(a) The innovative pollution control demonstration grant program is established as a direct grant program to give a person engaged in placer mining the opportunity to study and test innovative and economically viable mining techniques for waste disposal and pollution control in placer mining.
(b) The commissioner of environmental conservation may make grants under this section to a person that has
(1) a proven history of successful placer mining in the state;
(2) the capability to produce verifiable results; and
(3) the capability to study and test innovative and economically viable techniques for waste disposal and pollution control in placer mining.
(c) The commissioner of environmental conservation may not make a grant under this section to a person in excess of $100,000.
(d) The commissioner of environmental conservation shall monitor and evaluate the results of grants made under this section.