Ch. 680

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(1)  The Department SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF
PUBLIC NOTICE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS AND
TO REQUEST A HEARING.

(I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF
THIS PARAGRAPH, UPON RECEIPT OF A COMPLETE APPLICATION FOR A
PERMIT OR PERMIT REVISION THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ISSUE PUBLIC
NOTICE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS AND TO
REQUEST A HEARING.

(II) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ISSUE THE PUBLIC
NOTICE REQUIRED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH AT LEAST
ONCE A WEEK FOR 2 SUCCESSIVE WEEKS IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL
CIRCULATION IN THE COUNTY OF THE PROPOSED MINING OPERATION.

(III) THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO ISSUE
THE PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIRED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH
FOR AN APPLICATION FOR PERMIT REVISION THAT DOES NOT PROPOSE
SIGNIFICANT ALTERATIONS IN A PERMIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
DEPARTMENT'S REGULATIONS.

(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE OF
APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS OR PERMIT REVISIONS TO ANY INTERESTED
PERSON WHO REQUESTS WRITTEN NOTICE.

(2) (3) IF A HEARING IS REQUESTED, THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL NOTIFY THE APPLICANT AND ANY PERSON WHO REQUESTS THE
HEARING OF THE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF THE HEARING AND SHALL
PUBLISH THE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF THE HEARING IN A
NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE AREA OF THE PROPOSED
OPERATION. THE DEPARTMENT and the Committee shall hold a joint
public hearing on the application. A record of the hearing shall
be made and shall be available to the public.

[(2) The] (3) (4) ANY joint hearing shall be at
least 30 15 but not more than 60 days after the Department
provides public notice of the hearing. [Notice shall appear in a
newspaper of general circulation in the jurisdiction affected.]
Members of the public shall be provided an opportunity to comment
on the application [either orally or] in writing until [at least
30 days after public notice of the] THE DATE OF ANY hearing and
copies of the application shall be available for public
inspection at the Department 30 15 days before [the] ANY hearing.

[(3)] After the hearing, the] (4) (5) THE Committee
shall approve, reject, or modify the proposed plan. IF A HEARING
IS REQUESTED, THE COMMITTEE SHALL. APPROVE, REJECT, OR MODIFY THE
PROPOSED PLAN AFTER THE HEARING. If the plan is rejected or
modified, the operator shall be notified in writing of the reason
for rejection or the suggested modification. The operator may
resubmit the plan to the Department with the Committee's
requested corrections or modifications. If the changes are made
and the permit application fully complies with all provisions of

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