North Dakota Century Code Title 38. Mining and Gas and Oil Production § 38-08-11. Rules covering practice before commission

1. The commission may adopt rules governing the practice and procedure before the commission, which rules must be adopted pursuant to the provisions of chapter 28-32.

2. When an emergency requiring immediate action is found to exist, the commission may issue an emergency order without notice or hearing, reciting the existence of the emergency and requiring that necessary action be taken to meet the emergency, which order is effective upon issuance. No emergency order may remain in effect for more than forty days.

3. Any notice required by this chapter must be given at the election of the commission either in accordance with chapter 28-32 or by one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the state capital and in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the land affected, or some part thereof, is situated. The notice must issue in the name of the state, must be signed by the chairman or secretary of the commission, and must specify the style and number of the proceeding, the time and place of the hearing, and must briefly state the purpose of the proceeding. Should the commission elect to give notice by personal service, such service may be made by any officer authorized to serve process, or by any agent of the commission, in the same manner as is provided by law for the service of summons in civil actions in the courts of the state. Proof of the service by such agent must be by the affidavit of the person making personal service. In proceedings that do not involve a complaint and a specifically named respondent, including agency hearings on applications seeking some right or authorization from the commission, the notice of hearing must be given at least fifteen days before the hearing, except in cases of emergency.

4. The commission may act upon its own motion or upon the petition of any interested person. On the filing of a petition concerning any matter within the jurisdiction of the commission, the commission shall fix a date for a hearing and give notice. Upon the filing of a petition of any interested party, the commission shall enter and serve its order upon all parties to the proceeding as required in section 28-32-39.