Subdivision 1. Hearing. After a petition is filed, the board must proceed expeditiously to hear, determine, and make its recommendations on the questions it has consented to consider. The hearings must be conducted to fully inform the board about all aspects of the public interest in the questions of water policy to be determined to make an impartial, scientific, and fully considered judgment.
Subd. 2. Determination. (a) The recommendation of the board is the board's decision on the question of water policy considered by it.
(b) The ultimate question to which the board's recommendation is directed is the proper course of action to be followed by the agency in the proceeding in relation to questions of water policy considered by the board.
(c) The decision of the board must be in the form of a written recommendation to the agency. The decision must state the controlling facts in sufficient detail to inform the parties, the agency, and a reviewing court of the basis and reason for the decision.
Subd. 3. Recommendation as evidence. In the proceeding and upon judicial review, the recommendation of the board is evidence. A certified copy is competent evidence of the recommendation of the board.
History:1990 c 391 art 1 s 17