WAC 173-322-060   Site hazard assessment grants.  (1) Purpose. The purpose of the site hazard assessment grant program is to involve local health districts and departments in assessing the degree of contamination at suspected hazardous waste sites according to WAC 173-340-320. While enabling local health districts or departments to participate in the scoring and ranking process, the department retains the authority to review and verify the results of a site hazard assessment and to establish the hazard ranking of the site.

     (2) Applicant eligibility. To be eligible for a site hazard assessment grant, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

     (a) The applicant must be a local health district or department;

     (b) The site must be located within the jurisdiction of the applicant;

     (c) The department has agreed that the applicant may conduct the site hazard assessment; and

     (d) The scope of work for the site hazard assessment must conform to WAC 173-340-320 and applicable department guidelines.

     (3) Application process.

     (a) Submittal. The application for a site hazard assessment grant may be submitted to the department at any time.

     (b) Content. The grant application must be completed on forms provided by the department and include the following:

     (i) Sufficient evidence to demonstrate compliance with the applicant eligibility requirements in subsection (2) of this section;

     (ii) A description of the environmental benefits of the project;

     (iii) A copy of the scope of work which conforms to the requirements of WAC 173-340-320 and applicable department guidelines;

     (iv) A budget for the scope of work; and

     (v) A description of all current or potential sources of funding, including other grants or loans.

     (4) Application evaluation and prioritization.

     (a) The grant application will be evaluated by the department for completeness and adequacy. After the application has been completed, the department and the applicant will negotiate the scope of work and budget for the grant. The department will consider cost eligibility and other sources of funding when negotiating the scope of work and budget for the grant.

     (b) When pending grant applications or anticipated demand for site hazard assessment grants exceed the amount of funds available, the department may prioritize applications or limit grant awards based on the following:

     (i) Potential public health or environmental threat from the sites;

     (ii) Ownership of the sites. Publicly owned sites will receive priority over privately owned sites; and

     (iii) Relative readiness of the applicant to proceed promptly to accomplish the scope of work.

     (5) Cost eligibility. Costs must be eligible under this section and must be approved by the department in order to be eligible for reimbursement. Eligible costs include costs for activities performed pursuant to WAC 173-340-320 and enabling local health districts or departments to participate in the department's site ranking and priority-setting process.

     (6) Retroactive cost eligibility. Retroactive costs are not eligible for reimbursement unless:

     (a) The department unreasonably delays the processing of the grant application; or

     (b) The department provided only partial funding under a prior grant agreement because funds were not available.

     (7) Funding. The applicant shall be eligible to receive funding for up to one hundred percent of eligible costs.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.105D.070. 05-07-104 (Order 04-06), § 173-322-060, filed 3/18/05, effective 4/18/05. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.105D RCW. 01-05-024 (Order 97-09A), § 173-322-060, filed 2/12/01, effective 3/15/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21A.080. 93-24-047, § 173-322-060, filed 11/23/93, effective 12/24/93. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.105D RCW. 90-10-057 (Order 89-45), § 173-322-060, filed 5/1/90, effective 6/1/90.]