(a) General rule.--Prior to certification of final closure and release by the Department of Environmental Protection of the landfill bond under the act of July 7, 1980 (P.L. 380, No. 97),¹ known as the Solid Waste Management Act, and the regulations promulgated thereto, the trustee may release moneys from the trust to the county which established the trust upon written request from the county to the trustee in order for the county to spend the money to fund county conservation districts, protect farmland or accomplish any other purpose authorized by this chapter. Payment of debt service by a county on obligations issued to fund such purposes shall be deemed to be paid for a permitted purpose. Expenditure for farmland preservation must comply with the act of June 30, 1981 (P.L. 128, No. 43),² known as the Agricultural Area Security Law.

(b) Limitations.--Moneys in a site-specific postclosure trust that have not been released to the county prior to certification of final closure and release of the landfill bond may be used only for remedial measures and emergency actions that are necessary to prevent or abate adverse effects upon the environment after closure of the landfill. The county may withdraw actual costs incurred in establishing and administering the trust in an amount not to exceed 0.5% of the moneys deposited in the trust. The trustee may release moneys for remedial measures and emergency actions only upon written request of the operator of a landfill and upon prior written approval by the Department of Environmental Protection. Such request shall include the proposed amount and purpose of the withdrawal and a copy of the Department of Environmental Protection's written approval of the expenditure. A copy of the request shall be provided to the county and the host municipality. A copy of any withdrawal document prepared by the trustee shall be provided to the Department of Environmental Protection, the county and the host municipality. No withdrawal from this trust for remedial measures and emergency actions may be made until after the Department of Environmental Protection has certified closure of the landfill. Moneys remaining in a trust subsequent to certification of final closure of the landfill and release of the landfill's bond shall be given to the county that established the trust for use in a manner consistent with this chapter.

(c) Applicability.--This section shall not apply to any county of the third class having a population under the 1990 Federal Decennial Census of greater than 225,000 but less than 242,500.