1. State assistance payments shall be approved only for closure projects that include plans for closure, post-closure and construction in accordance with the department's solid waste management regulations applicable to new projects which were in effect six months prior to the date of submittal of the final application.

2. Municipal landfill closure project costs incurred prior to April first, nineteen hundred ninety-three shall not be eligible for state assistance payments funded pursuant to this article.

3. Prior to processing applications for state assistance payments for projects pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall promulgate, in consultation with the director of the budget, rules and regulations which shall include criteria for determining eligible expenditures and procedures governing the commitment and disbursement of funds appropriated in accordance with this section. The commissioner also shall promulgate rules and regulations which shall include application procedures, review processes, and project approval guidelines and criteria.