(c) Promulgate rules that are necessary for the execution of its responsibilities under the land recycling loan program.

(d) Cooperate with the department of administration in administering the land recycling loan program.

(e) Submit a biennial budget request under s. 16.42 for the land recycling loan program.

(f) Have the lead role with the federal environmental protection agency concerning the land recycling loan program.

(g) Have the lead role with eligible applicants in providing land recycling loan program information, and cooperate with the department of administration in providing that information to eligible applicants.

(h) Periodically inspect land recycling loan program projects to determine project compliance with the requirements of this section.

(i) By May 1 of each even-numbered year, prepare and submit to the department of administration a biennial needs list that includes all of the following information:

1. A list of land recycling loan program projects that the department estimates will apply for financial assistance under the land recycling loan program during the next biennium.

2. The estimated cost and estimated construction schedule of each project on the list under subd. 1., and the total of the estimated costs of all projects on the list under subd. 1.

3. The estimated rank of each project on the priority list under sub. (6).

281.61 Safe drinking water loan program. (1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Local governmental unit" means a city, village, town, county, town sanitary district, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district or municipal water district.

(b) “Market interest rate" means the interest at the effective rate of a revenue obligation issued by this state to fund a loan or portion of a loan for a clean water fund program project under s. 281.58.

(c) “Public water system" means a water system providing piped water to the public for human consumption if the water system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily for at least 60 days each year.

(d) “Safe drinking water loan program" means the program administered under this section, with financial management provided under s. 281.59.

(2) General. The department and the department of administration shall administer a program to provide financial assistance to local governmental units for projects for the planning, designing, construction or modification of public water systems, if the projects will facilitate compliance with national primary drinking water regulations under 42 USC 300g-1 or otherwise significantly further the health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 USC 300f to 300j-26.

(2g) Ineligible projects. A local governmental unit is not eligible for financial assistance under this section if the local governmental unit does not have the technical, managerial or financial capacity to ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 USC 300f to 300j-26, or the public water system operated by the local governmental unit is in significant noncompliance with any requirement of a primary drinking water regulation or variance under 42 USC 300g-1 unless the financial assistance will ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

(2r) Methods of providing financial assistance. The following methods of providing financial assistance may be used under the safe drinking water loan program:

(a) Making loans below the market interest rate for projects described in sub. (2).

(b) Purchasing or refinancing the obligation of a local governmental unit if the obligation was incurred to finance the cost of a project described in sub. (2) and the obligation was initially incurred after July 1, 1993.

(c) Guaranteeing, or purchasing insurance for, obligations incurred to finance the cost of projects described in sub. (2) if the guarantee or insurance will provide credit market access or reduce interest rates.

(d) Providing payments to the board of commissioners of public lands to reduce principal or interest payments, or both, on loans made to local governmental units under subch. II of ch. 24 by the board of commissioners of public lands for projects that are eligible for financial assistance under the safe drinking water loan program.

(e) Making grants as provided in sub. (8e).

(3) Notice of intent to apply. (a) A local governmental unit shall submit notice of its intent to apply for financial assistance under the safe drinking water loan program at least 6 months before the beginning of the fiscal year in which it intends to receive the financial assistance. The notice shall be in a form prescribed by the department and the department of administration.

(b) If a local governmental unit does not apply for financial assistance by April 30 of the 2nd year following the year in which it submitted notice under par. (a), the local governmental unit shall submit a new notice under par. (a).

(c) The department may waive par. (a) or (b) upon the written request of a local governmental unit.

(4) Engineering report. A local governmental unit seeking financial assistance for a project under this section shall submit an engineering report, as required by the department by rule.

(5) Application. After the department approves a local governmental unit's engineering report submitted under sub. (4), the local governmental unit shall submit an application for safe drinking water financial assistance to the department. The applicant shall submit the application before the April 30 preceding the beginning of the fiscal year in which the applicant wishes to receive the financial assistance. The application shall be in the form and include the information required by the department and the department of administration and shall include plans and specifications that are approvable by the department under this section. An applicant may not submit more than one application per project per year.