(a)
(1) Upon receipt of the application and before granting or denying the permit, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission shall cause notice of the filing thereof to be published for two (2) weeks in a newspaper published and having a general circulation in each county wherein the dam and area necessary for the impounding of water by means thereof is located.
(2) The notice, with reasonable definiteness, shall describe the size and location of the proposed dam and reservoir and shall call upon all interested persons having questions or objections pertaining thereto and desiring public hearing thereon to make their questions or objections known within twenty (20) days after publication of the notice to the commission in writing, including their names and post office addresses.
(b)
(1) Upon the expiration of twenty (20) days after the notice provided in subsection (a) of this section, the commission shall grant the permit.
(2) However, should a hearing be requested as provided in subsection (a) of this section or desired by the commission, the commission shall schedule a public hearing and, by certified mail, return receipt requested, shall notify the applicant and all interested persons of the date, time, and place thereof, after which it shall either grant or, for good cause shown, deny the permit.