NR 153.20(5)(a) (a) A grantee may request a substitution to a project selected under this section. The request may be to change best management practices or install the best management practices at an alternative location.

NR 153.20(5)(b) (b) The grantee shall submit the request to the department prior to the end of the grant period. The grantee shall submit the substitution request on a form provided by the department.

NR 153.20 Note Note: Forms can be obtained from the department’s Bureau of Watershed Management or the department’s Bureau of Community Financial Assistance, 101 S. Webster St., PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.

NR 153.20(5)(c) (c) The department shall consider the substitution request and inform the grantee of its decision. The department may approve the substitution request only if all of the following criteria are met:

NR 153.20(5)(c)1. 1. The grantee provides a description and rationale for the substitution.

NR 153.20(5)(c)2. 2. The altered project meets project screening, minimum scoring, and local share requirements of this chapter.

NR 153.20(5)(c)3. 3. The altered project is cost-effective, will not increase the original grant award, and will achieve results substantially similar to those anticipated through the original project proposal.

NR 153.20(5)(c)4. 4. The altered project will affect the same hydrologic unit and water resources identified in the original application.

NR 153.20(5)(c)5. 5. There is sufficient time remaining to complete the revised project.

NR 153.20(5)(c)6. 6. The substitution will not result in removing a cost-share offer included in a notice that has been issued or is expected to be issued under s. NR 151.09 or 151.095.

NR 153.20 History History: CR 00-025: cr. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 09-112: r. and recr. Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11.

NR 153.205 NR 153.205 Notice of discharge project application, selection and funding.

NR 153.205(1) (1) Applicability. This section applies only to notice of discharge projects under s. NR 153.145.

NR 153.205(2) (2) Application period and content.

NR 153.205(2)(a) (a) The department may accept notice of discharge project applications from governmental units on a continuous basis. Applications shall remain active for one year unless terminated by the applicant. After one year, the governmental unit shall resubmit the application in order for the application to remain active for the department’s funding consideration.

NR 153.205(2)(b) (b) The department shall require that applications be submitted on forms provided by the department.

NR 153.205 Note Note: Forms can be obtained from the department’s Bureau of Watershed Management or the department’s Bureau of Community Financial Assistance, 101 S. Webster St., PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.

NR 153.205(2)(c) (c) The application information shall include all of the following:

NR 153.205(2)(c)1. 1. Name and address of the prospective cost-share recipient and project location.

NR 153.205(2)(c)2. 2. Site map.

NR 153.205(2)(c)3. 3. Size of livestock operation, in animal units.

NR 153.205(2)(c)4. 4. Site history, description of discharge, and method of problem determination.

NR 153.205(2)(c)5. 5. Extent and severity of the threat or impact to waters of the state and urgency of installing management measures.

NR 153.205(2)(c)6. 6. Proposed management practices, estimated costs, and implementation timeline.

NR 153.205(2)(c)7. 7. Concurrence from the department of natural resources that the site has been issued, or will be issued concurrent with the runoff management agreement, a notice under s. NR 243.24.

NR 153.205(3) (3) Project selection and funding.

NR 153.205(3)(a) (a) Each year, the department shall identify up to four specific periods when active applications will be considered for funding. Applications considered for funding during each period include the active, unfunded applications from the prior period plus any new applications received prior to the end of the subsequent period. The department shall determine what portion of the available funds will be made available to fund projects being considered in each selection period.

NR 153.205(3)(b) (b) The department shall consider the information submitted under sub. (2) and make a decision whether to award funding for the project based on the merits of the proposed project, the amount of funding available for project selection, availability of other funding sources, farm viability, and state cost-share requirements under ch. NR 243.

NR 153.205(3)(b)1. 1. If grant funds are awarded under this subsection for a landowner or operator to comply with a notice issued by the department for a category II unacceptable practice under s. NR 243.24 (1) (b), the department’s grant award shall, alone or in combination with other sources, meet the state cost-share requirements under s. 281.16 (3) (e), Stats. Requests for economic hardship shall be administered in accordance with s. NR 154.03 (3).