(a) Resources from the following sources shall be used by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to effect the purposes of the program: Proceeds from the sale of any bonds authorized for the purposes of sections 23-73 to 23-79, inclusive, and any funds received as contributions from governmental or private sources.

(b) The resources of the program may be applied and expended to: (1) Acquire property or an interest in property; or (2) maintain lands pursuant to a stewardship account authorized under § 23-79. The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply to all costs incurred by the commissioner or a cooperating entity that the commissioner determines are directly related to the acquisition of the property.

(c) Payments from program resources may be made to cooperating entities for program acquisitions provided the commissioner has issued to such entity a letter of intent requesting assistance in an acquisition. A cooperating entity may request a letter of intent for a proposed acquisition. Upon submission of a cooperating entity’s expenses for acquisition and related costs to the department pursuant to a contract for such acquisition, the commissioner or his designee shall authorize payment of expenses at reasonable intervals during the acquisition process, as determined by the commissioner.