(a) No substantive regulations shall be adopted, amended or repealed until after a public hearing. At least 20 days prior to the scheduled date of the hearing, the commission shall give notice of such hearing by public advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the state concerned of the date, time, place and purpose of such hearing and make available to any person upon request copies of the proposed regulations, together with summaries of the reasons supporting their adoption.

(b) Repealed by Acts 1982, No. 82-612, p. 1111, §14(a)(1).

(c) After such hearing, the commission may revise the proposed regulations before adoption in response to testimony made at the hearing without conducting a further hearing on the revisions.

(d) Any such regulations may make different provisions, as required by circumstances, for different contaminant sources and for different geographical areas; may apply to sources outside this state causing, contributing to or threatening environmental damage in Alabama and may make special provision for alert and abatement standards and procedures respecting occurrences or emergencies of pollution or on other short-term conditions constituting an acute danger to health or to the environment. In promulgating regulations under this chapter, the commission shall take into account the purpose of the chapter.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a hearing prior to the issuance of an emergency order pursuant to Section 22-28-21.