§ 1625 - Awards for pollution abatement projects to abate dry weather sewage flows - Vermont Statutes

§ 1625. Awards for pollution abatement projects to abate dry weather sewage flows

(a) When the department finds that a proposed water pollution abatement project is necessary to maintain water quality standards during dry weather sewage flows, and that the proposed type, kind, quality, size and estimated cost including operation cost and sewage disposal charges, of the project are suitable for abatement of pollution, and the project or the prescribed project phases are necessary to meet the intent of the water quality classifications established by the board or by statute under chapter 47 of this title, the department may award to municipalities a state assistance grant of up to 25 percent of the eligible project cost, provided that in no case shall the total of the state and federal grants exceed 90 percent of the eligible project costs:

(1) except that the 90 percent limitation shall not apply when the municipality provides, as their local share, federal funds allocated to them for the purpose of matching other federal grant programs having a matching requirement; and

(2) except that the total of state and federal grants issued under P.L. 92-500 section 202(a)(2) may equal up to 95 percent of the eligible costs for innovative or alternative wastewater treatment processes and techniques.

(b) In carrying out the purposes of this subchapter, the department shall define the purpose and scope of an eligible project, including a determination of the area to be served, type of treatment, effluent limitations, eligible construction costs, cost accounting procedures and methods and other such project construction, operation and fiscal elements necessary to meet federal aid requirements. The department shall, as a part of the administration of this grant program, encourage municipalities to undertake capital development planning and to establish water and sewer charges along public utility concepts.

(c) Any municipality having proceeded with construction of facilities with a state grant of 25 percent since July 1, 1984 shall be eligible for an increase in the state grant to a total of 35 percent of the eligible project costs.

(d) The department may award a state assistance grant of up to 50 percent of the eligible costs of an approved pollution abatement project or a portion thereof not eligible for federal financial assistance in a municipality that is certified by the secretary of commerce and community development to be within the designated job development zone. To achieve the objectives of chapter 29, subchapter 2 of this title, the eligibility and priority provisions of this chapter do not apply to municipalities within a designated job development zone.

(e) If the department finds that a proposed municipal water pollution control project is necessary to reduce effluent phosphorus concentration or mass loading to the level required in section 1266a of this title, the department shall award to the municipality, subject to the availability of funds, a state assistance grant. Such grants shall be for 100 percent of the eligible project cost. This funding shall not be available for phosphorus removal projects where the effluent concentration must be reduced in order to maintain a previously permitted mass loading of phosphorus. (Added 1971, No. 97, § 3, eff. April 22, 1971; amended 1973, No. 35, eff. April 3, 1973; No. 112, § 7, eff. April 25, 1973; 1977, No. 39, § 4, eff. April 19, 1977; 1977, No. 241 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1983, No. 198 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 3, 3a, eff. Oct. 1, 1984; 1985, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 1987, No. 219 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 2, 3a, eff. May 27, 1988; 1991, No. 261 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1993, No. 180 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1995, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 1(b); 2003, No. 63, § 54, eff. June 11, 2003.)