(a) Upon receipt of an application subject to this section in the form prescribed by the Commissioner, the Commissioner shall determine whether the application is complete. The Commissioner shall have the power to request modifications in, and additional information relating to, any application prior to certifying its completeness.

(b) As soon as the application is deemed substantially complete, the Commissioner may order the applicant to provide notice of the application in the manner and form as he or she may prescribe.

(c) Any person may submit written comments on the proposed application to the Commissioner. If the Commissioner orders publication or other notice to be given, he or she shall establish a deadline for receipt of written comments on the application which shall be no less than five business days following the completion of publication or other notice. The Commissioner may, but shall not be compelled to, consider written comments filed after the close of the written comment period. All comments shall be maintained in the public files of the Department.

(d) Applications accepted by the Commissioner shall be placed on public file at the office of the Department, and shall be made available for public inspection or copying, at cost; provided that any information that is exempt from public inspection under 1 V.S.A. chapter 5 shall be removed before public inspection of the file is permitted. (Added 1999, No. 153 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2001.)