(A) Simultaneously with the filing of an application for a permit or significant revision of an existing permit under section 1513.07 of the Revised Code, the applicant shall submit to the chief of the division of mineral resources management a copy of the applicant's advertisement of the ownership, precise location, and boundaries of the land to be affected. At the time of submission, the advertisement shall be placed by the applicant in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the proposed coal mine at least once a week for four consecutive weeks. The chief shall notify, in each county or part of a county in which a proposed area to be permitted is located, the board of county commissioners, the board of township trustees, the legislative authorities of municipal corporations, private water companies, regional councils of governments, and the boards of directors of conservancy districts informing them of the operator's intention to conduct a coal mining operation on a particularly described tract of land and indicating the permit application number and where a copy of the proposed mining and reclamation plan may be inspected. The chief shall also notify the planning commissions with jurisdiction over all or part of the area to be permitted. These agencies, authorities, or companies may submit written comments on the application with respect to the effects of the proposed operation on the environment that are within their area of responsibility in quadruplicate to the chief within thirty days after notification by the chief of receipt of the application. The chief shall immediately transmit these comments to the applicant and make them available to the public at the same locations at which the mining application is available for inspection.

(B) A person having an interest that is or may be adversely affected or the officer or head of any federal, state, or local governmental agency or authority may file written objections to the proposed initial or revised application for a coal mining and reclamation permit with the chief within thirty days after the last publication of the notice required by division (A) of this section. The objections shall immediately be transmitted to the applicant by the chief and shall be made available to the public. If written objections are filed and an informal conference requested, the chief or the chief's representative shall then hold an informal conference on the application for a permit within a reasonable time in the county where the largest area of the area to be permitted is located. The date, time, and location of the informal conference shall be advertised by the chief in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality at least two weeks prior to the scheduled conference date. The chief may arrange with the applicant, upon request by any objecting party, access to the proposed mining area for the purpose of gathering information relevant to the proceeding. An electronic or stenographic record shall be made of the conference proceeding unless waived by all parties. The record shall be maintained and shall be accessible to the parties until final release of the applicant's performance security. If all parties requesting the informal conference stipulate agreement prior to the requested informal conference and withdraw their request, the informal conference need not be held.

Effective Date: 09-01-1981; 04-06-2007.