La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XI-307

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section XI-307 - Applications Requiring Public Hearing

A. No order, ruling or finding may be made or other action taken with respect to R.S. 30:553, 554, 555(A) and (C), 555(F), 556, 557, 558, 571 through 576, 593, 596, 598(E), 599, 722, and 723, without a public hearing after due notice to all interested parties unless the right to a public hearing is waived pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, as amended, (R.S. 49:951-968) or the Natural Resources and Energy Act of 1973 expressly provides that no hearing is required in that instance.

B. Applications to the commissioner of conservation for which a public hearing is required shall be submitted in writing, be verified under oath, and shall be in a form and contain such information as is required by the commissioner. The hearing on the application shall be noticed in accordance with §311 The hearing date of the application shall not be less than 10 days following the date of publication of notice.

C. Interested parties who wish to object to said application or participate in the hearing must file a petition or notice with the commissioner and the applicant within five days following the receipt by such interested parties of notice of the hearing. Petitions or notices filed in connection with the application shall set forth clearly and concisely the facts from which the nature of the petitioner's alleged right or interest can be determined, the grounds of the proposed participation, and the position of the petitioner in the proceeding so as to fully and completely advise the parties and the commissioner as to the specific issues of fact or law to be raised concerning public interest, provided however, that the right to participate in a proceeding commenced under this Chapter shall not extend to objections directed solely to the matters involving rights-of-way including, but not limited to, the public purpose and necessity to be served in an expropriation thereof or the compensation therefor which is a judicial question pursuant to the Constitution of the state of Louisiana 1974, Article 1, Section 4.

D. The commissioner, either upon his own motion, or at the request of an interested party or the applicant, may call a conference of the parties to a proceeding at any time, if in his opinion, such a conference would resolve or narrow the issues in controversy or assist in the conduct of the hearing.

E. If no objection to the application is timely filed by an interested party, in accordance with the provisions of this rule, it will be unnecessary for the applicant to be present or to be represented at the hearing, and evidence shall be filed by affidavit or in such other form as is acceptable to or permitted by the commissioner who shall render an order based upon the record in the proceeding. The order of the commissioner shall be final, subject to reconsideration by him upon application for rehearing by the applicant or interested party filed within 10 days from the date of its entry.

F. If the commissioner, in his judgment, determines that an emergency exists, which in the public interest, requires action on the application prior to the hearing date or the minimum 10-day notice period herein required, the commissioner may act on the application and issue a temporary order; however, such emergency authorization shall remain in force no longer than 15 days from its effective date in any event, a temporary order shall expire when the commissioner's decision on the application after notice and hearing becomes effective.

G. An interested party who fails to comply with the requirements of the this rule, may, at the commissioner's discretion, be precluded from introducing witnesses or from presenting evidence at the hearing; however, any person shall be permitted to cross-examine witnesses and make statements confined to his position in the matter.

H. Hearings on applications for approval to connect an intrastate natural gas pipeline, gas gathering line or coal slurry pipeline to an interstate natural gas pipeline or coal slurry pipeline filed pursuant to R.S. 30:555.H and Article IX of the Louisiana Constitution 1974 shall be held not less than 10 days after notice given in the manner provided in §311 Provided, however, that if the commissioner, in his judgment, determines that an emergency exists, which, in the interest of public health, safety or welfare, requires that said hearing be held on shorter notice, said emergency hearing may be held on any abbreviated notice, but not less than three days following the date of publication of notice of said hearing in the official journal of the state of Louisiana.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XI-307

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 4:77 (March 1978), amended LR 7:80 (March 1981), LR 11:703 (July 1985), Repromulgated LR 49277 (2/1/2023), Amended LR 49902 (5/1/2023).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:501-599, 601-606.