Section 289.27 - Contested case hearing(1) REQUEST FOR TREATMENT AS A CONTESTED CASE. Within 30 days after the notice under s. 289.25(3) is published for a solid waste disposal facility, or within 45 days after the notice under s. 289.25(3) is published for a hazardous waste facility, any county, city, village or town, the applicant or any 6 or more persons may file a written request that the hearing under s. 289.26(1) be treated as a contested case, as provided under s. 227.42. A county, city, village or town, the applicant or any 6 or more persons have a right to have the hearing treated as a contested case only if: (a) A substantial interest of the person requesting the treatment of the hearing as a contested case is injured in fact or threatened with injury by the department's action or inaction on the matter;(b) The injury to the person requesting the treatment of the hearing as a contested case is different in kind or degree from injury to the general public caused by the department's action or inaction on the matter; and(c) There is a dispute of material fact.(2) APPLICABILITY. This section applies only if a person requests the treatment of the hearing as a contested case under sub. (1) within the 30-day or 45-day period and has a right to a hearing under that subsection. Any denial of a request for the treatment of the hearing as a contested case received within the 30-day or 45-day period under sub. (1) shall be in writing, shall state the reasons for denial and is an order reviewable under ch. 227. If the department does not enter an order granting or denying the request for the treatment of the hearing as a contested case within 20 days after the written request is filed, the request is deemed denied.(3) NONAPPLICABILITY. Notwithstanding sub. (2), this section does not apply if a hearing on the feasibility report is conducted as a part of a hearing under s. 293.43 and the time limits, notice and hearing provisions under that section supersede the time limits, notice and hearing provisions under s. 289.25(2) and (3) and this section.(4) TIME LIMITS. Except as provided under s. 289.29(5): (a) The division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration shall schedule the hearing to be held within 120 days after the expiration of the 30-day or 45-day period under sub. (1).(b) The final determination of feasibility shall be issued within 90 days after the hearing is adjourned.(5) DETERMINATION OF NEED; DECISION BY HEARING EXAMINER. If a contested case hearing is conducted under this section, the secretary shall issue any decision concerning determination of need, notwithstanding s. 227.46(2) to (4). The secretary shall direct the hearing examiner to certify the record of the contested case hearing to him or her without an intervening proposed decision. The secretary may assign responsibility for reviewing this record and making recommendations concerning the decision to any employee of the department.1995 a. 227 s. 554, 565, 991.