(a) On or before fifteen calendar days after the receipt of an application for a permit for a minor project, the department shall mail written notice to the applicant of its determination whether or not the application is complete. If the department fails to mail written notice to an applicant of its determination whether or not an application is complete within such fifteen calendar day period, the application shall be deemed complete.

(b) Within forty-five calendar days after the department mails written notice to the applicant that an application for a permit for a minor project is complete or within forty-five calendar days after the application is deemed complete pursuant to the provisions of this article and subject to the provisions of subdivisions four, five, and six of section 70-0109, the department shall make a decision on the application by mailing the applicant a permit, a permit with conditions or a statement that the permit applied for has been denied.

(c) If the department fails to make a decision on an application for a permit for a minor project within such forty-five calendar day period, then the provisions of paragraph (b) of subdivision three of section 70-0109 shall apply.

(d) The department may provide, by rule and regulation pursuant to section 70-0107 of this article, for the issuance of general permits covering minor projects. Such general permits may be issued following such events as natural disasters or acts of God which lead numbers of individuals to seek to undertake similar types of minor projects that are of a remedial nature. Such permits may be issued only upon a written statement of necessity by the commissioner justifying the issuance of such general permit and may be issued only for a specified duration of time.