15A NCAC 02H .1303. PUBLIC NOTICE AND PUBLIC HEARING

(a)  Notice of Publication. Within 30 days of receipt of a complete application, the Director shall decide whether to issue a public notice for an Individual Permit for a project or whether the project is eligible for a General Permit:

(1)           Individual Permit. Notice of the Director's intent to issue or deny a complete application for an Individual Permit shall be published one time in a newspaper having general circulation in the county in which the discharge will occur.  Publication shall be made at least 30 days prior to proposed final action by the Director on the application. The applicant shall pay to the Department the costs of advertising the public notice for an Individual Permit.  The Permit shall not be issued until such costs have been paid as allowed under G.S. 143-215.3(a)(1e). A copy of this notice shall be sent to a subset of individuals on the Wetland Permit Mailing List described in Paragraph (d) of this Rule who request to be notified of these Permits.

(2)           General Permit. The Division shall provide public notice for proposed General Permits.  This notice shall be sent to all individuals on the Wetland Permit Mailing List described in Paragraph (d) of this Rule and in selected newspapers with general circulation in the geographic areas affected by the proposed General Permit. Publication shall be made at least 30 days prior to proposed final action by the Director.

(b)  Contents of Notice.  The notice shall set forth the name and address of the applicant; the action requested in the application; the nature and location of the discharge; and the proposed date of final action to be taken by the Director on the application.  The notice shall also state where additional information is on file with the Department and may be inspected at any time during normal working hours.  Copies of such information on file shall be made available upon request and upon payment of the cost thereof to the Department.  Any person who desires a public hearing on an Individual or General Permit application shall so request in writing to the Director within 30 days following the publication of the notice of intent.

(c)  Notice of Hearing. Within 30 days of receipt of a request for a public hearing, the Director shall decide whether a public hearing is necessary unless the applicant agrees in writing to an extension.  If the Director determines that there is significant public interest in holding a hearing, the Director shall publish notice of the hearing one time in a newspaper having general circulation in the county in which the discharge will occur.  In any county in which there is more than one newspaper having general circulation in that county, the Director shall cause a copy of such notice to be published in as many newspapers having general circulation in the county as the Director in his discretion determines may be necessary to assure that such notice is generally available in the county. The notice shall be published at least 30 days prior to the date of the hearing.  The notice shall state the time, place and nature of the hearing.

(d)  Wetland Permit Mailing List. Any person may request that he or she be mailed copies of all public notices required by this Rule.  The Director shall add the name of any such person to a Wetland Permit Mailing List and shall mail copies of notices to all persons on the list.

(e)  If other public hearings are being held by Divisions of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, then any public hearing held for this Rule may be coordinated with those hearings.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6); 143-215.3(a)(1); 143-215.3(a)(1e); 143-215.3(c);

Codifier determined that findings did not meet criteria for temporary rule on September 26, 2001 and October 12, 2001;

Temporary Adoption Eff. October 22, 2001;

Eff. April 1, 2003.