(a)
Any loan contract concerning an eligible project for groundwater recharge shall be supported by, or shall include, all of the following:
(1)
A finding by the department that the agency has the ability to repay the requested loan, that the project is economically justified, and that the project is feasible from an engineering and hydrogeologic viewpoint.
(2)
An estimate of the reasonable cost and benefit of the project, including a feasibility report which shall set forth the economic justification and the engineering, hydrogeologic, and financial feasibility of the project, and shall include explanations of the proposed facilities and their relation to other water-related facilities in the basin or region.
(3)
An agreement by the agency to proceed expeditiously to complete the project in conformance with the approved plans and specifications and the feasibility report and to operate and maintain the project properly upon completion throughout the repayment period.
(4)
A provision that there shall be no moratorium or deferment on payment of principal or interest.
(5)
A loan period of not more than 20 years with an interest rate set at a rate equal to 50 percent of the interest rate paid by the state on the most recent sale of state general obligation bonds, to be computed according to the true interest cost method. If the interest rate so determined is not a multiple of one-tenth of 1 percent, the interest rate shall be set at the next higher multiple of one-tenth of 1 percent. The interest rate set for each contract shall be applied throughout the repayment period of the contract. There shall be a level annual repayment of principal and interest on the loans.
(6)
A provision that the project shall not receive more than five million dollars ($5,000,000) in loan proceeds from the department.
(b)
The department shall give preference under this section to projects for groundwater recharge that are located in overdrafted groundwater basins and those projects of critical need, to projects whose feasibility studies show the greatest economic justification and the greatest engineering and hydrogeologic feasibility as determined by the department, and to projects located in areas which have existing water management programs.