§ 1161. Eligible projects; priority ranking. Subject to the provisions
of section thirty-two of the chapter of the laws of 1996 which added
this section, in consultation with the commissioner of environmental
conservation, the commissioner shall establish and maintain a list of
potentially eligible projects and shall establish, pursuant to rules and
regulations, a process for listing potentially eligible projects
identified by potential recipients and a priority ranking system for the
purpose of providing financial assistance to recipients for such
projects under this title. In establishing such system, the commissioner
shall take into account the public health significance of such
potentially eligible projects which shall include, but need not be
limited to, an assessment of (i) public health and safety; (ii)
population affected; (iii) attainment of state drinking water quality
goals and standards; (iv) taking into consideration the water resources
management strategy pursuant to title twenty-nine of article fifteen of
the environmental conservation law; (v) taking into consideration future
physical climate risk due to sea level rise, and/or storm surges and/or
flooding, based on available data predicting the likelihood of future
extreme weather events, including hazard risk analysis data if
applicable; and (vi) compliance with state and federal law, rules and
regulations.