<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".20-1" citation="COMAR 26.13.07.20-1" title_num="26" subtitle_num="13" chapter_num="07" heading="Administrative Procedures—Tentative and Final Determinations.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Tentative Determinations and Draft Permits.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Once an application is complete, the Secretary shall prepare a tentative determination that includes the following information:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A proposal to issue or to not issue the permit;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Any proposed permit limitations and conditions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A brief explanation of the Department's tentative determination;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Any proposed schedule of compliance; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>If the tentative determination is to issue a permit, a draft permit.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Notice of Intent to Deny.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>If the Secretary tentatively decides to deny the permit application, the Secretary shall issue a notice of intent to deny, which is a type of draft permit.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A notice of intent to deny is subject to the same procedures as any draft permit prepared under this section.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>If the Secretary's final decision is that the tentative decision to deny the permit application was incorrect, the Secretary shall withdraw the notice of intent to deny and proceed to prepare a draft permit under §A(3) of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If the Secretary decides to prepare a draft permit, the Secretary shall prepare a draft permit that contains the information described in Regulations .04, .05, .07, .08, .15, and .16 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Draft Permits—General.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>All draft permits shall be:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Accompanied by a statement of basis or fact sheet, as required by §§B and C of this regulation;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Based on the administrative record, as required by §D of this regulation;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Publicly noticed, as required by Regulation .20-2 of this chapter; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Made available for public comment, as required by Regulation .20-4A of this chapter.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The Secretary shall:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Give notice of opportunity for the public hearing, as required by Regulation .20-5A of this chapter;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Issue a final decision, as required by Regulation .20-6 of this chapter; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Respond to comments, as required by Regulation .20-4D of this chapter.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The final decision is subject to judicial review under Regulation .20-5B of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The Department shall publish a notice of the tentative determination that allows at least:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>30 days before the Department holds a public hearing under Regulation .20-5A of this chapter; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>45 days before the Department:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Issues a final determination under §E of this regulation; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Makes a final decision to issue or deny a permit, if a final determination is not required under §E(1) of this regulation.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Statement of Basis. The Secretary shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Prepare a statement of basis for every draft permit for which a fact sheet under §C of this regulation is not prepared;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Briefly describe in the statement of basis the derivation of the conditions of the draft permit and the reasons for them, or, in the case of notices of intent to deny or terminate, reasons supporting the tentative decision; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Send the statement of basis to the applicant and, on request, to any other person.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Fact Sheet. The Secretary shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Prepare a fact sheet for every:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Draft permit for a major hazardous waste management facility; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Permit that the Secretary finds is the subject of widespread public interest or raises major issues;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Briefly set forth in the fact sheet the principal facts and the significant factual, legal, methodological, and policy questions considered in preparing the draft permit;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Send this fact sheet to the applicant and, on request, to any other person; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Include in the fact sheet, when applicable:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A brief description of the type of facility or activity which is the subject of the draft permit;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The type and quantity of wastes, fluids, or pollutants which are proposed to be or are being treated, stored, disposed of, injected, emitted, or discharged;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A brief summary of the basis for the draft permit conditions, including references to applicable statutory or regulatory provisions and appropriate supporting references to the administrative record required by §D of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Reasons why any requested variances or alternatives to required standards do or do not appear justified;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>A description of the procedures for reaching a final decision on the draft permit, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The beginning and ending dates of the comment period under Regulation .20-2 of this chapter, and the address where comments will be received;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Procedures for requesting a hearing and the nature of that hearing; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Any other procedures by which the public may participate in the final decision; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>The name and telephone number of a person to contact for additional information.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Administrative Record for Draft Permits.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The provisions of a draft permit prepared by the Department under §A of this regulation shall be based on the administrative record defined in this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>For preparing a draft permit under §A of this regulation, the record shall consist of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The application, if required, and any supporting data furnished by the applicant;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The draft permit or notice of intent to deny the application or to terminate the permit;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The statement of basis under §B of this regulation or the fact sheet under §C of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>All documents cited in the statement of basis or fact sheet; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Other documents contained in the supporting file on the draft permit.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Material readily available at the Department or published material that is generally available, and that is included in the administrative record under §D(2) of this regulation, need not be physically included with the rest of the record as long as it is specifically referred to in the statement of basis or the fact sheet.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The Department shall assure that, except for materials that have been designated confidential business information, the administrative record for a draft permit is available to the public for inspection and copying.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Public Availability of Information—Tentative Determination.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Except as provided in §D(5)(b) of this regulation, the Department shall, not later than the date of publication of a notice of tentative determination under Regulation .20-2A of this chapter, make available for inspection and copying:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The permit application on which the tentative determination is based;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Documents that were submitted with the permit application;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>All documents that the Department relied on in making the tentative determination; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>The privilege log developed under §D(5)(c) of this regulation.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The requirements of §D(5)(a) of this regulation do not apply to materials that have been designated confidential business information, documents for which disclosure is precluded by law, or documents that are subject to privilege.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The Department shall compile a privilege log that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Identifies all documents not made available for inspection and copying under §D(5)(b) of this regulation; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>States the reasons for withholding each document identified in the log.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Final Determination.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Department shall prepare a final determination if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Written comments adverse to the tentative determination were received by the Department during the comment period established for the tentative determination;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Comments adverse to the tentative determination were received in writing at, or within 5 days after, the public hearing held under Regulation .20-5A of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Comments adverse to the tentative determination were received orally at the public hearing held under Regulation .20-5A of this chapter; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The final determination is substantively different from the tentative determination.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Notice of Final Determination.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>If the Department is required to prepare a final determination under §E(1) of this regulation, the Department shall publish a notice of the final determination in accordance with the requirements of Regulation .20-2 of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If the final determination differs substantively from the tentative determination, the Department shall, before publishing notice of the final determination under §E(2)(a) of this regulation:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Publish notice of intent to issue a final determination that includes a proposed final determination and provides the opportunity for written public comment for a period of at least 30 days on the portion of the proposed final determination that differs substantively from the tentative determination;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Consider all public comments submitted on the proposed final determination during the public comment period; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Prepare written responses to public comments submitted on the proposed final determination during the public comment period, and provide a copy of the written responses to persons who submitted the comments.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Final Decision.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The final determination made by the Department under §E(1) of this regulation or, if applicable, under the process established in §E(2) of this regulation, constitutes the Department’s final decision.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If the Department is not required to prepare a final determination under §E(1) of this regulation, the tentative determination becomes a final decision by the Department when the permit is issued or denied.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>