222                              Laws of Maryland                        [Ch. 88

POSSIBLE TO LOCATE A WELL SAID DISTANCE FROM THE
BOUNDARY, AND WHERE NO AGREEMENT WITH THE
OWNERS OF THE GAS AND OIL ON ADJACENT LANDS HAS
BEEN MADE, A WELL MAY BE LOCATED NEARER THAN
ONE THOUSAND FEET TO THE BOUNDARY WITH THE
CONSENT OF THE DEPARTMENT; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
WHEN ANY PERMIT TO DRILL A WELL NEARER THAN ONE
THOUSAND FEET TO THE BOUNDARY HAS BEEN APPLIED
FOR, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOTIFY ALL LAND OWN-
ERS, ROYALTY OWNERS OR LEASEHOLDERS WITHIN ONE
THOUSAND FEET OF THE LOCATION OF SAID PROPOSED
WELL, GIVING THEM A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO
FILE OBJECTIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO THE ISSU-
ANCE OF SUCH PERMIT; THE DEPARTMENT SHALL THEN
HOLD A HEARING UPON THE SAME, AND, IF IT DETER-
MINES THAT IT IS NECESSARY THAT SUCH WELL BE
LOCATED NEARER THAN ONE THOUSAND FEET TO THE
BOUNDARY, MAY ISSUE THE PERMIT; IN THE EVENT
SUCH A PERMIT IS ISSUED ANY LAND OWNER, ROYALTY
OWNER OR LEASEHOLDER WITHIN ONE THOUSAND FEET
OF THE PROPOSED WELL SHALL HAVE ALL THE RIGHTS
TO REHEARING AND APPEAL TO THE COURTS PROVIDED
IN SECTIONS 648AA AND 648BB AND THE AUTHORITY
UNDER THE PERMIT ISSUED AS AFORESAID SHALL BE
STAYED AND SHALL HAVE NO EFFECT UNTIL FINAL
DETERMINATION OF SAID REHEARING AND APPEAL AS
IN SAID SECTIONS 648AA AND 648BB PROVIDED.

(b). The Department shall by regulation prescribe the distance
between the several wells on any property that otherwise are located
in relation to the boundary as provided in sub-section (a) above.

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Provided that this
section shall not extend to any leases and unit agreements in effect on
the effective date of this Act.

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648Y. (a) The Department shall prescribe rules and regula-
tions governing the practice and procedure before the Department.

(b)  No rule, regulation or order, or amendment thereof, except
in an emergency, shall be made by the Department without a public
hearing upon at least ten (10) days⁹ notice. The public hearing
shall be held at such time and place as may be prescribed by the
Department, and any interested person shall be entitled to be heard.

(c)   When an emergency requiring immediate action is found to
exist, the Department is authorized to issue an emergency order
without notice or hearing, which shall be effective upon promulga-
tion. No emergency order shall remain effective for more than
fifteen (15) days.