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 arrangement with the CWSRF. The following eligibility conditions and restrictions for participation apply to such assistance.
	  a.   	 Location preferences. General nonpoint source water pollution control projects will be rated according to rule 567—91.11(455B).
	  b.   	 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.
	  c.   	 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.
	  d.   	 Project eligibility. Eligible general nonpoint source projects include, but are not limited to, agricultural well sealing, urban sedimentation basins, construction of wetlands and riparian lands, restoration of habitat, stream bank restoration and stabilization, remediation of underground storage tanks, remediation of aboveground storage tanks, urban storm water runoff best management practices and management facilities, sediment traps, wetland flood prevention areas, water conservation and reuse, and development of environmental management systems. 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, brownfield remediation, environmental insurance for brownfield remediation, vegetative plants, street sweepers and leaf removal equipment, closure of municipal landfills, salt storage sheds, sediment removal, wetland mitigation bank and education programs.
	 93.7(2) Applying for assistance. Applications for assistance from the GNS set-aside shall be submitted to the department at Environmental Services, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Henry A. Wallace Building, 502 E. Ninth Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034. 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) Rating and ranking. Using information included in the application, the department will rate and rank the projects. The department will identify the highest rated projects 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. These funds will be available for six months after the IUP is approved in order for the applicant to complete the loan.
	 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.