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Committee approves updates to DEQ planning‑grant rules for drinking water and wastewater facilities
Summary
DEQ proposed updates to rules governing administration of planning grants for drinking water and wastewater projects to reduce burden, add clarity and revise priority scoring; the committee approved the docket following discussion of priority points and other changes.
The Department of Environmental Quality presented updates to rules that administer planning grants for public drinking water and wastewater systems (IDAPA 58.01.122). The Senate Environment and Energy Committee approved the rule docket after DEQ summarized changes to priority criteria and text clarifications.
Jerry Henry, DEQ division administrator for drinking water protection and finance, said the updates are a 0‑based regulatory review to remove duplicative or outdated language, reorganize for readability, update web links and add clarifying points to the priority rating system used when awarding planning grants.
Notable changes Henry identified included added points and clarifications to the priority rating system (including adjustments where user charges exceed affordability criteria), removing points for public‑health emergencies in planning grants (DEQ said emergencies are handled through the loan program), and updates to align eligibility with federal State Revolving Fund requirements.
DEQ said it held two negotiated rulemaking sessions and received public comments that were addressed where appropriate. The agency presented its compliance statement with Idaho Code 39‑107(d) and said the chapter is procedural, mirroring federal funding and eligibility criteria.
Committee members asked about the shall→must/will phrasing changes seen across rule dockets and other technical clarifications. A motion to approve the docket was moved and seconded; the committee approved the rule docket by voice vote.
