(a)

1. (1) The Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 164-134, which became law on April 26, 1996, provided fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) for grants.
2. (2) The grants were designed to be used by small rural communities, which are severely economically disadvantaged.
3. (3) The United States Environmental Protection Agency plans for these funds to be administered in concert with existing programs and procedures to the maximum extent possible.

(b)

1. (1) Because of the limited funds available to this program, the State of Arkansas plans to use all of the available funds to provide assistance in planning, design, and construction of wastewater collection and/or treatment services.
2. (2) In addition, the State of Arkansas plans to make it a condition of receiving a grant that the community also must receive a loan from the CWRLF program.

(c)

1. (1) Unless herein expressly stated differently, the intention is that the terms and conditions that are followed in the CWRLF will be applied to the hardship grant program.

2. (2) This would include such items as:

   1. (A) The application process;
   2. (B) Procurement regulations;
   3. (C) Planning;
   4. (D) Design and construction requirements; and
   5. (E) Environmental review and payment provisions.