This chapter applies to hearings that the Secretary is required to conduct by statute or regulation except for those hearings for which specific procedural regulations have been promulgated. This chapter does not apply to conferences, investigations, or proceedings at which the general public has been assembled to provide comments and opinions regarding a permit or license proposed to be issued by the Department, or to hearings before the Department’s Boards and Commissions, which are authorized by law to conduct their own hearings. These procedures are intended to supplement the procedures required by law. They are not substantive and are not to be construed as creating rights not set out by law. In the event of conflict, statutory provisions take precedence over this chapter. Construction. In hearings conducted by an administrative law judge of the Office of Administrative Hearings, this chapter shall be construed, whenever possible, as supplementing COMAR 28.02.01. In a conflict between this chapter and COMAR 28.02.01, this chapter applies.