Section 327IAC5-3-9. Public comments and public hearings

   (a) A comment period of at least thirty (30) days following the date of public notice of the formulation of a draft permit shall be provided. During this period any interested persons may submit written comments on the draft permit and may request a public hearing in accordance with subsection (b). All comments, including those submitted in a public hearing, shall be considered by the commissioner in preparing the final permit and shall be responded to as provided in 327 IAC 5-3-15.

  (b) A public hearing on a draft permit may be held by the commissioner in appropriate cases, either on the commissioner's own initiative or in response to a request or requests for public hearing submitted during the public comment period. A public hearing and a request to hold one shall meet the following:

(1) The public hearing shall be held where the commissioner finds there is a significant public interest in the draft permit. Instances of doubt will be resolved in favor of holding a hearing. Public notice of a public hearing shall be given as specified in 327 IAC 5-3-12.

(2) A request for a public hearing shall be in writing and shall state the nature of the issues to be raised and the reasons why a hearing is warranted.

(3) Any hearing conducted pursuant to this section shall be held in the geographical area of the proposed discharge, or other appropriate area where significant public interest exists in the discretion of the commissioner, and may, when appropriate, consider two or more related draft permits.

(4) Any person appearing at such a hearing may submit oral or written statements and data concerning the draft permit. Reasonable limits may be set upon the time allowed for oral statements, and the submission of statements in writing may be required. A hearing conducted under this section shall not constitute an "administrative adjudication" for purposes of IC 4-22-1 or IC 4-21.5.

  (c) All persons, including the applicant, who believe any of the terms and conditions of a draft permit or a tentative decision to deny or terminate a permit is not appropriate for any reason, must raise all reasonably ascertainable issues and submit all arguments and a summary of the factual grounds supporting their position by the close of the public comment period (including any public hearing period).

  (d) Public notice and opportunity for comment and public hearing of a proposed general permit must be provided in accordance with this section and section 12 of this rule. (Water Pollution Control Division; 327 IAC 5-3-9; filed Sep 24, 1987, 3:00 p.m.: 11 IR 638; readopted filed Jan 10, 2001, 3:23 p.m.: 24 IR 1518; readopted filed Nov 21, 2007, 1:16 p.m.: 20071219-IR-327070553BFA; readopted filed Jul 29, 2013, 9:21 a.m.: 20130828-IR-327130176BFA; filed Oct 9, 2015, 4:07 p.m.: 20151104-IR-327100659FRA)