Administrative Fee- the fee due from a borrower to the department at the origination of a loan and/or on the outstanding principal amount of a loan payable in installments at such rate or rates and at such time or times as may be established by the secretary.
Applicant- any person, as defined, that submits an application for financial assistance in accordance with these regulations.
Binding Commitment Agreement- an instrument evidencing a legal obligation by the department, acting on behalf of the state, to a person that sets forth terms for making a loan from the fund and/or providing such other financial assistance as may be authorized in connection with the program.
Borrower- any person receiving financial assistance for the construction of a drinking water facility.
Completion Date- the date the operation of a completed project receiving financial assistance from the fund is initiated or capable of being initiated, whichever is earlier.
Construction- includes preliminary planning, engineering, architectural, legal, fiscal, and economic investigations and/or studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, erection, building, acquisition, alteration, remodeling, improvement, or extension of the project.
Department- the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
Drinking Water Facilities- facilities for the purpose of collecting, transporting, treating, storing, distributing, or holding drinking water.
Environmental Review- an assessment by the department of the environmental impact of a proposed project and assurances that the project will comply with all environmental laws and executive orders applicable to the project area.
Financial Assistance- loans, credit enhancement devices, guarantees, pledges, interest rate swap agreements, linked deposit agreements, and other financial subsidies authorized by law.
Fund- the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund established by the department in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 and Act 480 of the 1997 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Letter of Intent- a written notification of the intent of the applicant to participate in the fund program. The notification must include a request for financial assistance, the estimated amount of financial assistance, and an estimated construction schedule and document the authority of the applicant.
Loan or Loans- a disbursement of money made by the department from the fund to a person in accordance with a loan and pledge agreement.
Loan and Pledge Agreement- a contractual arrangement by and between a person and the state acting by and through the department, providing for a loan or loans to such person for the purpose of paying the eligible cost of a project or projects.
Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement (O, M, and R)- those functions that result in expenditures during the useful life of the drinking water facilities for materials, labor, utilities, and other items that are necessary for managing and maintaining the drinking water facilities to achieve the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed, including replacement.
Person- any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, company, cooperative, association, society, trust, or any other business unit or entity, including any municipality, or state agency.
Project or Projects- the activities or tasks identified in a loan and pledge agreement for which a person has made a loan and may expend, obligate, or commit loan proceeds.
Secretary- the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality.
State- the state of Louisiana or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
System Improvement Plan- the necessary plans and studies relating to the construction of a complete project of drinking water facilities.
User Charge- a charge or fee levied on users of drinking water facilities for the cost of operation, maintenance, and replacement. User charges may include other costs such as the repayment of debt incurred for the construction of the drinking water facilities.
La. Admin. Code tit. 33, § IX-10105