Sec. 46.16.070. - Innovative gold recovery demonstration grant program.

(a) The innovative gold recovery demonstration grant program is established as a direct grant program to give a person engaged in placer mining the opportunity to study and test new methods of gold recovery and water use reduction.

(b) The commissioner of natural resources may make a grant 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 new methods of gold recovery and water use reduction under actual operating conditions.

(c) The commissioner of natural resources may not make a grant under this section to a person in excess of $100,000.

(d) The commissioner of natural resources shall monitor and evaluate the results of grants made under this section.