Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 324. Natural Resources and Environmental Protection § 324.63523

Sec. 63523. (1) When an application for a surface coal mining and reclamation permit or renewal of an existing permit is submitted, the applicant's advertisement of ownership, location, and boundaries of the land to be affected shall be placed in a local newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the proposed surface coal mining operation for 4 consecutive weeks. The department shall notify local units of government in the vicinity of the proposed mining and reclamation area of the operator's intention to conduct a surface mining operation indicating the application's number and the county courthouse or township office in which a copy of the proposed surface coal mining and reclamation plan may be inspected. A local unit of government may submit written comments within a period established by the department on the mining applications with respect to the effect of the operation proposed by the applicant on the environment that is within its area of responsibility. The comments shall immediately be transmitted to the applicant by the department and shall be made available to the public at the same location as the mining application.

(2) In addition to the notice required in subsection (1), the department shall notify the department of history, arts, and libraries of the operator's intention to conduct a surface mining operation and shall provide the department of history, arts, and libraries with a copy of the permit application. Based on the information required pursuant to section 63516(1)(r),  1 the department of history, arts, and libraries shall determine whether or not the proposed surface mining operation will adversely affect a historic resource. The department of history, arts, and libraries may file written objection to the proposed surface mining operation pursuant to subsection (3).

(3) A person having an interest that is or may be adversely affected by the operation proposed in the application and any federal or state government agency or local unit of government is entitled to file written objections to the proposed initial or revised application for a permit for surface coal mining and reclamation operation with the department not later than 30 days after the last publication of the notice required by subsection (1). Those objections shall immediately be transmitted to the applicant by the department and shall be made available to the public.

(4) Within 45 days after the last publication of the notice provided in subsection (1), the applicant or any person with an interest that is or may be adversely affected may request a hearing on the application. The hearing shall be held within 30 days after the expiration of the time allowed for submitting the request.

(5) An action taken by the department with respect to a permit application shall be conducted pursuant to chapters 4 and 5 of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.271 to 24.292.