I. – No grant may be awarded if execution of the operation has begun before the date on which the grant application is received by the competent authority. Commencement of execution of the operation is constituted by the first legal act passed for the carrying out of the operation or, in the case of work carried out on a direct basis, by the constitution of supplies or the start of execution of the work. Studies or the acquisition of land required to carry out the project and carried out beforehand do not constitute the commencement of work. They may be taken into account when calculating the grant.
II. – By way of derogation from the provisions of I, the Prefect may notify the local authority that the commencement of execution of the operation prior to the date of receipt of the grant application does not result in automatic rejection of the grant application.
III. – The applicant informs the Prefect of the start of the operation.