46-2A-23. Publication of notice to determine opposition to application or recommendation of chief engineer--Petition to contest--Notice of hearing. Following the issuance of a recommendation to approve an application pursuant to § 46-2A-2, the chief engineer may publish, at the expense of the applicant, a notice to determine whether any person opposes the application or recommendation of the chief engineer. The notice shall be published as provided for in § 46-2A-4, and the notice shall contain the information provided for in subdivisions 46-2A-4(1), (2), (3), (5), (6), and (10). The notice is not required to refer to a board meeting or hearing date. In addition, the notice shall include a statement that if the applicant intends to contest the recommendation, the applicant shall file a petition with the chief engineer, and any interested person who intends to oppose or support the application or recommendation shall file a petition with the chief engineer and the applicant. Any petition shall be filed within ten days of the published notice.

If no petition to contest the recommendation or to oppose an application is timely filed, the chief engineer, following receipt of proof of publication, shall act on the application consistent with the chief engineer's recommendation as provided by rules promulgated by the Water Management Board pursuant to chapter 1-26 delegating authority to the chief engineer to issue uncontested permits pursuant to §§ 46-1-16 and 46-2-3.1, without hearing by the board.

If a petition to contest the recommendation or to oppose the application is timely filed, the chief engineer shall provide notice of a board hearing pursuant to § 1-26-17. The notice shall also include a statement that the recommendation of the chief engineer is not final or binding upon the board and is subject to the decision of the board based on evidence and record of the public hearing. A statement shall also be included in the notice that the applicant or any interested person who has filed a petition to oppose or support an application, may file a written notice with the chief engineer requesting postponement of the original hearing date. The written notice requesting postponement shall be filed within twenty days of the date of the notice scheduling the board hearing, but not less than ten days before the date the application is scheduled for hearing. Upon timely receipt of a written notice, the chief engineer shall cancel the original hearing and reschedule the hearing not less than twenty days after the original hearing date. Notice of hearing shall be provided by personal service or by first class mail to the applicant and parties of record.

Source: SL 1993, ch 334, § 2; SL 2011, ch 165, § 258; SL 2012, ch 214, § 2.