(a) An applicant may receive a grant from the Orphan Site Cleanup Fund for reasonable and necessary costs of response actions that relate to an unauthorized release from an underground storage tank at an eligible site if a financially responsible party, other than the applicant if the applicant is a responsible party, has not been identified to pay for response actions to remediate the harm caused by the unauthorized release. When determining if a responsible party is financially able to pay for response actions to remediate the harm caused by the unauthorized release from an underground storage tank, the Board shall consider the following factors:

(b) Any person who meets the definition of a responsible party with respect to an unauthorized release where the need for response actions that are the subject of the application are due solely to site development shall not be considered a responsible party for purposes of subdivision (a). If the response actions that are the subject of the application are required pursuant to Health and Safety Code, division 20, chapter 6.7, Water Code, division 7, or California Code of Regulations, title 23, division 3, chapter 16, article 11, then all responsible parties identified for the unauthorized release that is the subject of the application shall be considered for purposes of subdivision (a).

(c) If an application is submitted by joint applicants that are also responsible parties, the Board shall require the joint applicants to designate a primary applicant. The Board shall consider the financial ability of all joint applicants who are also responsible parties, other than the primary joint applicant, in accordance with subdivision (a), unless the joint applicants demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that doing so is unreasonable or inequitable given the facts and circumstances surrounding the application.

(d) The applicant shall make reasonable efforts to obtain the information specified in subdivisions (a)(1) through (4).