$25,000,000 available for PA Small Water and Sewer Grants

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SSM assisted our clients in obtaining over $370,000 in CFA Grant funding last year, as well as $200,000 in other DCED Grant funding.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jamie Lorah, PE

The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) announced another round of PA Small Water and Sewer Grants for 2017-2018. To be eligible for reimbursement, project costs must be incurred within the time frame established by the grant agreement. To apply for funding, the applicant must submit the electronic online DCED Single Application for Assistance.  Applications are due February 28, 2018.

Eligible Projects:

Eligible projects are those with a total project cost between $30,000 and $500,000 that involve the construction, improvement, expansion, repair, or rehabilitation of a water supply or sanitary sewer system (including water and wastewater treatment facilities and pump stations) which is owned and maintained by an eligible applicant.

An eligible project also includes consolidation or regionalization of two or more water supply systems or sanitary sewer systems which are managed or operated as an integrated system regardless of whether the system is physically connected.

Eligible Use of Funds:

Funds may be used by the applicant to pay for any of the following project costs:

• Construction, improvement, expansion, repair, or rehabilitation of a water supply system or sanitary sewer system.
• Installation of security measures.
• Acquisition of land, rights-of-way and easements necessary to construct an eligible project.
• Purchase and installation of fixed equipment.
• Engineering and design costs not to exceed 10% of the grant amount and inspection costs related to the construction of an eligible project.
• Permit Fees.
• Costs to secure appropriate bonds and insurance.
• Administrative costs of the applicant that are necessary to administer the grant, including: advertising, legal costs, and documented staff expenses (not to exceed 2% of the grant amount).
• Project contingencies associated with construction costs (up to 5% of the eligible construction costs).

Ineligible costs include, but are not limited to, fees for securing other financing, interest on borrowed funds, refinancing of existing debt, lobbying, fines, application preparation fees, tap in fees, and costs incurred prior to approval.

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Changes to PA One Call

Amendment highlights to the Underground Utility Line Protection Law which take effect April 28, 2018 and what it means to you.

Administratively, the duties of the PA One Call are being transferred from the Department of Labor and Industry to the Public Utility Commission (PUC). There will also be changes to the way violations are handled.

Enforcement by the PUC will entail investigating alleged violations by a Damage Prevention Investigator and the formation of a Damage Prevention Committee. The Damage Prevention Investigator will present findings and recommendations to the Damage Prevention Committee if it is determined that a violation occurred. The Committee can issue a warning, require the person to attend training, or issue an “informal determination” to modify or dismiss a recommendation/impose a penalty.

Tiered Maximum Penalties:

• Repair - up to $5,000/violation if repair is less than $3,000; up to $10,000/violation if repair is greater than $3,000; up to $50,000 with injury, death or property damage greater than $25,000;
• Administrative - penalties for repeat offenders, and tiered maximum limits ($1,000, $5,000 or $10,000) based on personal injury or property damage assessment.

Appeals will be referred to the PUC’s Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement as a “formal complaint.”

The Bill includes several new definitions many of which are aimed at the natural resources extraction

industries (natural gas, pipeline, and oil and gas well issues), excepting surface mining and coal mining.

Duties and requirements of Facility Owners:

• Participate in the One Call System’s Members Mapping Solutions, requirements to be determined.
• Communicate directly with excavator within two hours after re-notification when Facility Owner failed to respond to a location request.
• Submit reports of alleged violations to PUC within 30 business days if cost to repair is greater than $2,500.
• Maintain existing records of abandoned “main” lines and locate, if possible.

Duties of Designers:

• Report violations to PUC within 30 business days.
• Paying a “request fee” (annual) to the One Call System.

Duties of Excavators:

• Report if facilities lines are struck or damaged.
• Requesting facility location before excavation and paying a locate request fee (annual).
• Re-notifying if a facility is unmarked or incorrectly marked.

Duty of Project Owner:

• Provide report within 10 business days if owner believes a violation (line damage) occurred.