Chapter NR 162

NR 162.11(1) (1) Each financial assistance agreement shall require the recipient to do all of the following:

NR 162.11(1)(a) (a) Maintain a system of user charges and a sewer use ordinance in accordance with s. NR 162.07 for the useful life of the treatment works or BMP.

NR 162.11(1)(b) (b) Comply with all pertinent requirements of federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations.

NR 162.11(1)(c) (c) For financial assistance provided directly from a federal capitalization grant, comply with the requirements contained in 33 USC 1251 to 1274 and 33 USC 1381 to 1387 if required by the terms of the capitalization grant.

NR 162.11(1)(d) (d) Provide timely sewerage service to all users of the treatment works within the delineated service area except in areas where annexation is refused under s. 281.43 (1m), Stats.

NR 162.11(1)(e) (e) Comply with all state and local laws regarding procurement and public contracts.

NR 162.11(1)(f) (f) Provide department representatives access to the scored project, including all construction activities, whenever the project is in preparation or progress. For purposes of providing access, the recipient shall do all of the following:

NR 162.11(1)(f)1. 1. The recipient shall in each of its contracts for the project include a provision that requires the recipient and its contractors to allow the department access to records of contractors and subcontractors pertinent to the project for the purpose of making inspections, examinations, excerpts, copies, and transcriptions.

NR 162.11(1)(f)2. 2. The recipient shall allow DOA or its agent access to records for audits.

NR 162.11(1)(g) (g) Expeditiously initiate and complete the project in accordance with the financial assistance agreement and application, including construction of and payments for the portions ineligible for CWFP financial assistance and any project schedule approved by the department. Failure of the recipient to promptly initiate project work may be deemed a breach of the financial assistance agreement.

NR 162.11(1)(h) (h) Promptly notify the department of changes to the project, including notifying a department plan reviewer and the department construction management engineer when plans and specifications are being revised.

NR 162.11(1)(i) (i) Promptly submit to the department a copy of any prime contract or modification to it and any revisions to plans and specifications.

NR 162.11(1)(j) (j) Begin repayment of the principal balance of the loan no later than 12 months after the substantial completion date of the project as specified in the financial assistance agreement, and make the final principal payment no later than 20 years after the date of the financial assistance agreement unless the financial assistance agreement term is greater than 20 years but not more than 30 years. If the loan term is greater than 20 years, the municipality shall make the final principal payment no later than 30 years after the date of the financial assistance agreement.

NR 162.11(1)(k) (k) Make available an operations and maintenance manual for the treatment works. All of the following apply to the provision of an operations and maintenance manual:

NR 162.11(1)(k)1. 1. A recipient shall develop a new or modify an existing operations and maintenance manual that, based on the scored project, is applicable to any of the following:

NR 162.11(1)(k)1.a. a. The entire wastewater treatment works.

NR 162.11(1)(k)1.b. b. The collection system, including all wastewater treatment works facilities outside of the fence of the wastewater treatment plant.

NR 162.11(1)(k)1.c. c. The wastewater treatment plant, including all wastewater treatment works facilities inside the fence of the wastewater treatment plant.

NR 162.11(1)(k)2. 2. Address in the manual developed or modified under subd. 1. all of the following:

NR 162.11(1)(k)2.a. a. General information.

NR 162.11(1)(k)2.b. b. Staffing.

NR 162.11(1)(k)2.c. c. Records and recordkeeping.

NR 162.11(1)(k)2.d. d. Laboratory.

NR 162.11(1)(k)2.e. e. Safety.

NR 162.11(1)(k)2.f. f. Utility systems.

NR 162.11(1)(k)2.g. g. A description of the process, operations, and controls.

NR 162.11(1)(k)2.h. h. Maintenance.

NR 162.11(1)(k)2.i. i. Sludge management.

NR 162.11(1)(k)2.j. j. Manufacturer’s information.

NR 162.11(1)(k)3. 3. Provide a copy of the operations and maintenance manual developed or modified under subd. 1. to the department. For projects or facilities that have an existing operations and maintenance manual that was submitted to the department in the past, the recipient may meet the requirements of subds. 1. to 3. by developing and submitting an addendum to the previously submitted manual.

NR 162.11(1)(k)4. 4. Certify to the department, in the form required by the CWFP, that the operations and maintenance manual developed or modified under subd. 1. meets or exceeds the requirements under subd. 2. The project engineer and a municipal official of the recipient municipality shall make the certification required under this paragraph.

NR 162.11 Note Note: Operations and maintenance manual certification checklists and additional information regarding operations and maintenance manual requirements are available on the environmental improvement fund website at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/documents/EIF/Guide/Opmancwf.html.

NR 162.11(1)(L) (L) Provide and maintain adequate construction inspection to ensure conformance with the approved plans and specifications.

NR 162.11(1)(m) (m) Comply with requirements established under s. 281.49, Stats., regarding accepting septage into the wastewater treatment works from septic tanks or holding tanks within the recipient’s sewer service area.

NR 162.11(1)(n) (n) Notify the department of the substantial completion of the project.

NR 162.11(1)(o) (o) Maintain all required intermunicipal agreements throughout the term of the financial assistance agreement as described in s. NR 162.05 (4) (h) 2.

NR 162.11(1)(p) (p) Comply with all applicable provisions of any outstanding CWFP and safe drinking water loan program financial assistance agreements and CWFP interest rate subsidy agreements.

NR 162.11(1)(q) (q) Obtain and maintain full legal right and authority required to own, control, operate, and maintain the project for at least the term of the financial assistance agreement, including assuring that any of the following requirements regarding the land on which the project takes place are met:

NR 162.11(1)(q)1. 1. If the municipality prior to signing a financial assistance agreement owns all of the land on which the project takes place, the municipality shall maintain ownership of the land on which the project is built for at least the term of the financial assistance agreement unless the municipality obtains approval from the department to discontinue operation of, sell, or otherwise dispose of the project.

NR 162.11(1)(q)2. 2. If the municipality prior to signing a financial assistance agreement does not own any of the land on which the project takes place, the municipality shall obtain and maintain for at least the term of the financial assistance agreement all necessary permits, licenses, easements, and approvals required to give the municipality the authorities and permissions needed to construct, operate, and maintain the project on the land on which the project is built unless the municipality obtains approval from the department to discontinue operation of, sell, or otherwise dispose of the project.

NR 162.11(1)(q)3. 3. If the municipality prior to signing a financial assistance agreement owns some but not all of the land on which the project takes place, the municipality shall follow the requirements under subds. 1. and 2. regarding maintaining ownership of or access needed to the land on which the project takes place to allow the municipality to construct, operate, and maintain the project on the land on which the project is built for at least the term of the financial assistance agreement.

NR 162.11(2) (2) The financial assistance agreement is not effective until all parties to the financial assistance agreement have signed it.

NR 162.11 History History: CR 22-045: cr. Register October 2023 No. 814, eff. 11-1-23.

NR 162.12 NR 162.12 Financial management. The recipient shall do all of the following:

NR 162.12(1) (1) Maintain project accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, governmental accounting standards board requirements, or other methods of accounting accepted by the department or required by the federal government.

NR 162.12(2) (2) Maintain a financial management system that meets the requirements, terms, and conditions of the financial assistance agreement and ch. Adm 35.

NR 162.12(3) (3) Comply with any U.S. treasury requirements for maintaining the tax–exempt status of the bonds sold to the CWFP.

NR 162.12 History History: CR 22-045: cr. Register October 2023 No. 814, eff. 11-1-23.

NR 162.13 NR 162.13 Financial assistance disbursements.

NR 162.13(1) (1) Requests for disbursement. The recipient shall submit to the department requests for disbursement for eligible costs in the format specified by the department.

NR 162.13(2) (2) Adjustment. Before the final disbursement under the financial assistance agreement, the department may recommend to DOA that any request for disbursement be reviewed or audited.

NR 162.13(3) (3) Withholding of funds. The department may withhold funds on the basis of any of the following:

NR 162.13(3)(a) (a) The department may direct DOA to withhold financial assistance disbursements if the department determines that a recipient has failed to comply with project objectives or the terms, conditions, or reporting requirements of the financial assistance agreement.

NR 162.13(3)(b) (b) The department may withhold 5 percent of the principal amount of a loan until all of the project closeout requirements under sub. (4) (b) are completed.

NR 162.13(3)(c) (c) The department may withhold payment of costs that fall outside of the beginning or end dates of a contract or that are in excess of the estimated not-to-exceed amount in the contract until the recipient amends the contract.

NR 162.13(3)(d) (d) The department may withhold payment of costs of a contract until the recipient submits the required documentation for the costs, including a copy of the department construction management engineer’s approval letter for any change order for which payment is requested and any amendments to engineering or other professional services contracts for which disbursement of financial assistance for costs of the contract will be requested.

NR 162.13(4) (4) Final disbursement and project closeout.

NR 162.13(4)(a) (a) The recipient shall submit the final request for disbursement as soon as is practicable after final completion of project construction.

NR 162.13(4)(b) (b) All of the following project closeout procedures shall occur prior to the final disbursement or as soon as is practicable after final completion of project construction if the recipient determines it will not be requesting any additional funds but did not previously label a request for disbursement as the final request:

NR 162.13(4)(b)1. 1. The department shall complete a final inspection and sign off on the scored project.

NR 162.13(4)(b)2. 2. The recipient shall submit to the department for review all change orders and amendments for all contracts associated with the project that the recipient did not submit before or during construction of the project.

NR 162.13(4)(b)3. 3. The recipient shall certify its acceptance of the project from its contractors and engineers on a form provided by the department.

NR 162.13 Note Note: A project acceptance certification form is available on the Environmental Improvement Fund website at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/documents/EIF/Forms/forms.html or in paper form from the Bureau of Community Financial Assistance, Department of Natural Resources, Box 7921, Madison WI 53707-7921.

NR 162.13(4)(b)4. 4. The recipient shall document final utilization of MBEs and WBEs on a form provided by the department.

NR 162.13 Note Note: An MBE/WBE utilization form is available on the Environmental Improvement Fund website at dnr.wi.gov/Aid/EIF.html or in paper form from the Bureau of Community Financial Assistance, Department of Natural Resources, Box 7921, Madison WI 53707-7921. This form is also provided in the financial assistance agreement as an exhibit.

NR 162.13(4)(b)5. 5. The recipient shall certify its compliance with federal requirements as detailed in the financial assistance agreement.

NR 162.13(4)(b)6. 6. The recipient shall submit to the department a completed operations and maintenance manual certification checklist.

NR 162.13 Note Note: Operations and maintenance manual certification checklist forms are available on the Environmental Improvement Fund website at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/documents/EIF/Forms/forms.html or in paper form from the Bureau of Community Financial Assistance, Department of Natural Resources, Box 7921, Madison WI 53707-7921.

NR 162.13(4)(b)7. 7. The department shall inform DOA of the recipient’s compliance with all applicable requirements of this chapter and the financial assistance agreement.

NR 162.13(4)(b)8. 8. After the department determines that the project closeout requirements under subds. 1. to 6. are completed, the department shall notify the recipient that the project is closed out, or, if there is a final disbursement yet to be sent to the recipient, the department shall notify the recipient of the date and amount of the final disbursement and that the project will be closed out on the date of the final disbursement.

NR 162.13(4)(c) (c) If construction of a project is complete prior to the CWFP loan closing for the project, the recipient shall submit project closeout documents within 90 days of the loan closing date.

NR 162.13(4)(d) (d) If the recipient does not provide the required documents for project closeout of a completed project to the department for any CWFP financial assistance agreement or any other financial assistance from the environmental improvement fund and applies for funding from the environmental improvement fund for another project, the department may deny financial assistance for the new project until the previous project is closed out according to requirements under this chapter.

NR 162.13 History History: CR 22-045: cr. Register October 2023 No. 814, eff. 11-1-23.

NR 162.14 NR 162.14 Amendments to a financial assistance agreement.

NR 162.14(1) (1) Additional funding.

NR 162.14(1)(a) (a) General.

NR 162.14(1)(a)1. 1. ‘Additional assistance at end of project.’ The department may issue an amendment to a financial assistance agreement to provide additional financial assistance for eligible project costs incurred beyond the amount specified in the original financial assistance agreement. The department may process a request to provide additional financial assistance for a project only after the total remaining costs to complete the project can be reasonably determined.

NR 162.14(1)(a)2. 2. ‘Consistent with scope.’ To be eligible for additional financial assistance, any changes in the project necessitating the amendment must be consistent with the objectives and scope of the project as described in the original financial assistance agreement.

NR 162.14(1)(a)3. 3. ‘Plans and specifications approval.’ If there are changes in the project that require department approval of plans and specifications, the municipality shall obtain department approval prior to the amendment loan closing. Changes that necessitate an amendment must be due to unforeseen circumstances or approvable change orders to a project construction contract.

NR 162.14(1)(a)4. 4. ‘New financial assistance agreement.’ An amendment shall be in the form of a new financial assistance agreement tied to the original project through the budget and project description. The department and the DOA shall determine the appropriate interest rate for the amendment based on the market interest rate in effect on the date of the municipality’s meeting at which they pass the related bond resolution.

NR 162.14(1)(a)5. 5. ‘Debt coverage requirements.’ The municipality must meet debt coverage requirements for the additional financial assistance.

NR 162.14(1)(b) (b) Applicability. Additional financial assistance under par. (a) for a scored project is subject to all of the following:

NR 162.14(1)(b)1. 1. ‘Availability of funds as determined under s. 281.59, Stats.’ If there are sufficient loan funds available, a municipality may receive loan funds for additional project costs incurred that cause the total eligible project costs to be greater than the amount provided in the original financial assistance agreement. The loan interest rate and loan maturity date shall be determined by the department and DOA.

NR 162.14(1)(b)2. 2. ‘No principal forgiveness.’ The department shall not provide additional principal forgiveness funds in the amendment to the financial assistance agreement.

NR 162.14(1)(c) (c) Requesting funds. A municipality may request financial assistance for additional project costs using any of the following options:

NR 162.14(1)(c)1. 1. ‘Request in writing.’ The municipality shall submit a written request to the department that justifies the need for additional financial assistance and details the additional eligible costs. A revised budget shall be submitted with the request indicating in one column the line item totals in the financial assistance agreement, in a second column the requested additional costs, and in a third column the total project costs requested to be funded through the CWFP via an amendment to the original financial assistance agreement. If there are other funding sources participating in the project, the revised budget shall indicate all funding changes applicable to the additional financial assistance being requested. All costs in the revised budget shall be assigned to the appropriate budget line items from which disbursement will be requested.

NR 162.14(1)(c)2. 2. ‘Electronic submittal.’ The department may require the written request for an amendment to be submitted as an email message with an attachment, as input into the department’s online application system, or by other appropriate means determined by the department.

NR 162.14(1)(d) (d) Plans and specifications. A municipality shall submit to the department any plans and specifications required for changes in the project that necessitate the amendment to the financial assistance agreement. The department shall issue an amendment for the additional project costs only after the department approves any facilities plans or plans and specifications required for the work related to the additional costs.

NR 162.14(1)(e) (e) Notice of intent to apply. A new notice of intent to apply for funding as described under s. NR 162.05 (1) is not required for purposes of requesting a financial assistance agreement amendment.