Expense Reimbursement Grant Utilization;
             A Quick Reference Guide
Overview of the Operator Certification
Expense Reimbursement Grant Program
Title
Purpose
General
Description
Utilities
Covered
Operator Certification Expense Reimbursement Grant Program,
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) §1419
To provide funding for certification and training costs for small
drinking water systems operators
Provides reimbursement for the costs of training, including an
appropriate per diem for unsalaried operators, and certification for
persons operating systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer
All small community water systems (CWS) and non-transient non-
community water systems (NTNCWS) serving 3,300 or fewer persons
   Who
         Small drinking water system operators who receive training that promotes
         public health protection and professionalism

         Owners who are required by state regulation to maintain a certified
         operator at its public water system

         Customers who receive safe drinking water due to services provided by the
         water facility and the well-trained operator with ability to service the water
         facility
   States
   EPA
Difficulty spending grant funds on reimbursement and training of small
water systems

System operators are not taking advantage of reimbursement opportunities
States' slow spending reflects minimal activities of workplan

States' ability to spend all funds and complete activities by end of project
period

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Optional Provisions
Assumptions
/       States will first use grant funds to provide reimbursement for training and
        certification costs of small system operators serving 3,300 persons or fewer
        and per diem for unsalaried operators

/       States should be exploring creative ways to advertise availability of ERG
        funds as an incentive for operators to take advantage of reimbursement

/       States should consider reimbursement of training for new rules as pro-active
        measure

/       After reimbursement of all costs has been made, States may (after
        notification to EPA) use any "remaining balance" funds for Drinking Water
        State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) purposes
Other Options
       Apply for 1 year extension to grant project period

       States need to determine if this is feasjf
       >>  Extensions beyond 1 year are not encouraged

       *  Consider if 1 year timeframe is adequate to spend all monies

                          If not...

       Amend ERG workplan to include new activities

           S  Written proposal must meet SDWA §1419(d)

                          Or...

       Roll "remaining balance" funds over to DWSRF

           S  State must provide 20% match on "remaining balance" funds

           S  Only 31% can go to set-asides

           S  Output/Outcomes must fit EPA's strategic plan goals, objectives and
               subobjectives of the DWSRF grant
       States are encouraged to contact their EPA state program manager or grant
       project officer to discuss options as early as possible

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