(a) The board shall meet and hold conferences and hearings at such times and places as shall be designated by the chair. The chair may call a meeting of the board at any time. The chair shall call a meeting of the board (1) upon receipt of a notice from the director that an objection to the proposed drilling or deepening of a shallow well has been filed by a coal seam owner pursuant to section seventeen, article six of chapter twenty-two of this code or that an objection has been made by the director, (2) upon receipt of an application to establish a drilling unit filed with the board pursuant to section nine of this article, or (3) within twenty days upon the written request by another member of the board. Meetings called pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be scheduled not less than ten days nor more than twenty days from receipt by the chair of the notice of objection or the application to establish a drilling unit. Notice of all meetings shall be given to each member of the board by the chair at least ten days in advance thereof, unless otherwise agreed by the members.

(b) At least ten days prior to every meeting of the board called pursuant to the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2), subsection (a) of this section, the chair shall also notify (1) in the case of a notice of objection, the well operator and all objecting coal seam owners, and (2) in the case of an application to establish a drilling unit, the applicant, all persons to whom copies of the application were required to be mailed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d), section nine of this article and all persons who filed written protests or objections with the board in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c), section nine of this article.

(c) A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. A majority of the members of the board shall be required to determine any issue brought before it.

(d) The board is hereby empowered and it shall be its duty to execute and carry out, administer and enforce the provisions of this article in the manner provided herein. Subject to the provisions of section three of this article, the board shall have jurisdiction and authority over all persons and property necessary therefor: Provided, That the provisions of this article shall not be construed to grant to the board authority or power to (1) limit production or output from or prorate production of any gas well, or (2) fix prices of gas.

(e) The board shall have specific authority to:

(1) Take evidence and issue orders concerning applications for drilling permits and drilling units in accordance with the provisions of this article;

(2) Promulgate, pursuant to the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, and enforce reasonable rules necessary to govern the practice and procedure before the board;

(3) Make such relevant investigations of records and facilities as it deems proper; and

(4) Issue subpoenas for the attendance of and sworn testimony by witnesses and subpoenas duces tecum for the production of any books, records, maps, charts, diagrams and other pertinent documents, and administer oaths and affirmations to such witnesses, whenever, in the judgment of the board, it is necessary to do so for the effective discharge of its duties under the provisions of this article.