1. A. “Administrative account” means a separate account established within the fund to carry out the administrative functions of the Rural Infrastructure Act.
2. B. “Average residential user cost reduction grant” means a grant for the purpose of reducing the average residential user cost to a reasonable level as determined by the department for an eligible financially needy loan recipient whose water supply facility serves a population of less than three thousand.
3. C. “Base interest rate” means the annual interest rate for loans to local authorities that do not qualify for average user cost reduction grants or zero percent loans.
4. D. “Fund” means the rural infrastructure revolving loan fund.
5. E. “Local authority” means a mutual domestic association, or water and sanitation district that supplies water, wastewater or solid waste services to, or a municipality that has a population of less than twenty thousand or a county with a population less than two hundred thousand.
6. F. “Operate and maintain” means to conduct all necessary activities, including but not limited to replacement of equipment or appurtenances, to assure the dependable and economical function of a water supply or wastewater facility in accordance with its intended purpose.
7. G. “Priority ranking system” means the system for ranking water supply, wastewater, and solid waste facility construction projects for which loan applications have been received pursuant to the Rural Infrastructure Act.
8. H. “Priority list” means a list of water supply, wastewater and solid waste facility construction projects ranked according to the priority ranking system.
9. I. “RIA” means the Rural Infrastructure Act, Chapter 75, Article 1 NMSA 1978.
10. J. “Secretary” means the secretary of the environment department.
11. K. “Solid waste facility” includes transfer and convenience facilities, landfills or other equipment or systems used for processing, transformation, recycling or disposal of solid waste.
12. L. “Water supply facility” includes the source of supply of water, pumping equipment, storage facilities, transmission lines, treatment works, and distribution systems.
13. M. “Wastewater facility” includes collection lines, pumping equipment, treatment works, and disposal piping or process units.
14. N. “Zero percent loan” means a loan which carries no interest for the purpose of reducing the average residential user cost to a reasonable level as determined by the department for an eligible financially needy loan recipient whose water supply, wastewater, or solid waste facility serves a population of less than 3,000.

[20.7.2.7 NMAC - Rp, 20 NMAC 7.2.106, 10/31/2001; A, 10/29/2007]