567—93.7 (455B) General nonpoint source project requirements.
	 93.7(1) General nonpoint source assistance. Assistance under the CWSRF general nonpoint source (GNS) set-aside shall be in the form of low-interest loans made directly or by participating lending institutions through a linked deposit or participation arrangement with the CWSRF. The following eligibility conditions and restrictions for participation apply to such assistance.
	  a.   	 Eligible project costs. The amount of assistance available shall be limited to the total costs deemed necessary, reasonable and directly related to the facilities or practices required to provide water quality improvements, restoration or protection. Participation in nontraditional projects where the primary purpose is not water quality protection or improvement will be limited to the portion of the project that is directly related to water quality improvement, restoration or protection.
	  b.   	 Applicant eligibility. Assistance is available to projects for which facilities are needed to protect, restore or improve water quality from nonpoint source pollution. Only applicants that are owners of record of the property or have long-term control of the property where the project is to be implemented are eligible. In applications where the water pollution control project is a plan or document that will direct water quality protection or improvement efforts, loans will be made to applicants that have the capacity and capability of implementing the plan and repaying the loan.
	  c.   	 Project eligibility. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, practices to address nonpoint source pollution control needs associated with storm water treatment and green infrastructure, silviculture, groundwater protection, marinas, resource extraction, brownfield remediation, aboveground and underground storage tanks, sanitary landfills, hydromodification, and watershed planning. Nontraditional nonpoint source projects that may have a water quality protection or improvement component include, but are not limited to, bird sanctuaries and wildlife enhancement projects, vegetative plants, sediment removal and other lake restoration practices, wetland mitigation bank and education programs.
	 93.7(2) Applying for assistance. Applications for storm water and green infrastructure projects shall be submitted to local soil and water conservation districts. Applications for other GNS projects shall be submitted to the department at State Revolving Fund, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 401 SW 7th Street, Suite M, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. Forms may also be downloaded from www.iowasrf.com. Application forms will be provided by the department. Applications shall include an explanation of how the water quality will be protected, improved or restored by the proposed project. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis.
	 93.7(3) Project approval. The department will evaluate eligibility and project design and provide the applicant a memorandum of approval for the proposed water pollution control project. The department will earmark the set-aside funds for the water pollution control projects to be funded.
	 93.7(4) Eligible costs. All costs directly related to the implementation of the project approved in the memorandum of approval are eligible costs.
	 93.7(5) Ineligible costs. Costs for livestock water quality facilities are not eligible under this set-aside and are provided for in rule 567—93.5(455B). Costs for the purchase of land are not eligible costs unless specifically approved by the commission.
	 93.7(6) Site access. The recipient shall agree to provide the department and the department’s agent access to the project site to verify that the loan was used for the purpose intended.
[ARC 8596B, IAB 3/10/10, effective 4/14/10]