(a) Departmental program.--The Department of Commerce¹ shall provide financial assistance to eligible applicants for qualifying research and development projects to promote the environmentally safe and economically viable management, disposal and reuse of brine and other wastewaters produced in conjunction with oil and gas operations in this Commonwealth.

(b) Project grants.--The financial assistance shall be used for grants by the Advanced Technology Center of Central and Northern Pennsylvania, Inc., to be administered by a project review committee.

(c) Composition of committee.--The project review committee shall be composed of five members, all of whom shall be residents of this Commonwealth. Four members shall be either petroleum engineers, petroleum geologists or experienced drillers' representatives designated by the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association and Pennsylvania Natural Gas Associates. One member shall be the Secretary of Environmental Resources² or his designated representative.

(d) Committee duties.--The project review committee shall solicit and review applications for assistance and shall recommend for approval the type and level of funding for qualifying projects.

(e) Matching grants.--Nonprofit institutions and organizations and educational institutions shall provide matching funds or support in an amount equal to no less than 15% of the total project cost. Business enterprises and other private persons shall provide matching funds or support in an amount equal to no less than 50% of the total project cost.

(f) Definitions.--As used in this section, the term “research and development project” means an activity entirely or largely conducted in Pennsylvania relating to: