45-704. Notice of application; objections; hearing; approval or rejection

A. On receiving an application under section 45-703, the director shall record the application and endorse on the application the date of receipt. The director shall conduct an initial review of the application within fifteen days of receiving the application. If the director determines in the initial review that the application is incomplete, the director shall notify the applicant. The application is incomplete until the applicant files all of the information requested in the application. The director shall determine whether the application is correct within ninety days after receiving a complete application. The director may request additional information from the applicant. The director may conduct independent investigations as may be necessary to determine whether the application should be approved or rejected.

B. If the director determines that the application is complete and correct, the director, within fifteen days after the determination, or a longer period if the applicant requests, shall give notice of the application once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties in which persons reside who could reasonably be expected to be affected by the designation of groundwater oversupply. The notice shall state that persons who may be adversely affected by the designation may file written objections to the issuance of the certificate with the director within fifteen days after the last publication of notice. An objection shall state the name and mailing address of the objector, shall be signed by the objector or the objector's agent or attorney and shall clearly set forth reasons why the certificate should not be issued. The grounds for objection are limited to whether the application meets the criteria for issuing a certificate prescribed in section 45-702, subsection B.

C. In appropriate cases, including cases in which a proper objection to the certificate application has been filed, an administrative hearing may be held before the director's decision on the application if the director deems a hearing necessary. At least thirty days before the hearing, the director shall notify the applicant and any person who filed a proper objection to the issuance of the certificate. The hearing shall be scheduled for at least sixty but not more than ninety days after the expiration of the time in which to file objections.

D. The director shall record and endorse the approval or denial of the application on the application. If the certificate is denied, the director shall return a copy of the application to the applicant specifically stating the reasons for denial.

E. Section 45-114, subsections A and B govern administrative proceedings, rehearing or review and judicial review of final decisions of the director under this section. If an administrative hearing is held, it shall be conducted in the active management area in which the use is located.