Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Natural Resources › NR 100-199 - Environmental Protection General › Chapter NR 153 - Targeted Runoff Management And Notice Of Discharge Grant Programs › Section NR 153.20 - Targeted runoff management project selection and funding

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) APPLICABILITY.
				This section applies only to targeted runoff management projects.
(2) SELECTION.
(a) The department shall assign each project
				application to one of the four project categories identified in s.
				NR
				153.14(2).
(b) From the total budget available to fund
				targeted runoff management projects, the department shall create annual budget
				sub-allocations for each of the project categories the department intends to
				fund in the application cycle. Sub-allocations may change from year to year.
				The amount in each sub-allocation shall be based on the department's water
				quality goals and the quality of applications submitted.
(c) Projects compete for funding only against
				other projects in the same category.
(d) Within each category, the department
				shall place the projects on a statewide selection list.
1. For each small scale project category, the
				department shall use the following procedure to create the statewide selection
				lists:
a. Identify the highest scoring project
				in each department region. Provided that the highest regional project score is
				equal to or greater than the median score for all qualifying applications
				submitted statewide, place the project with the highest regional score at the
				top of the statewide selection list. If the highest scoring project in the
				department region is less than the median for all qualifying applications, the
				project may not be moved to the top of the statewide selection list and shall
				be ranked with other projects in accordance with subd. 1. b.
Note: This will increase the likelihood that at least one
				  project from each department region will be at the top of the statewide
				  selection lists for each small scale project category.
b. Following projects with the highest
				regional score, the department shall place all remaining eligible projects on
				the statewide selection list, in rank order from highest to lowest
				score.
c. Projects shall be
				selected in order from the top to the bottom of the statewide selection lists
				until available funds have been allocated.
2. For each large scale project category, the
				department shall use the following procedure to create the statewide selection
				lists:
a. The department shall place all
				eligible projects on the statewide selection list, in rank order from highest
				to lowest score. There may be no regional adjustments in the ranking for
				large-scale projects.
b. Projects
				shall be selected in order from the top to the bottom of the statewide
				selection lists until available funds have been allocated.
3. Notwithstanding subds. 1. and 2., the
				department may do the following when selecting any small or large scale project
				for funding:
a. Not select a higher scoring
				project in favor of funding a lower scoring project if federal funds are being
				allocated for the project, the higher scoring project is ineligible to receive
				the federal funds, and the lower scoring project is eligible to receive the
				federal funds.
Note: There are geographic restrictions on the use of certain
				  federal funds being used to support grant awards, such as those allocated to
				  the state under section 319 of the Clean Water Act. In order to use the
				  available federal funds, it may be necessary to leap-frog down the ranked list
				  to match a project with the federal funds.
b. Establish a maximum total amount of
				funding that a grantee may receive in multiple grant awards in any one year.
				This amount may not exceed 20 percent of the grant funds available in the
				funding category or the maximum allowable funding amount allowed for a single
				project, whichever is greater. Projects on the ranked list whose selection for
				funding would exceed the allowable grantee total will be moved to the bottom of
				the list and funded only after all other eligible projects have been
				funded.
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.
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.
Note: This includes projects that are not being implemented
				  to meet required state performance standards or prohibitions under ch. NR
				  151.
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.
(e) The department shall notify
				the land and water conservation board of project scores and ranks no later than
				September 1 of each year.
(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.
(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.