[§340E-33]  Powers and duties.  (a)  The
director may approve grants, loans, and other financial assistance consistent
with this part and the Federal Act to eligible public water systems in the
State.



(b)  The director may enter into any necessary
or required agreement and give or make any necessary or required assurance,
designation, or certification with or to any person in order to receive
payments or to make or provide any financial assistance in conformance with the
Federal Act.



(c)  The director may enter into grant
agreements with the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection
Agency and accept drinking water fund capitalization and other grants.  Federal
capitalization grants shall be used only for the drinking water fund and other
uses allowed by the Federal Act (e.g., section 1452(a)(2), (a)(3), (d), (g)(2),
and (k) of the Federal Act).



(d)  The director may adopt rules pursuant to
chapter 91 for the purposes of this part, including rules setting fees for
loans and other financial assistance issued through the drinking water fund and
penalties for default of loans or other financial assistance.



(e)  The director shall establish fiscal
controls and accounting procedures at least sufficient to assure proper
accounting for appropriate accounting periods of payments, disbursements,
revenues, and fees received and made for fund balances at the beginning and end
of the accounting period.  Federal funds in the drinking water fund shall be
kept in a separate account or series of accounts from the account or accounts
for state funds in the drinking water fund.



(f)  The director may perform any act
considered reasonably necessary, advisable, or expedient for the administration
of this part or the advancement of the purposes of this part.



(g)  The director may create one or more
separate accounts or subaccounts within the drinking water fund and may specify
any conditions applicable to the transfer of moneys and securities among such
accounts and subaccounts.



(h)  The director may create one or more
separate accounts or subaccounts outside the drinking water fund to handle
funds for programs and administrative expenses consistent with the Federal Act,
and the director may specify any conditions applicable to the transfer of
moneys and securities among such accounts and subaccounts and to the drinking
water fund.



(i)  Moneys in accounts outside the drinking
water fund may be placed in interest bearing investments or otherwise invested
at the discretion of the director until such time as the moneys may be needed. 
All interest accruing from the investment of these moneys shall be credited to
accounts established under this part as the director considers appropriate.



(j)  Not less than twenty days prior to the
convening of each regular session of the legislature, the director shall submit
to the legislature a financial report addressing the operations of the drinking
water fund during the last completed fiscal year, including information on each
grant, loan, or other financial assistance made during that year.  The report
shall include:



(1)  The name of the recipient;



(2)  The effective date of the financial assistance;



(3)  The amount provided; and



(4)  The intended or actual use of the funds. [L 1997,
c 218, pt of §2]