Chapter NR 126

Chapter NR 126

STATE GRANTS FOR WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITIES

NR 126.01   Purpose.

NR 126.02   Definitions.

NR 126.03   Eligibility for a state grant.

NR 126.04   Allowable costs.

NR 126.05   Costs not allowable.

NR 126.06   Preliminary project evaluation.

NR 126.07   Grant applications.

NR 126.08   Departmental processing of applications.

NR 126.09   Priority determination.

NR 126.10   Priority ranking and notice of funding allocation.

NR 126.11   Offer and acceptance.

NR 126.12   Payment procedure.

NR 126.01 NR 126.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish rules for the administration of state grants for sanitary sewage treatment facilities and sanitary sewage collection systems under s. 281.56, Stats.

NR 126.01 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1975, No. 231, eff. 4-1-75; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, May, 2001, No. 545.

NR 126.02 NR 126.02 Definitions.

NR 126.02(1) (1) “Department” means the department of natural resources.

NR 126.02(2) (2) “Municipality” means a city, township, village, county, sanitary district, county utility district, metropolitan sewerage district or school district that is authorized by state statute to own, operate, maintain, finance and construct a publicly owned sewer system or sewage treatment plant.

NR 126.02(3) (3) “Intercepting sewer” means a sewer constructed:

NR 126.02(3)(a) (a) To receive and convey the dry weather flow from one or more sanitary sewage system terminals in a previously developed area, other than from a dwelling or building, and to convey the flow to an existing sanitary sewer or to a treatment works, whichever is nearer, or

NR 126.02(3)(b) (b) To serve in lieu of an existing or proposed treatment works.

NR 126.02(4) (4) “Industrial wastes” means the liquid wastes from manufacturing processes or food processing.

NR 126.02 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1975, No. 231, eff. 4-1-75.

NR 126.03 NR 126.03 Eligibility for a state grant.

NR 126.03(1) (1) Eligible projects. In municipalities with a population of less than 10,000, based on the latest official state population estimates prepared in compliance with s. 16.96, Stats., state grants may be made for any of the following types of projects:

NR 126.03(1)(a) (a) The construction of new permanent sewage treatment works, or involving additions to or improvements of existing permanent sewage treatment works.

NR 126.03(1)(b) (b) Intercepting sewers.

NR 126.03(1)(c) (c) The outfall sewer from a municipal sewage treatment plant to the point of discharge of effluent.

NR 126.03(1)(d) (d) A municipal sanitary sewer collection system or sanitary sewer extensions constructed to eliminate pollution from private waste disposal systems in developed areas in existence prior to enactment of chapter 353, laws of 1969 (January 17, 1970). The maximum spacing between connections to the gravity sewer shall be no greater than 300 feet and the average spacing of connections shall be no greater than 200 feet. An exception will be allowed to provide an exclusive sewer connection to a publicly owned facility used at least 8 months a year serving at least 50 persons daily per 1,000 feet of pipe. The cost of sewers is limited to the construction of such facilities for servicing the eligible project’s initial flow, population and area.

NR 126.03(1)(e) (e) A sewage treatment plant project for an existing school district or for a sewer to connect the school to a proposed or existing sanitary sewer system.

NR 126.03(2) (2) Ineligible projects. Grants shall not be made for the following projects:

NR 126.03(2)(a) (a) The portion of the costs of the sewage treatment plant that is allocable for the treating of industrial wastes to be determined as the average of the percent of design flow, design BOD, and design total suspended solids for industrial waste treatment as compared to the total design capacity of the sewage treatment plant.

NR 126.03(2)(b) (b) A project to replace the existing sewers or to increase the capacity of an existing sanitary sewer system.

NR 126.03(2)(c) (c) Construction of any part of a storm sewer system or storm water treatment facilities.

NR 126.03(2)(d) (d) A project to treat process wastes from a municipal potable water treatment plant.

NR 126.03(2)(e) (e) A project to repair or replace existing components or devices which are part of a pollution prevention and abatement facility and which are needed to maintain the degree of treatment for which the facility was designed.

NR 126.03(2)(f) (f) Projects not in conformance with the applicable river drainage basin plans approved by the department.

NR 126.03(2)(g) (g) A project on which the municipality has awarded contracts or on which force account construction has commenced prior to approval by the department of the final detailed construction plans and specifications.

NR 126.03 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1975, No. 231, eff. 4-1-75.

NR 126.04 NR 126.04 Allowable costs.

NR 126.04(1) (1) Preliminary planning. Costs of studies, investigations, surveys, planning and other steps necessary to determine the economic and engineering feasibility of a proposed project.

NR 126.04(2) (2) Engineering, architectural, inspection and other fees for technical services. Costs of services include preparation of preliminary and final engineering reports, design of facilities, preparation of plans and specifications, inspection and supervision of construction and any other services necessary for the construction of the project. Where technical services are provided by regularly employed persons of a municipality, actual recorded applicable costs are allowable, provided they do not exceed costs determined by the department to be reasonable if the work were performed privately on a fee basis.

NR 126.04(3) (3) Legal costs. Fees and expenses shall be based on actual records for legal services rendered in connection with the project. Reasonable costs incurred in the development of the information necessary for the bond issue, including preparation of the prospectus, bond advertising, printing of bonds and other similar costs are eligible. When bond counsel and attorney fees cover all the steps from the drafting of the bond resolution through the final sale of the bonds, no additional financing costs are allowable.

NR 126.04(4) (4) Construction costs. Construction costs incurred under competitively bid contracts or actual cost of purchased equipment, materials and labor incurred under force account procedures consistent with the provisions of s. 62.15, Stats.

NR 126.04 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1975, No. 231, eff.. 4-1-75.

NR 126.05 NR 126.05 Costs not allowable. The following costs are not allowable for state participation:

NR 126.05(1) (1) Ineligible work. The cost of any work not included in the eligible portion of the project as approved by the department.

NR 126.05(2) (2) Cost of site. The cost of the site or easements or any estate or interest therein, and any cost associated with the acquisition thereof.

NR 126.05(3) (3) Rebates, refunds, tax exemptions. Any costs exceeding the actual net cost of materials or services are not eligible. A rebate or refund received from a firm or individual is not an allowable project cost. Where municipalities are exempt from the payment of sales taxes and excise taxes, such taxes are not an allowable cost.

NR 126.05(4) (4) Fee not related to construction. Any portion of a fee which covers services performed in staffing of the facility, training of personnel or other functions not directly related to the actual project.

NR 126.05(5) (5) Administrative costs. Costs such as provision of extra office space, telephone service and additional municipal personnel, including accountants, bookkeepers and clerks.

NR 126.05(6) (6) Legal services. Costs of legal services rendered in connection with ineligible parts of the projects, such as acquisition of site or easements.

NR 126.05(7) (7) Interest. Interest on bonds (including discounts below par) or any other form of indebtedness.

NR 126.05(8) (8) Damage awards. Damage awards arising out of the construction, equipping or operation of the project, whether such awards are determined by judicial procedure, arbitration, negotiation or otherwise.

NR 126.05(9) (9) Bonus payments. Bonus payments made by the applicant to the contractor for completing work in advance of a specified time.

NR 126.05(10) (10) Cost in excess of bid price. When a bid is rejected and later reinstated in the contract, its eligible cost may not exceed the original bid price.

NR 126.05(11) (11) Normal government costs. Costs incident to normal operating costs of government such as bond election costs and salaries and expenses of statutory government officials such as the mayor, city manager, city council members, etc.

NR 126.05(12) (12) Unnecessary or unreasonable costs. Any costs found by the department to be unreasonable or unnecessary to construction of the approved eligible project.

NR 126.05(13) (13) Completion prior to June 30, 1974. All costs of a project which was operational and on which the construction was essentially completed prior to the effective date of s. 281.56, Stats., (June 29, 1974).

NR 126.05(14) (14) Operation and maintenance. The costs for operation or maintenance or replacement of equipment of facilities.

NR 126.05(15) (15) Costs incurred prior to august 1, 1966. Costs for any purpose paid prior to or work covered by construction contracts awarded prior to August 1, 1966, the date on which the first appropriation for state grants for construction of water pollution abatement projects under the State Water Resources Act was authorized.

NR 126.05 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1975, No. 231, eff. 4-1-75; correction in (13) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, May, 2001, No. 545.

NR 126.06 NR 126.06 Preliminary project evaluation. Municipalities desiring a preliminary point rating and eligibility determination made for a project, prior to the submission of an application or plans and specifications, may submit such a request with accompanying documents s. NR 126.07 (2) (b), (c) or if not available, such alternative information or as needed for eligibility and priority determination, NR 126.07 (2) (f) and (i) as listed in s. NR 126.07. The department will review the project and notify the applicant of the priority rating and eligibility and when the grant may be available, conditioned upon the prompt submission of the completed application and final detailed approvable construction plans and specifications. However, the project will not be placed on the priority list until final detailed approvable construction plans and specifications and the complete grant application are submitted to the department.

NR 126.06 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1975, No. 231, eff. 4-1-75.

NR 126.07 NR 126.07 Grant applications.

NR 126.07(1) (1) Application forms. Municipalities shall submit applications in accordance with instructions and on forms supplied by the department. Applications shall be updated by the applicant as necessary to keep the information current.