nonprofit noncommunity public drinking water system without the approval of the board of environmental quality.

(iii)  To operate and maintain the sewage treatment works or community and nonprofit noncommunity public drinking water system in accordance with applicable provisions and rules of the board.

(iv)   To make available on an equitable basis the services of the sewage treatment works or community and nonprofit noncommunity public drinking water system to the residents and commercial and industrial establishments of areas it was designed to serve.

(v)    To provide for the payment of the municipality’s share or the community and nonprofit noncommunity public drinking water system’s share of the cost of the project when the project is built using grant funds.

(vi)   To develop and to secure the approval of the department of plans for the operation and maintenance of the sewage treatment works or community and nonprofit noncommunity public drinking water system; and of plans and programs for the recovery of the capital costs and operating expenses of the works or system.

(vii)  To allow the board to make loans of up to one hundred percent (100%) and supplemental grants based upon financial capability to a municipality for the estimated reasonable cost of an eligible project, which may include treatment of nondomestic wastewater.

(viii) To provide for the accumulation of funds through the use of taxing powers, through charges made for services, through revenue bonds, or otherwise, for the purposes of: (1) capital replacement, (2) future improvement, betterment, and extension of such works occasioned by increased wastewater loadings on the works, and (3) establishing a fund dedicated solely to repayment of principal and interest of loans made subsequent to this chapter.

(ix)   To commence annual principal and interest payments not later than one (1) year from the date construction is completed and to provide for full amortization of loans not later than thirty (30) years from the date project construction is completed.

(c)  The terms under which the Idaho board of environmental quality may unilaterally terminate the contract and/or seek repayment from the municipality or community and nonprofit noncommunity public drinking water system of sums already paid pursuant to the contract for noncompliance by the municipality with the terms and conditions of the contract and the provisions of this chapter.

(3)  The board of environmental quality may, in the name of the state of Idaho, enter into loan contracts with applicants for the implementation of nonpoint source pollution control programs. To be eligible for a loan the project proposed by an applicant must be consistent with the state nonpoint source management plan. Up to twenty percent (20%) of the total state revolving loan fund may be used for nonpoint source pollution control projects which demonstrate a benefit/nexus to a municipality.

(4)  The board may adopt rules necessary for the making and enforcing of contracts hereunder and establishing procedures to be followed in applying for state construction grants or loans or training grants herein authorized as shall be necessary for the effective administration of the grants and loans program.

(5)  All contracts entered into pursuant to this section shall be subject to approval by the attorney general as to form. All payments by the state pursuant to such contracts shall be made after audit and upon warrant as provided by law on vouchers approved by the director.

History:

[(39-3627) 1970, ch. 87, sec. 4, p. 211; am. 1974, ch. 23, sec. 156, p. 725; am. 1974, ch. 80, sec. 3, p. 1167; am. 1977, ch. 176, sec. 3, p. 454; am. 1980, ch. 208, sec. 4, p. 476; am. 1980, ch. 280, sec. 3, p. 728; am. 1987, ch. 174, sec. 3, p. 344; am. 1988, ch. 270, sec. 2, p. 897; am. and redesig. 1995, ch. 352, sec. 11, p. 1185; am. 1999, ch. 137, sec. 12, p. 396; am. 2000, ch. 53, sec. 4, p. 106; am. 2000, ch. 363, sec. 2, p. 1201; am. 2001, ch. 103, sec. 38, p. 283; am. 2010, ch. 25, sec. 1, p. 44; am. 2011, ch. 44, sec. 1, p. 100.]