consolidation of two or more systems, and readiness to proceed all were considered in developing Montana’s project ranking criteria. DEQ initially proposed balancing these factors, with slightly more emphasis placed on health and compliance and less on affordability and readiness to proceed. In discussions with EPA and with our state’s DWSRF Advisory Committee, it became clear that health risks and compliance issues needed to be given even more emphasis, and that readiness to proceed could be eliminated and handled through bypass procedures. (Please see Appendix 1 for explanation of bypass procedures.) Projects that address acute risks that are an immediate threat to public health, such as inadequately treated surface water, are given high scores. Proposals that would address lower risk public health threats, such as chemical contaminants present at low levels, are ranked slightly lower. Proposals that are intended to address existing or future regulatory requirements before noncompliance occurs also were given credit, and are ranked lower than projects with significant health risks. The financial impact of the proposed project on the system users is considered as one of the ranking criteria. The communities most in need of low interest loans to fund the project are awarded points under the affordability criterion (see Appendix 1). In addition to the limitations on financing for individual projects discussed earlier in this plan, DEQ is required annually to use at least 15% of all funds credited to DWSRF account to provide loan assistance to systems serving fewer than 10,000 people, to the extent there are a sufficient number of eligible projects to fund. A summary of the ranking criteria and scoring is listed below. The complete set of scoring criteria is attached to this plan as Appendix 1. 8.0 DWSRF Documented health health risks - 120 points maximum Non-acute health risks - 60 points maximum Proactive compliance measures - 50 points maximum Potential health risks Microbiological health - 25 points maximum Nitrate or nitrite detects - 25 points Chemical contaminant health risks - 20 points maximum Construction of a regional public water supply (PWS) that would serve two or more existing PWSs - 20 points Affordability - 20 points maximum
consolidation of two or more systems, and readiness to proceed all were considered in developing Montana’s project ranking criteria. DEQ initially proposed balancing these factors, with slightly more emphasis placed on health and compliance and less on affordability and readiness to proceed. In discussions with EPA and with our state’s DWSRF Advisory Committee, it became clear that health risks and compliance issues needed to be given even more emphasis, and that readiness to proceed could be eliminated and handled through bypass procedures. (Please see Appendix 1 for explanation of bypass procedures.) Projects that address acute risks that are an immediate threat to public health, such as inadequately treated surface water, are given high scores. Proposals that would address lower risk public health threats, such as chemical contaminants present at low levels, are ranked slightly lower. Proposals that are intended to address existing or future regulatory requirements before noncompliance occurs also were given credit, and are ranked lower than projects with significant health risks. The financial impact of the proposed project on the system users is considered as one of the ranking criteria. The communities most in need of low interest loans to fund the project are awarded points under the affordability criterion (see Appendix 1). In addition to the limitations on financing for individual projects discussed earlier in this plan, DEQ is required annually to use at least 15% of all funds credited to DWSRF account to provide loan assistance to systems serving fewer than 10,000 people, to the extent there are a sufficient number of eligible projects to fund. A summary of the ranking criteria and scoring is listed below. The complete set of scoring criteria is attached to this plan as Appendix 1. 8.0 DWSRF Documented health health risks - 120 points maximum Non-acute health risks - 60 points maximum Proactive compliance measures - 50 points maximum Potential health risks Microbiological health - 25 points maximum Nitrate or nitrite detects - 25 points Chemical contaminant health risks - 20 points maximum Construction of a regional public water supply (PWS) that would serve two or more existing PWSs - 20 points Affordability - 20 points maximum
SFY2015_FinalIUP.docx