(1) The agency may award funding in total of any amount up to, but not exceeding, the maximum amounts established in RCW 70A.345.030(2) for each applicant for a single heating oil tank.

(a) Program funding offered by grant is an amount up to, but not exceeding, $60,000.

(b) Where program funding is only a loan the amount is up to, but not exceeding, the maximum amounts established in RCW 70A.345.030(2) for each applicant for a single heating oil tank.

(c) Where a project is awarded a grant and loan, the program funding combined may not exceed the maximum amounts established in RCW 70A.345.030(2) for each applicant for a single heating oil tank.

(2) Program funding may be offered by loan, grant, or combination of both.

(3) A program funding award is determined after the agency reviews the preliminary planning assessment or technically sufficient assessment, and the department of health conducts an applicant financial review (as applicable). Applicants not seeking loan funding do not need a department of health review.

(4) If the program funding award is applied to remediation, then the applicant must enroll in the agency's technical assistance program. The enrollment fee will then be paid from the total funding award.

(5) The application will be considered for the following program funding award types.

(a) Loan.

(i) A loan award amount is reduced by the amount used for the preliminary planning assessment and the technical assistance program enrollment fee, if applicable.

(ii) Loan funding will be applied to remediation prior to infrastructure upgrades.

(iii) Program participants may select their own consultant to perform remediation and infrastructure upgrades.

(b) Grant.

(i) A grant award is the amount that the program will pay towards the project work identified in the preliminary planning assessment.

(ii) All work may be performed by a prime consultant.

(iii) If applicants or participants are not able to provide access to the location for remediation work, the agency may rescind the award offer or terminate the participant agreement.

(6) If applicants receive a written program funding award, the agency may require a meeting to review the terms and conditions of the award. Applicants have 30 calendar days to either accept or decline the program funding award and, if accepting the award, sign a participant agreement. If the applicant does not accept the program funding award after 30 calendar days, the award terminates.

(7) Funds are not dispersed directly to the participant except with the director's approval.

(8) The agency will directly pay the prime consultant or participant-selected contractor direct costs from the program funding award after review and approval of invoices.

(9) If required, applicants receiving a program funding award may have their award terminated or ranking adjusted when, in PLIA's discretion, information about the project significantly differs from the preliminary planning assessment. In that event, the agency will provide written notice to the applicant with an explanation.