Section 362.201  Review and Approval of Step 2 + 3 Grants

a)         Each application for a Step 2 + 3 grant shall include a facilities plan.  The Agency shall review the application, the facilities plan, and other information to determine if it is complete and approvable under 40 CFR 35, Subpart I.

b)         If the facilities plan and supporting application materials are complete and approvable, the Agency shall certify the project to the USEPA for issuance of a Step 2 + 3 grant in accordance with the availability of federal funding if necessary to obligate the reserve set aside for projects utilizing innovative or alternative wastewater conveyance and treatment systems.

c)         If the facilities plan and supporting application materials are not complete and approvable, the Agency shall issue a letter of review to the applicant identifying the deficiencies in the application which must be corrected prior to certification of the Step 2 + 3 grant.  Subject to federal appropriation, the Agency will certify a Step 2 + 3 project where a facility plan is incomplete if the requirements of 40 CFR 35, Subpart I pertaining to facility planning exceptions are met.

d)         Issuance of a Step 2 + 3 grant shall constitute approval of a facility plan (except where issued under a facility planning exception) and authorization to initiate the preparation of design engineering and specifications under the allowance provision.

e)         Prior to authorization to advertise for building bids under Step 3 of the Step 2 + 3 grant, the applicant shall submit to the Agency application information required for issuance of Step 3 grants, together with a user charge system, and sewer use ordinance.  The Agency shall authorize the advertising for building bids upon a determination that the submitted information meets the requirements of 40 CFR 35, Subpart I.