I. For surface water treatment projects, the department shall establish and maintain a priority list of projects eligible to receive grants under RSA 486-A:3. The priority list shall include the highest priority projects ready for construction and anticipated to receive grants from appropriated funds within the next fiscal year. The list required by this section shall not be considered rules subject to the provisions of RSA 541-A.
II. For water supply land protection projects, the department shall prioritize projects in accordance with rules established under RSA 486-A:11. Prioritization factors shall include, but not be limited to:
(a)Distance from and relation to the drinking water source.
(b)Size of the area proposed for protection relative to the size of the source water protection a
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I. For surface water treatment projects, the department shall establish and maintain a priority list of projects eligible to receive grants under RSA 486-A:3. The priority list shall include the highest priority projects ready for construction and anticipated to receive grants from appropriated funds within the next fiscal year. The list required by this section shall not be considered rules subject to the provisions of RSA 541-A.
II. For water supply land protection projects, the department shall prioritize projects in accordance with rules established under RSA 486-A:11. Prioritization factors shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Distance from and relation to the drinking water source.
(b) Size of the area proposed for protection relative to the size of the source water protection area.
(c) Natural resource values, including wetlands, habitat protection, and recreational uses.
(d) Current protection status of the source water protection area.
(e) Ability of the applicant to pay for water supply land protection.
III. For regional water system projects and evaluation of groundwaters contributing area of public wells with recorded levels of chemical contaminants, the department shall adopt prioritization factors by rule under RSA 541-A, to assist in determining which new projects to fund under this chapter. Prioritization factors shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) The population of the service area that would receive water through the regional water system interconnection.
(b) The degree to which the public's health, safety, and economic well-being will benefit.
(c) The fiscal impact on user fees and taxes in the area of the regional water system.
(d) The consistency with land use master plans in the affected municipalities and with the provisions of RSA 9-B and RSA 162-C:2, V, to the extent that a proposed regional water system project may impact the municipality's growth and development patterns.