7 USC 1926 - Emergency and imminent community water assistance grant program

View all text of Subchapter I [§ 1922 - § 1936c]

§ 1926a. Emergency and imminent community water assistance grant program

(a) In generalThe Secretary shall provide grants in accordance with this section to assist the residents of rural areas and small communities to secure adequate quantities of safe water—

(1) after a significant decline in the quantity or quality of water available from the water supplies of such rural areas and small communities, or when such a decline is imminent; or

(2) when repairs, partial replacement, or significant maintenance efforts on established water systems would remedy—

(A) an acute, or imminent, shortage of quality water; or

(B) a significant decline, or imminent decline, in the quantity or quality of water that is available.

(b) PriorityIn carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1) give priority to projects described in subsection (a)(1), particularly to projects to address contamination that—

(A) poses a threat to human health or the environment; and

(B) was caused by circumstances beyond the control of the applicant for a grant, including circumstances that occurred over a period of time; and

(2) provide at least 70 percent of all such grants to such projects.

(1) be a public or private nonprofit entity; and

(2) in the case of a grant made under subsection (a)(1), demonstrate to the Secretary that the decline referred to in such subsection occurred, or will occur, within 2 years of the date the application was filed for such grant.

(d) Uses

(1) In generalGrants made under this section may be used—

(A) for waterline extensions from existing systems, laying of new waterlines, repairs, significant maintenance, digging of new wells, equipment replacement, and hook and tap fees;

(B) for any other appropriate purpose associated with developing sources of, treating, storing, or distributing water;

(C) to assist communities in complying with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) or the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.); and

(D) to provide potable water to communities through other means, other than those covered above for not to exceed 120 days when a more permanent solution is not feasible in a shorter time frame. Where drinking water supplies are inadequate due to an event, as determined by the Secretary, including drought, severe weather, or contamination, the Secretary may provide potable water for an additional period of time not to exceed an additional 120 days in order to protect public health.

(2) Joint proposals

(e) Restrictions

(1) Maximum population and incomeNo grant provided under this section shall be used to assist any rural area or community that—

(A) includes any area in any city or town with a population in excess of 10,000 inhabitants according to the most recent decennial census of the United States; or

(B) has a median household income in excess of the State nonmetropolitan median household income.

(2) Set-aside for smaller communities

(f) Maximum grantsGrants made under this section may not exceed—

(1) in the case of each grant made under subsection (a)(1), $1,000,000; and

(2) in the case of each grant made under subsection (a)(2), $150,000.

(g) Full funding

(h) Application

(1) Nationally competitive application process

(2) Timing of review of applications

(A) Simplified application

(B) Priority review

(i) Funding

(1) Reservation

(A) In general

(B) Release

(i) In general

(ii) Exception

(2) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 306A, as added Pub. L. 101–82, title V, § 501(a), Aug. 14, 1989, 103 Stat. 584; amended Pub. L. 104–127, title VII, § 742, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1124; Pub. L. 107–171, title VI, § 6009, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 356; Pub. L. 110–234, title VI, § 6008, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1163; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VI, § 6008, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1924; Pub. L. 113–79, title VI, § 6007, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 843; Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6407(a), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4759.)