NR 153.20(2)(d)3.c.c. Establish a maximum grant award that any single project can receive based on the amount of funding available and the funding demand in any year. For purposes of administering this subdivision paragraph for small scale projects, all management practices proposed on contiguous property shall be considered part of a single project regardless of whether the management practices are submitted on the same or separate project applications. In this subdivision paragraph, “contiguous” means touching or sharing a common boundary with a second parcel of land. A lake, river, stream, road, railroad or utility right of way which separates any part of the parcel from any other part does not render the parcel of land non-contiguous.

NR 153.20(2)(d)3.d.d. Offer reduced grants for projects that do not require minimum cost-sharing to meet the requirements of s. 281.16 (3) (e), Stats. Reduced grant offers may be based on a reduction in the cost share rate or a reduction in the maximum project grant award amount.

NR 153.20 NoteNote: This includes projects that are not being implemented to meet required state performance standards or prohibitions under ch. NR 151.

NR 153.20(2)(d)3.e.e. Offer an award of less than the amount requested if that is the only funding remaining. In these circumstances, the applicant is required to complete the project as specified in the application if the partial funding is accepted.

NR 153.20(2)(e)(e) The department shall notify the land and water conservation board of project scores and ranks no later than September 1 of each year.

NR 153.20(2)(f)(f) Before November 1 of each year, the department shall also notify the land and water conservation board of the budget sub-allocations determined in accordance with par. (b) and the projects that it has identified and proposes to select for funding in the following calendar year.

NR 153.20(2)(g)(g) After selecting projects for funding, the department shall notify applicants in writing of its intent to offer grant agreements for the selected projects. The department shall inform applicants if the location of the project indicates measures may be needed to address environmental contamination, potential negative impacts of the project on navigable waters, endangered, threatened, or wetland resources, historic properties, or historic places.

NR 153.20(3)(a)(a) The department shall, where practicable, issue grants to successful applicants by December 31 of each year for work that begins in the following calendar year. The department shall consider the factors in pars. (b) to (e) when determining final grant awards.

NR 153.20(3)(b)(b) The department shall make adjustments to the requested grant amount if necessary to correct errors made by the applicant concerning eligibility of items for cost sharing and errors in cost-share rates used in developing the application.

NR 153.20(3)(c)(c) For any large scale project, the department may make a partial grant award. The department shall complete the grant award based on availability of funds and project performance as defined under s. NR 153.21 (5) (h) 2.

NR 153.20(3)(d)(d) The department may offer an award of less than the amount requested if that is the only funding remaining. In these circumstances, the applicant is required to complete the project as specified in the application if partial funding is accepted.

NR 153.20(3)(e)(e) If the department determines, following scoring, that a project may have unacceptable impacts on endangered, threatened, or wetland resources, historic places, or historic properties, or that it may expose environmental hazards at the project location, it may do any of the following:

NR 153.20(3)(e)2.2. Place a condition on a grant requiring that the grantee take specific actions or develop a plan to reduce or eliminate the impacts of the project.

NR 153.20 NoteNote: In addition, s. NR 154.04 (2) (k) states that all required permits, including those mandated by the department, shall be obtained prior to installing a best management practice listed in this chapter.

NR 153.20(3)(f)(f) The department may fund, in a grant, activities needed to identify impacts on navigable waters, endangered, threatened, or wetland resources, historic places, or historic properties and actions needed to reduce or eliminate the impacts.

NR 153.20(4)(4) Joint allocation plan. The department shall provide information to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection about grant decisions it has made under this section for incorporation into the joint allocation plan required under ss. 92.14 (14) and 281.65 (4) (pm), Stats.

NR 153.20 NoteNote: The joint allocation plan is distributed to counties for review and comment and is submitted to the Wisconsin land and water conservation board which may make recommendations to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection on approval, modification, or disapproval. This process affords the affected public and the board an opportunity to make recommendations on items such as budget sub-allocations and project selections determined in accordance with the procedures set forth in the section.

NR 153.20(5)(a)(a) A grantee may request a substitution to a project selected under this section. The request may be to change best management practices or install the best management practices at an alternative location.

NR 153.20(5)(b)(b) The grantee shall submit the request to the department prior to the end of the grant period. The grantee shall submit the substitution request on a form provided by the department.

NR 153.20 NoteNote: Forms can be obtained from the department’s Bureau of Watershed Management or the department’s Bureau of Community Financial Assistance, 101 S. Webster St., PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.

NR 153.20(5)(c)(c) The department shall consider the substitution request and inform the grantee of its decision. The department may approve the substitution request only if all of the following criteria are met:

NR 153.20(5)(c)3.3. The altered project is cost-effective, will not increase the original grant award, and will achieve results substantially similar to those anticipated through the original project proposal.