(a) A community solid waste management planning grant account is established in the general fund. It consists of appropriations made to it.
(b) The department may issue matching grants from money in the account to a municipality, to an unincorporated community, to an organization representing two or more municipalities or unincorporated communities within a region, to a nonprofit organization, coastal resources service area, or regional health corporation for the purpose of a community solid waste management plan.
(c) In its award of a grant under this section, the department shall consider the severity of environmental or public health concerns relating to existing solid waste management practices. The department may consider the extent to which the proposed planning effort will meet the needs of more than one community, the extent to which there is clear evidence of local support for the planning effort, and the number of individuals who will benefit from the planning effort.
(d) The department shall establish guidelines for the preparation of plans funded under this section to achieve the practices and priorities established under AS 46.06.021.
(e) A grant under this section
(1) must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the grantee in cash or in kind;
(2) may not exceed $50,000 for a single proposal or project.
(f) The department may waive the match required under (e) of this section on a showing satisfactory to the commissioner by the prospective applicant that matching funds are not available.