1. The Administrator shall approve or reject an application for a permit to drill a dissolved mineral resource exploration well within 30 days after the Administrator receives an application in proper form, unless the Administrator determines that the application conflicts with the requirements of NRS 445A.300 to 445A.730, inclusive, and any regulations adopted pursuant thereto, or any other laws and regulations administered by the Division of Environmental Protection of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

2. A permit issued pursuant to this section must not be effective for more than 2 years, but may be extended one time by the Administrator for an additional 2 years if he or she determines that the permit complies with the requirements of this chapter and any regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

3. The Administrator and the State Engineer may hold public hearings jointly or separately to gather such evidence or information as they deem necessary for a full understanding of all the rights involved and to properly guard the public interest. The Administrator must notify the applicant, the State Engineer and the Administrator of the Division of Environmental Protection of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in advance of any hearing held pursuant to this section.

4. A permit issued pursuant to this section must include any conditions and reporting requirements deemed necessary by the Administrator.

5. The holder of any permit issued pursuant to this section must comply with the requirements of NRS 445A.300 to 445A.730, inclusive, and any regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

6. The Administrator shall post any permit which has been approved pursuant to this section on the Internet website of the Division of Minerals within 5 days after the permit has been approved.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 3413)