West Virginia Code Chapter 22. Environmental Resources § 22-14-7. Granting or rejecting applications for certificate of approval by division; publication of notice of application; hearing upon application

Upon receipt of an application for a certificate of approval and the fee required under the provisions of this article, the secretary shall proceed to consider the application for sufficiency. The secretary shall approve or disapprove the application within sixty days after receipt.

If an application is defective, it shall be returned to the applicant by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, in order that the applicant may correct any defect: Provided, That a defective application must be returned to the department by the applicant within thirty days after it has been returned to the applicant or it shall be treated as a new application: Provided, however, That for good cause shown, the secretary may extend the thirty-day period.

Upon approval by the secretary of the sufficiency of the application, the applicant shall immediately publish the application as a Class I legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, the publication area for the publication is the county in which the proposed dam is to be located or in which the existing dam is located. The notice shall include, but not be limited to, the name and address of the owner of the dam and the location of the dam for which the application was filed.

Any person whose life or property may be adversely affected by the issuance of a certificate of approval has a right to a hearing before the secretary if the person demands the hearing in writing within fifteen days of publication of the certificate of approval. The written request for hearing shall include specific objections to the certificate of approval.

Upon receipt by the secretary of the written request for hearing, the secretary shall immediately set a date for the hearing and shall notify the person or persons demanding a hearing. The hearing shall be held within ten days after receipt of the written request. The secretary shall hear evidence from all interested parties and shall either: (1) Refuse to issue a certificate of approval; or (2) issue a certificate of approval which shall be subject to terms, conditions and limitations as the secretary may consider necessary to protect life and property.

Unless otherwise extended by the secretary, a certificate of approval is valid for a period of not more than one year.