A. Any order, penalty assessment or issuance or denial of a permit by the director pursuant to the New Mexico Mining Act shall become final unless a person who is or may be adversely affected by the order, penalty assessment or issuance or denial of a permit files, within sixty days from the date of notice of the order, penalty assessment or issuance or denial of a permit, a written petition to the commission for review of the order, penalty assessment or issuance or denial of a permit by the director.

B. The commission shall set a hearing no sooner than thirty days and no later than sixty days from the date of receipt of the petition.

C. Evidence in support of, or to challenge, the action of the director shall be heard by the commission or by a hearing officer appointed by the commission.

D. A verbatim record of the hearing shall be made and preserved by the commission or the hearing officer.

E. A recommendation based on the record shall be made by the hearing officer and presented to the commission. The commission shall issue findings of fact and a final decision in the proceedings.

F. The chairman of the commission may issue subpoenas to compel attendance of witnesses and for documents relevant to the action to be heard before the commission. The Rules of Civil Procedure for the District Courts shall govern discovery procedures in commission hearings.

History: Laws 1993, ch. 315, § 15.

Administrative review. — A challenge to the issuance of a permit must pursue an administrative review under this section before proceeding with a "citizen suit" under 69-36-14 NMSA 1978. Pueblo of Picuris v. N.M. Energy, Minerals & Natural Res. Dep't, 2001-NMCA-084, 131 N.M. 166, 33 P.3d 916, cert. denied, 131 N.M. 221, 34 P.3d 610 (2002).