Common Pre-Application Procedure
Introductions
In 1995 the state and federal funding agencies that are members of the Water Wastewater Advisory Committee (WWAC) adopted a common Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) and preapplication format that they would all use to reduce the costs to applicants in developing a project.
Those agencies are:
- the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, and
- the USDA Rural Development (Water and Environmental Programs).
This successful process has been modified over the years as conditions changed. The Agencies undertook an integral process improvement endeavor that included responding to the voice of the communities and consulting engineers of Nebraska.
The WWAC shall collaborate to bring more capital to rural communities by providing a process for community decision making for funding and completion of projects that consistently maximizes the funding resources to the most communities possible.
Communities may submit their projects directly to the agencies if they do not want to utilize WWAC’s resources.
Procedure
Each pre-application will be reviewed by WWAC as follows:
1. Submit one (1) electronic original of the pre-application and Facility Plan (FP) / PER to ndee.WWAC@nebraska.gov. (The preapplication and guide for writing a PER [Preliminary Engineering Report] is found in the complete document.)
Though not recommended, a paper copy may be submitted to:
Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
Attn: State Revolving Fund (SRF) Section
PO Box 98922
Lincoln, NE 68509-8922
2. Upon receipt, all WWAC members receive a copy of the pre-application and FP/PER. Incomplete pre-applications will not be considered until all information is received. Upon receipt a WWAC Point of Contact will be assigned and contact you. Please direct any questions to your Point of Contact.
3. Subsequently, the technical subcommittee of WWAC will review the pre-application for the engineering scope within 30 days after the submission. WWAC may request the applicant/consulting engineer attend a meeting (or the applicant may request a meeting) with WWAC to discuss the project scope, including technical aspects and alternatives considered.
This meeting can be held in person, by video conference, or by teleconference and should include appropriate program staff, applicant representative and the project engineer. Meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month in the City of Lincoln. Once the technical subcommittee has determined the scope as 95% complete, the project will be forwarded to the financing subcommittee.
Applications will be expedited through the technical committee if the following actions have been taken:
- Test hole or equivalent confirming water quality for development of a well field.
- The applicant provides evidence that they have secured the necessary land for the project. Assurances such as deeds, purchase agreements, leases, or a resolution by the Board of Trustees on their intent to proceed with condemnation for land necessary for the project.
- Service meters are adequate to provide billing commensurate with consumption. This is either evidence that the existing meters have useful life or new service meters with the project.
- All feasible alternatives were considered.
- Accuracy of the number of users is critical. Evidence of the number of users must be attached (See Appendix A). Any new, seasonal, or inactive users should be identified.
- In towns under population of 400: AWIN score is reported. If the score is high, discussion on the actual impact to the environment and public health should be described. In those cases, regulatory measures may be considered if affordability becomes restrictive.
4. The financing subcommittee meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of the month. After review, a funding option packet will be sent to the applicant containing the basic information used to determine the funding options. Instructions to respond will be provided in the funding options packet.
5. The applicant will have 60 days to respond to the funding option packet. If the Point of Contact has not heard from the applicant after 60 days, WWAC will contact the applicant and discuss the status of the project.
6. After a funding option has been selected, the selected funding agency(ies) will contact the applicant with further instructions.
7. Each funding agency will follow its own full application process. Applicants seeking funding for the same project from multiple agencies must submit a full application to the particular agencies.
8. If a full application varies significantly from the pre-application, or if the facts involving a project have changed such that the feasibility of the proposed solution warrants further investigation, any individual WWAC agency may request the full WWAC to review the project again.
Download
Download the complete document from above.
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Questions?
Contact:
State Revolving Fund Section
Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
NDEE phone: (402) 471-2186
Toll-free: (877) 253-2603
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Visit our home page: http://dee.ne.gov
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