An applicant for a certificate of exploration or operating permit or a person who is aggrieved and is directly affected by the permit may appeal to the council from a decision or determination of the department issuing, refusing, modifying, suspending, revoking, or terminating a certificate of exploration or operating permit or reclamation plan, or imposing a term or condition on the certificate, permit, or reclamation plan. An explorer or operator may appeal to the council from a decision or determination of the department issuing a notice of deficiencies or violations and administrative fees or assessing civil penalties. The person taking the appeal within thirty days after the department's decision shall give written notice to the council through its secretary that he desires to appeal and file a copy of the notice with the department at the same time. If more than one appeal regarding the same certificate, permit, or reclamation plan is filed with the council within the thirty-day period following the decision by the department, the council may consolidate the hearing and review of the appeals by the council. The chairman of the council shall fix a reasonable time, not less than twenty nor more than forty days from the receipt of the appeal, and place for a hearing, giving reasonable notice to the applicant, appellant, and to the department. The council, or a committee of the council designated by the council's rules of procedure, or if agreed by appellant, the council, the operator, and the department, a hearing panel consisting of one or more individuals shall conduct a full and complete hearing as to the matters in controversy, and within thirty days shall give a written decision setting forth its findings of fact and its conclusions. The council or its designated committee or the hearing panel may affirm, affirm with modifications, or overrule the decision of the department and may direct the department to take action required to effectuate its decision. A further appeal may be taken from the appellate decision to the Administrative Law Court as provided in Section 48-20-200.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 454, Section 2; 2006 Act No. 387, Section 29.