567—91.8 (455B) Project priority rating system.
	 91.8(1) Point source rating criteria. The point source rating criteria consider the use classification of the receiving waters, water quality of the receiving waters, compliance status of the discharger, project benefits, readiness to proceed and a tiebreaker. Priority ranking for the projects shall be based on the total points awarded for all the categories; the greater the total number of points, the higher the ranking. The ranking will be done annually at the time the IUP is prepared and will not be updated during the year. The tiebreaker category will be used when necessary.
	  a.   	 Use classification of receiving waters. This category addresses the receiving water that is impacted or potentially impacted by the existing situation and that would be improved or protected by the proposed project. Points shall be awarded and shall be cumulative for all designated use classifications of the receiving stream. Points for sludge stabilization, sewers and lift station projects normally will be based on the assigned use of the waters that receive or could receive the effluent discharge.

Use and Classification	Points	
Outstanding national resource waters	50	
High quality waters	40	
High quality resource waters	20	
Class A1 waters	50	
Class A2 waters	45	
Class A3 waters	45	
Class C waters	40	
Class B (CW1) waters	50	
Class B (CW2) waters	30	
Class B (WW) waters	30	
Class B (LW) waters	35	
Class B (LR) waters	25	
	  b.   	 Water quality of receiving waters. This category addresses the quality of water in the receiving stream and whether or not the water has been designated as impaired for some uses. Bodies of water that are impaired by pollutants are identified as Section 303(d) waters. The Section 303(d) list of waters also identifies probable pollutant source categories for these impairments. Projects that primarily impact these waters are awarded points if the water body that receives or could receive the wastewater discharge is included on the Section 303(d) list and the probable pollutant source is a point source. Waters are also identified in the Section 305(b) report on their use attainment status. Projects that primarily impact these waters are awarded points depending on the use impairment identified for the water body that receives or could receive the wastewater discharge. If no use impairment is identified indicating the water was not assessed, the partially supporting status points will be awarded. Points will be awarded for both sections and then totaled for this category.

Indication of water quality	Points	
A	 	
Section 303(d) listed water	 	
High rating for total maximum daily load (TMDL) development	45	
Medium rating for TMDL development	35	
Low rating for TMDL development	25	
B	 	
Section 305(b) status	 	
Fully supporting	10	
Fully supporting/threatened	15	
Partially supporting	20	
Not supporting	30	
Not assessed	20	
	  c.   	 Compliance status. This category addresses the compliance status of the proposed project. To provide an incentive for municipal facilities to maintain compliance, more points are given to projects that are in compliance with their NPDES discharge permit when they apply for a loan. Projects that are not in compliance at the time of application, have bypasses, have received administrative orders from the department or have been referred for legal action are given fewer points than a project in compliance. Unsewered community projects will be considered to be in compliance if they are taking action to eliminate public health problems or water quality problems, or both, prior to formal action by the department.

Compliance Status	Points	
Has been referred to Iowa attorney general for discharge violation	30	
Received administrative order from DNR for discharge violations	25	
Compliance schedule in NPDES permit—existing discharge requirements are not being met	20	
Compliance schedule in NPDES permit—new discharge requirements are being imposed	40	
Bypassing has been reported in previous 12 months	15	
Discharge has met all NPDES permit requirements for 24 months (at time of application)	50	
Unsewered community and has initiated project on its own	50	
Unsewered community and has received an administrative order from DNR	25	
	  d.   	 Project benefit. This category incorporates several factors including type of project and the relative level of the impact on public health and the environment. Points will be awarded for the primary benefit.

Project Benefits	Points	
Protection of public health; corrective measures for problems that pose a clear and direct impact on human health. Examples are sewer backups into basements and sewer overflows impacting populated areas.	40	
Protection of the environment; corrective measures for problems that pose a clear and direct impact on water quality and the environment. Examples are effluent violations and combined sewer overflows.	30	
Prevention of the development of problems that will have an impact on public health and the environment. Examples are upgrading a treatment facility for anticipated growth and replacement of a lift station beyond design life.	20	
	  e.   	 Readiness to proceed. This category addresses overall readiness to proceed with project construction. Points can be received for reaching multiple milestones.

Project Status	Points	
The project is following the permit application process outlined in department guidance.	20	
The applicant has prepared the environmental information document including clearances from other agencies and has submitted the materials to the department.	10	
The department and the applicant have agreed on the project schedule and design loading criteria.	10	
	  f.   	 Total points. Total points are calculated using the following formula:
Total Points = Use Classification + Water Quality (A) + Water Quality (B) + Compliance Status + Project Benefit + Readiness
	  g.   	 Tiebreaker. Two or more projects may receive the same total points on the fundable list. If sufficient state revolving loan funds are not available to fund the projects, ties will be broken by determining which project has the highest score in each category in the following order:

• Water Quality of Receiving Streams (A)	Highest	
• Water Quality of Receiving Streams (B)	↕	
• Use and Classification		
• Project Benefits		
• Compliance Status		
• Readiness to Proceed	Lowest	
	 91.8(2) Reserved.