A. The Director shall establish, by regulation, procedures for the notification of and participation by the public and appropriate federal, state and local governmental authorities in the process for issuing or revising coal surface mining permits, in accordance with § 513 of the federal act.
B. Any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected, or the officer or head of any federal, state or local governmental agency or authority shall have the right to file written objections to the proposed initial or revised application for a permit for a coal surface mining operation with the Director within thirty days after the last publication of the applicant's notice required by the regulation promulgated pursuant to subsection A hereof. If written objections are filed and an informal hearing requested, the Director shall then hold an informal hearing in the manner and location prescribed by regulation, unless all the parties requesting the informal hearing stipulate agreement prior to the requested informal hearing and withdraw their request therefor.
1979, c. 290; 1984, c. 590.