Ch. 777

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(1)  CERTIFICATION BY THE APPLICANT THAT THE APPLICANT
HAS NOTIFIED, IN WRITING, EACH LANDOWNER AND LEASEHOLDER OF REAL
PROPERTY THAT BORDERS THE PROPOSED DRILLABLE LEASE AREA OF THE
APPLICANT'S INTENTION TO FILE AN APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO DRILL
A WELL, PROVIDED THAT AN APPLICANT FOR A PROPOSED WELL IN AN
UNDERGROUND STORAGE RESERVOIR EXISTING ON JANUARY 1, 1988 NEED
ONLY NOTIFY THE OWNERS OR LEASEHOLDERS OF PROPERTY WITHIN 2,000
FEET OF THE PROPOSED WELL;

(2)  A COPY OF THE APPLICANT'S WRITTEN NOTICE TO
LANDOWNERS AND LEASEHOLDERS UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS
SUBSECTION, WHICH INCLUDES:

(I)  A DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCATION AND
BOUNDARIES OF THE PROPOSED DRILLABLE LEASE AREA SUFFICIENTLY
DETAILED FOR THE PROPOSED OPERATION TO BE EASILY LOCATED BY LOCAL
RESIDENTS;

(II)  THE LOCATION WHERE THE APPLICATION IS
AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION; AND

(III)  NOTICE THAT ANY INTERESTED PERSON MAY
SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS AND REQUESTS FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO THE
DEPARTMENT FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE APPLICANT'S
NOTICE; AND

(3)  WRITTEN APPROVAL BY THE CHESAPEAKE BAY CRITICAL
AREA COMMISSION, IF APPLICABLE, UNDER § 8-1814(A) OF THE NATURAL
RESOURCES ARTICLE AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED UNDER THAT SUBSECTION
LOCAL ZONING AUTHORITY THAT ALL LOCAL PLANNING AND ZONING
REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.-----------------------------------------------------

(B)  IF A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUESTED, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:

(1)  NOTIFY THE APPLICANT AND ANY PERSON WHO REQUESTED
THE HEARING OF THE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF THE HEARING; AND

(2)  PUBLISH THE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF THE
HEARING IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE AREA OF THE
PROPOSED OPERATION.

(C)  (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:

(I)  APPROVE OR REJECT THE PERMIT APPLICATION;
AND

(II)  NOTIFY THE APPLICANT AND ANY PARTICIPANTS
IN THE PUBLIC HEARING OF THE DEPARTMENT'S DECISION.

(2) WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S DECISION, ANY
PERSON ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE DECISION MAY REQUEST AN
ADJUDICATORY HEARING.

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