(1) The agency may rank each application to establish funding and project prioritization.

(2) To ensure that program funds are used to address contamination from petroleum underground storage tanks, the agency may prioritize funding for project locations that require remediation.

(3) The agency will review information from the preliminary planning assessment, the application, and the following factors and any other factors PLIA deems relevant to establish ranking:

(a) Whether or not a release from a petroleum underground storage tank has occurred, and the nature and extent of contamination from that release.

(b) An assessment of whether the petroleum contamination poses a threat to public health and the environment.

(c) An evaluation of the location with preestablished criteria including, but not limited to, proximity to drinking water, provided in the program guidance.

(d) An assignment of a numeric score to each applicant project location and a ranking of each applicant within an application cycle.

(4) The agency may adjust project rankings if the extent of petroleum contamination is later identified as posing an immediate threat to human health or the environment. The agency may also rerank projects within an application award cycle due to emergent conditions or new information.

(5) Applicants may not appeal the agency's project rankings.