Section 6028.2 - Grants and loans(a) Grants for conducting environmental assessments of industrial sites.--The department shall make grants to all of the following:
(1) Municipalities, municipal or other local authorities, nonprofit economic development agencies and similar agencies to conduct environmental assessments of industrial sites located in municipalities which have been designated by the department as distressed communities under the act of July 2, 1984 (P.L. 520, No. 105) , known as the Business Infrastructure Development Act. (2) Cities of the first class, second class, second class A and third class and any borough with a population large enough for the borough to qualify to be chartered as a city under provisions of the act of June 23, 1931 (P.L. 932, No. 317), known as The Third Class City Code, to conduct environmental assessment and remediation of industrial sites on which industrial activity was conducted prior to the effective date of this act.(a.1) Performance-based loans for remediation.--(1) The department may make performance-based loans to applicants for projects related to remediation of any of the following:(ii) Nonhazardous waste or debris. This subparagraph includes waste tire recycling.(2) A loan awarded under this subsection may be forgiven to the extent that performance measures and other requirements are accomplished by the loan recipient in accordance with the loan agreement between the recipient and the department.(3) For the loans, the department in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection shall establish all of the following:(i) Eligibility. Loans shall be restricted to persons who did not cause or contribute to the contamination on property used for industrial activity on or before the effective date of this act and who propose to undertake a voluntary cleanup of the property.(ii) Performance measures. This subparagraph includes all of the following: (A) Method to dispose of the waste or debris.(B) Number of jobs related to the disposal.(C) Resulting economic benefit to the Commonwealth.(iii) Related requirements.(4) Loans under this subsection shall be included in the annual financing strategy of the department.(b) Source.--(1) Grants under subsection (a) shall be made from the Industrial Sites Environmental Assessment Fund.(2) Loans under subsection (a.1) shall be made from the Industrial Sites Cleanup Fund. Money collected from repayment of loans under subsection (a.1) shall be deposited in the Industrial Sites Cleanup Fund. 1995 , May 19, P.L. 43, No. 4, § 2, effective in 60 days. Amended 2000, March 17, P.L. 20, No. 6, § 3, imd. effective.